Understanding Cultural Differences-Germans, French and Americans Edward T. Hall

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Understanding Cultural Differences-Germans,
French and AmericansEdward T. Hall Mildred
Reed Hall,1990

• Goal intern. understanding maximizing success
  for American executives
• Research interviews w/ buss. ppl, writers,
  artists, teachers

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The Three Elements of the communicative process
in culture

• Words
• Material Things
• Behavior
• A silent language

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Culture is

• a giant, extraordinarily complex, subtle
  computer
• Its programs guide actions
• What causes system breakdown

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• A few of the key concepts underlying
  culture

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Fast and Slow Messages

• the speed at which a message can be decoded
  acted on
• See examples on handout
• Applications to building relationships

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Context

• Context elements that contribute to producing a
  meaning they differ in proportion depending on
  culture
• Effective communicationknowing the degree of
  info(contexting) needed

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High Low Context

• H.C.extensive information networks -gt little
  need for background info
• (Japanese, Arab Mediterranean ppl.)
• L.C.compartmentalized relationships cause need
  for background info
• (Germans, Swiss Americans)

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Context shifting

• Any shift in level of context is a communication
  upscalewarming, downscalecooling

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Monochronic vs. Polychronic

• See handout
• Both Germans Americansmonochronic

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While both monochronic.

• Germans Americans differ in relation to TIME
• Germans precise scheduling, slow pace
• Attention to detail preoccupation w/ past
  (see quote on handout)

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ACHTUNG!

• Grosse Generalizations komming

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Americans from the German PerspectiveNegatives

• Overly familiar, intrusive
• Naïve (historically politically)
• Poorly educated, narrow-minded
• Undisciplined, lacking taste
• Shallow over-confident
• Needing hand-holding in buss.

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Americans fr. the German PerspectivePositives

• Friendly
• Resourceful, energetic, innovative
• Happier, more productive, greater freedom than
  most
• Resilient
• Amer. Society great opportunity for success
  upward mobility

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Germans from the American Perspective

• Disciplined, well-educated
• Neat, orderly
• Systematic, well-organized
• Reserved, private
• Tough competitors

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Usefullness of this book?

• If youre an untravelled Amer. Buss. executive
  living in the 1990s, this book may be for you
• Provides a cultural short hand for American
  businesspple (behaviors to enact avoid to
  improve your bottom line!)

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For our students??

• For our students??--a more nuanced approach (that
  avoids saying the Germans are would be better
• But some cultural concepts (e.g.,high low
  context) could be helpful

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Too concludea few mind-expanding quotes

• Until now the publication of this book there
  has been no way to translate behavior from one
  culture to another (xix)
• Few people realize that space is perceived by
  all the senses, not by vision alone (11)
• Germans do not smile when introduced. Smiling
  is for friends (39)

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Jennie vs. the Point of Power

• After thirty years of avoidance, Jennie completes
  her first power point. She is not sure if shes
  happy about it
• If she wants to continue down this dark
  treacherous path, she will have to give in get
  a tutorial