Communication Between Cultures

1
Communication Between Cultures

• More than language...

2
A Story

• My friend Lin Qihui

came for dinner.
When it was time for her to go, I opened the door
for her. I waved goodbye. She seemed so surprised!
3
Song keren zou

• a custom
• it has meaning
• (not doing it also has meaning)
• what gives it meaning?
• Culture

4
What is culture?
clothing
customs
etiquette
music
visible
literature
history
invisible
values attitudes feelings patterns
5
Example forms of address
Calling the teacher by their first name (common
in American colleges)

• reduce social distance
• allow freer communication

6
Visible or invisible?
visible invisible invisible visible invisible

• When should you say thankyou?
• What is friendship?
• Are women better than men?
• When should gifts be given?
• Do old people deserve respect?

7
Context

• Context is the situation in which language
  occurs
• physical location
• relationship between people
• shared knowledge (culture, memories, etc)
• reason for communication
• gestures
• behaviour

8
High/low context

• Low context communication
• The message is mainly carried by the language.
• eg. TV, books, talking to a stranger
• High context communication
• The message is mainly carried by the context.
• eg. telling your mother how you feel

9
Talking to your mother

• She will listen to what you say.
• She will consider the context
• your gestures and facial expressions
• your past behaviour
• your current situation
• If the message from the context does not match
  the message from the language, which will she
  believe?

10
High/low context cultures
Japan

• High
• Low

China America
Germany
11
Example

• You are going overseas to study at an American
  college.
• Before you even leave China, you receive a lot of
  written information
• handbook for international students
• information about passports and visas
• how to get from the airport to the college
• There is nobody to meet you at the airport.

12
Explanation

• Westerners look for, and trust, impersonal (low
  context) information.
• (books, internet, advice from officials, etc)
• The Chinese student in America, with no human to
  help them, might feel that the situation is cold
  and unfriendly.
• The Westerner travelling to China feels
  uncomfortable when they hear Youll find out
  all the details when you arrive!

13
Another example

• A trade fair in Beijing
• George Hall an American businessman
• Mr. Li manager of a Chinese company

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George suggested that they arrange a meeting. Mr.
Li replied in fairly good English, That would be
interesting. When can we met? asked
George. Ah. This week is very busy, replied
Mr. Li. It sure is, said George, How about 10
oclock tomorrow? Meet you here. Tomorrow at
10 oclock? asked Mr. Li thoughtfully. Right,
said George, Ill see you then? Hmm, yes, why
dont you come by tomorrow, was the reply. The
next day at 10 oclock he went to Mr. Lis
companys exhibit only to find that Mr. Li had
some important business and was not able to meet
with George. He called back later in the day and
was told that Mr. Li was not available.
15
Explanation

• Westerners often think the best way to
  communicate is for everyone to speak directly.
• Once all the information has been shared, a
  decision can be made.
• They pay attention to words, rather than context.
• But people from a high context culture often
  communicate indirectly.