The word “culture” nowadays is used in so many peripheral contexts that its original meaning has been submerged. For example, we have a “popular culture”, by which is meant the collective human intellectual achievements. There is a “consumerist culture”, which is taken by some as a determinant of the status of a person along with his educational success and/or financial strength.
Culture is the basis for how we tell the world who we are and what we believe. People build their identities through cultural overlays to their primary culture. Peoples’ cultural moorings dictate the choices they make in matters of education, career, place of employment and life partner.
Each of these choices brings with it a set of rules, manners, ceremonies, beliefs, language, and values. They add to one’s total cultural outlook, and they represent major expressions of a person’s self-identity. Culture combines the visible and invisible. To outsiders, the way we act – those things that we do in daily life and work – are the most visible parts of our culture.
Cross-cultural Communication Process
The term communication describes the process of sharing meaning by transmitting messages through media such as words, behaviour, or material artifacts. Managers communicate to coordinate activities, disseminate information, motivate people, and negotiate future plans. It is of vital importance, then, that the receiver interprets the meaning of a particular communication in the way the sender intended.
Unfortunately, the communication process involves stages during which the meaning can be distorted. Anything that serves to undermine the communication of the intended meaning is typically referred to as noise.
The communication process is rapidly changing, however, as a result of technological developments, therefore propelling global business forward at a phenomenal growth rate.
Cultural Noise in the Communication Process
Because our focus here is on effective cross-cultural communication, we need to understand what cultural variables cause noise in the communication process. This knowledge of cultural noise will enable us to take steps to minimize that noise and so improve communication.
When a member of one culture sends a message to a member of another culture, intercultural communication takes place. The message contains the meaning intended by the encoder. When it reaches the receiver, however, it undergoes a transformation in which the influence of the decoder’s culture becomes part of the meaning. In intercultural communication, it is not uncommon to find instances where the meaning got all mixed up. In such cases, the attribution of behavior differs for each participant.
Attribution is the process in which people look for an explanation of another person’s behavior. When they realize that they do not understand another, they tend, say, Hall and Hall, to blame their confusion on the other’s “stupidity, deceit, or craziness. An understanding of the local culture and business environment can give managers an advantage in competitive industries; foreign companies – no matter how big – can ignore those aspects to their peril.
Such differences in culture and the way of life in other countries necessitate that managers develop international expertise to manage on a contingency basis according to the host-country environment. Powerful, interdependent factors in that environment – political, economic, legal, technological, and cultural—influence management strategy, functions, and processes.
Cultural Variables In The Communication Process
On a different level, it is also useful to be aware of cultural variables that can affect the communication process by influencing a person’s perceptions; some of these variables have been identified by Samovar and Porter (1981) and discussed by Harris and Moran, Ronen, and others (1991).
These variables are as follows: attitudes, social organization, thought patterns, roles, language (spoken or written), non-verbal communication (including kinesics behavior, Proxemics, paralanguage, and object language), and time.
A major differentiating factor that is a primary cause of noise in the communication process is that of context – which, as you will see, actually incorporates many of the variables just discussed. The context in which the communication takes place affects the meaning and interpretation of the interaction.
it’s a concept developed by cultural anthropologist Edward t. Hall. In his model, context refers to the stimuli, environment, or ambiance surrounding an event. Communicators in low-context cultures (such as those in North America, Scandinavia, Switzerland, and Germany) depend little on the context of a situation to convey their meaning. They assume that listeners know very little and must be told practically everything.
In high-context cultures (such as those in India, japan, china, south Korea and arab countries, Africa, and the Mediterranean countries), the listener is already “contexted” and does not need to be given much background information.
Low-context cultures tend to be logical, analytical, and action-oriented. Business communicators stress clearly articulated messages that they consider to be objective, professional, and efficient.
High-context cultures pay attention to more than the words were spoken. They emphasize interpersonal relationships, non-verbal expression, physical setting, and social setting. They are more aware of the communicator’s history, status, and position. Communication cues are transmitted by posture, voice inflection, gestures, and facial expression. Establishing relationships is an important part of communicating and interacting.
In cross-cultural communication between high-and low-context people, a lack of understanding may preclude reaching a solution, and conflict may arise. Germans, for example, will expect considerable detailed information before making a business decision, whereas Arabs will base their decision more on knowledge of the people involved – the information is still there, but it is implicit.
People in high-context cultures expect others to understand unarticulated moods, subtle gestures, and environmental clues that people from low-context cultures simply do not process. Misinterpretation and misunderstanding often result.
According to Guffey (2000), people in low-and high-context cultures tend to communicate differently with words. To Americans and Germans, words are very important, especially in contracts and negotiations. People in high-context cultures, on the other hand, place some emphasis on the surrounding context than on the words describing a negotiation.
A Greek sees a contract as a formal statement announcing the intention to build a business for the future. The Japanese treat contracts as statements of intention, and they assume changes will be made as a project develops. Mexicans treat contracts as artistic exercises of what might be accomplished in an ideal world.
They do not expect contracts to apply consistently in the real world. An Arab may be insulted by merely mentioning a contract; a man’s word is more binding.
The logical progression of reasoning varies widely around the world and greatly affects the communication process. Managers cannot assume that others use the same reasoning processes, as illustrated by the experience of a Canadian expatriate in Thailand:
While in Thailand a Canadian expatriate’s car was hit by a Thai motorist who had crossed over the double line while passing another vehicle. After failing to establish that the fault lay with the Thai driver, the Canadian flagged down a policeman.
After several minutes of seemingly futile discussion, the Canadian pointed out the double line in the middle of the road and asked the policeman directly. “What do these lines signify?” The policeman replied, “They indicate the center of the road and are there so I can establish just how far the accident is from that point.” The Canadian was silent. It had never occurred to him that the double line might not mean “no passing allowed (Harris and Moran, 1991).
Spoken or written language, of course, is a frequent cause of miscommunication, stemming from a person’s inability to speak the local language, a poor or too-literal translation, a speaker’s failure to explain idioms, or a person missing the meaning conveyed through body language or certain symbols.
Even among countries that share the same language, there can be problems in the subtleties and nuances inherent in the use of the language, as noted by George Bernard Shaw: “Britain and America are two nations separated by a common language.” This problem can exist even within the same country among subcultures or subgroups (Adler, 1991).
Although it’s best to speak a foreign language fluently, many of us lack that skill. Fortunately, global business transactions are often conducted in English, though the level of proficiency may be limited among those for whom it is a second language. Managers from English-speaking countries make a big mistake in thinking that people who use English as a second language always understand what is being said.
Comprehension can be fairly superficial. The following suggestions are helpful for situations in which one or both communications may be using English as a second language (Guffey, 2000).
- Learn foreign phrases: In conversations, even when English is used, foreign nationals appreciate it when you learn greetings and a few phrases in their language. Practice the phrases phonetically so that you will be understood.
- Use simple English: Speak in short sentences (under 15 words), and try to stick to the 3,000 to 4,000 most common English words. For example, use old rather than obsolete and rich rather than luxurious or sumptuous. Eliminate puns, sports and military references, slang, and jargon (special business terms). Be especially alert to idiomatic expressions that can’t be translated, such as burning the midnight oil and under the weather.
- Speak slowly and enunciate clearly: Avoid fast speech, but don’t raise your voice. Over-punctuate with pauses and full stops. Always write numbers for all to see.
- Observe eye messages: Be alert to a glazed expression or wandering eyes – these tell you that the listener is lost.
- Encourage accurate feedback: Ask probing questions, and encourage the listener to paraphrase what you say. Don’t assume that a yes, a nod, or a smile indicates comprehension.
- Check frequently for comprehension: Avoid waiting until you finish a long explanation to request feedback. Instead, make one point at a time, pausing to check for comprehension. Don’t proceed to B until A has been grasped.
- Accept blame: If a misunderstanding results, graciously accept the blame for not making your meaning clear.
- Listen without interrupting: Curb your desire to finish sentences or to fill out ideas for the speaker. Keep in mind that abroad you may be often accused of listening too little and talking too much.
- Remember to smile! Roger Axtell, the international behavior expert, calls the smile the single most understood and most useful form of communication in either personal or business transactions.
- Follow up in writing: After conversations or oral negotiations, confirm the results and agreements with follow-up letters. For proposals and contracts, engage a translator to prepare copies in the local language.
In sending letters and other documents to businesspeople in other cultures, try to adapt your writing style and tone appropriately. For example, in cultures where formality and tradition are important, be scrupulously polite. Don’t even think of sharing the latest joke. Humour translates very poorly and can cause misunderstanding and negative reactions.
Familiarize yourself with accented channels of communication. Are letters, e-mails, and faxes common? Would a direct or indirect organizational pattern be more effective? The following suggestions can help you prepare successfully written messages for multicultural audiences (Guffey, 2000).
- Adopt local formats: Learn how documents are formatted and addressed in the intended reader’s country. Use local formats and styles.
- Use short sentences and short paragraphs: Sentences with fewer than 15 words and paragraphs with fewer than 7 lines are most readable.
- Avoid ambiguous expressions: Include relative pronouns (that, which, who) for clarity in introducing clauses. Stay away from contractions (especially ones like here’s the problem). Avoid idioms (once in a blue moon), slang (my presentation really bombed), acronyms (ASAP for as soon as possible), abbreviations (DBA for doing business as) jargon (input, bottom line), and sports references (play ball, slam dunk, ballpark figure). Use action-specific verbs (purchase a printer rather than get a printer).
- Strive for clarity: Avoid words that have many meanings (the word light has 18 different meanings!). If necessary, clarify words that may be confusing. Replace two-word verbs with clear single words (return instead of bringing back; delay instead of putting off; maintain instead of keeping up).
- Use correct grammar: Be careful of misplaced modifiers, dangling participles, and sentence fragments. Use conventional punctuation.
- Cite numbers carefully: For international trade, it’s a good idea to learn and use the metric system. In citing numbers use figures (15) instead of spelling them out (fifteen). Always convert dollar figures into local currency. Avoid using figures to express the month of the year.
- Accommodate the reader in organization, tone, and style: Organize your message to appeal to the reader. If flowery tone, formal salutations, indirectness, references to family and the seasons, or unconditional apologies are expected, strive to accommodate.
Behavior that communicates without words (although it often is accompanied by words) is called non-verbal communication. People will usually believe what they see over what they hear hence the expression, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” Studies show that these subtle messages account for between 65 and 93 percent of interpreted communication (Daft, 1989).
Even minor variations in body language, speech rhythms, and punctuality, for example, often cause mistrust and misperception of the situation among cross-national parties (Li et al, 1999).
The media for such non-verbal communication can be categorized into four types:
- Kinesics behavior
- Object language
Cross-cultural Communication Effectiveness
The management of cross-cultural communication depends largely on a manager’s personal abilities and behavior. Those behaviors that researchers indicate to be most important to intercultural communication effectiveness are listed here, as reviewed by Ruben (1985):
- Respect (conveyed through eye contact, body posture, voice tone, and pitch)
- Interaction posture (the ability to respond to others in a descriptive, non-evaluative, and non-judgemental way)
- Orientation to knowledge (recognizing that one’s knowledge, perception, and beliefs are valid only for oneself and not for everyone else)
- Interaction management
- Tolerance for ambiguity
- Other-oriented role behavior (one’s capacity to be flexible and to adopt different roles for the sake of greater group cohesion and group communication)
Checklist for Improving Multicultural Sensitivity and Communication
- Study your own Culture: Learn about your customs, biases, and views and how they differ from those in other societies. This knowledge can help you better understand, appreciate, and accept the values and behavior of other cultures.
- Learn about other Cultures: Education can help you alter cultural misconceptions, reduce fears, and minimize misunderstandings. Knowledge of other cultures opens your eyes and teaches you to expect differences. Such knowledge also enriches your life.
- Curb Ethnocentrism: Avoid judging others by your personal views. Get over the view that the other cultures are incorrect, defective, or primitive. Try to develop an open mindset.
- Avoid Judgmentalism: Strive to accept other behavior as different, rather than as right or wrong. Try not to be defensive in justifying your culture. Strive for objectivity.
- Look beyond Stereotypes: Remember that individuals are often unlike their cultural stereotype, so forget preconceptions and probe beneath the surface.
- Seek Common Ground: When cultures clash, look for solutions that respect both cultures. Be flexible in developing compromises.
- Observe Non-verbal cues in your Culture: Become more alert to the meanings of eye contact, facial expression, posture, gestures, and the use of time, space, and territory. How do they differ in other cultures?
- Use Plain English: Speak and write in short sentences using simple words and simple English. Eliminate puns, slang, jargon, acronym, abbreviations, and any words that cannot be translated easily.
- Encourage Accurate Feedback: In conversations ask probing questions and listen attentively without interrupting. Don’t assume that a yes or a smile indicates assent or comprehension.
- Adapt to Local Preferences: Shape your writing to reflect the reader’s document styles, if appropriate. Express currency in local figures. Write out the months of the year for clarity.
Neno "utamaduni" leo hutumiwa katika muktadha mwingi sana wa nje hivi kwamba maana yake ya awali imefichwa. Kwa mfano, tuna "utamaduni maarufu", ambao unamaanisha mafanikio ya pamoja ya kiakili ya binadamu. Kuna "utamaduni wa watumiaji", ambao unachukuliwa na wengine kama kipaumbele cha hadhi ya mtu pamoja na mafanikio yake ya elimu na / au nguvu ya kifedha. Utamaduni ni msingi wa jinsi tunavyowaambia ulimwengu sisi ni nani na tunaamini nini. Watu hujenga utambulisho wao kupitia overlays za kitamaduni kwa utamaduni wao wa msingi. Watu <unk> moorings utamaduni kuamuru uchaguzi wao kufanya katika masuala ya elimu, kazi, mahali pa ajira na mpenzi wa maisha. Kila moja ya chaguzi hizo huleta pamoja na sheria, adabu, sherehe, itikadi, lugha, na maadili. Wao kuongeza moja ya jumla ya mtazamo wa kitamaduni, na wao kuwakilisha usemi kuu wa mtu binafsi utambulisho. Utamaduni huchanganya yaliyoonekana na yasiyoonekana. Kwa watu wa nje, njia tunayotenda - mambo tunayofanya katika maisha na kazi ya kila siku - ndiyo sehemu inayoonekana zaidi ya utamaduni wetu. Utangazaji wa kati ya tamaduni ni mchakato wa kushiriki maana kwa kupitisha ujumbe kupitia vyombo vya habari kama vile maneno, tabia, au vitu vya vifaa. Wasimamizi huwasiliana ili kuratibu shughuli, kueneza habari, kuchochea watu, na kujadili mipango ya wakati ujao. Kwa hiyo, ni muhimu sana kwamba mpokeaji aelewe maana ya ujumbe fulani kwa njia ambayo mtumaji alitaka. Kwa kusikitisha, mchakato wa mawasiliano huhusisha hatua ambazo maana ya neno inaweza kupotoshwa. Kitu chochote kinachoharibu mawasiliano ya maana inayokusudiwa kwa kawaida huitwa kelele. Hata hivyo, mchakato wa mawasiliano unabadilika haraka, kama matokeo ya maendeleo ya kiteknolojia, na hivyo kusukuma biashara ya kimataifa mbele kwa kiwango cha ukuaji wa ajabu. Kwa sababu lengo letu hapa ni juu ya mawasiliano ya ufanisi ya kati ya tamaduni, tunahitaji kuelewa ni nini mabadiliko ya kitamaduni kusababisha kelele katika mchakato wa mawasiliano. Ujuzi huu wa kelele za kitamaduni utatuwezesha kuchukua hatua za kupunguza kelele hiyo na hivyo kuboresha mawasiliano. Mshiriki wa utamaduni mmoja anapomtumia ujumbe mtu wa utamaduni mwingine, mawasiliano ya kitamaduni hutokea. Ujumbe ina maana inayokusudiwa na encoder. Hata hivyo, inapofika kwa mpokeaji, inabadilika na uvutano wa utamaduni wa mpatanishi unakuwa sehemu ya maana. Katika mawasiliano ya kitamaduni, ni kawaida kupata visa ambapo maana imechanganyikiwa. Katika visa kama hivyo, sifa ya tabia inatofautiana kwa kila mshiriki. Utoaji ni mchakato ambao watu hutafuta ufafanuzi wa tabia ya mtu mwingine. Wanapotambua kwamba hawaelewi mwingine, wao huwa, sema, Hall na Hall, kulaumu kuchanganyikiwa kwao kwa "upumbavu, udanganyifu, au wazimu" wa mwingine. Uelewa wa utamaduni wa ndani na mazingira ya biashara inaweza kutoa wasimamizi faida katika viwanda vya ushindani; makampuni ya kigeni - bila kujali jinsi kubwa - inaweza kupuuza mambo hayo kwa hatari yao. Tofauti hizo katika utamaduni na njia ya maisha katika nchi nyingine zinahitaji kwamba wasimamizi kuendeleza utaalam wa kimataifa kwa usimamizi juu ya msingi wa hali ya dharura kulingana na mazingira ya nchi mwenyeji. Nguvu, mambo yanayohusiana katika mazingira hayo - kisiasa, kiuchumi, kisheria, kiteknolojia, na kitamaduni - ushawishi mkakati wa usimamizi, kazi, na michakato. Katika mchakato wa mawasiliano, ni muhimu kuwa na ufahamu wa mabadiliko ya kitamaduni ambayo yanaweza kuathiri mchakato wa mawasiliano kwa kuathiri maoni ya mtu; baadhi ya mabadiliko haya yametambuliwa na Samovar na Porter (1981) na kujadiliwa na Harris na Moran (1991). Vipengele hivi ni kama ifuatavyo: mitazamo, shirika la kijamii, mifumo ya mawazo, majukumu, lugha (iliyosemwa au iliyoandikwa), mawasiliano yasiyo ya maneno (ikiwemo tabia ya kinesi, proxies, paraphrase, na lugha ya kitu), na wakati. Sababu kuu ya kutofautisha ambayo ni sababu ya msingi ya kelele katika mchakato wa mawasiliano ni kwamba ya muktadha <unk> ambayo, kama utaona, kwa kweli inajumuisha mengi ya vigezo tu kujadiliwa. Muktadha ambao mawasiliano hufanyika huathiri maana na tafsiri ya mwingiliano. ni dhana iliyoundwa na anthropolojia ya kitamaduni Edward t. Hall. Katika mfano wake, muktadha hurejezea vichocheo, mazingira, au mazingira yanayozunguka tukio. Wawasiliana katika tamaduni za chini-maelezo (kama vile wale katika Amerika ya Kaskazini, Scandinavia, Uswisi, na Ujerumani) hutegemea kidogo juu ya muktadha wa hali ya kufikisha maana yao. Wao hudhani kwamba wasikilizaji wanajua machache sana na lazima waelezwe karibu kila kitu. Katika tamaduni zenye muktadha mkubwa (kama vile zile za India, Japan, China, Korea Kusini na nchi za Kiarabu, Afrika, na nchi za Mediterania), msikilizaji tayari amewekwa katika muktadha na hahitaji kupewa habari nyingi za msingi. Utamaduni wa muktadha mdogo huwa na mantiki, uchambuzi, na unaozingatia vitendo. Wasemaji wa biashara hukazia ujumbe ulioelezwa waziwazi ambao wanaona kuwa wa kipekee, wa kitaaluma, na wenye matokeo. Utamaduni wenye muktadha wa juu unakazia mambo mengi zaidi ya maneno yaliyosemwa. Wao hukazia mahusiano ya kati ya watu, usemi usio wa maneno, mazingira ya kimwili, na mazingira ya kijamii. Wao ni zaidi ufahamu wa historia ya communicator, hadhi, na nafasi. Ishara za mawasiliano husambazwa kupitia msimamo wa mwili, kubadilika kwa sauti, ishara, na mwonekano wa uso. Kuanzisha mahusiano ni sehemu muhimu ya kuwasiliana na kuingiliana. Katika mawasiliano ya kati ya tamaduni kati ya watu wa hali ya juu na ya chini, ukosefu wa uelewa unaweza kuzuia kufikia suluhisho, na mgogoro unaweza kutokea. Wajerumani, kwa mfano, watatarajia habari nyingi kabla ya kufanya uamuzi wa biashara, wakati Waarabu wataweka uamuzi wao zaidi juu ya maarifa ya watu wanaohusika - habari bado ipo, lakini ni ya wazi. Watu katika tamaduni zenye muktadha wa juu hutarajia wengine waelewe hisia zisizoeleweka, ishara za hali ya chini, na dalili za mazingira ambazo watu kutoka tamaduni zenye muktadha wa chini hawafanyi kazi. Mara nyingi kuna ufafanuzi na uelewevu usiofaa. Kulingana na Guffey (2000), watu katika tamaduni za chini na za juu huwa na kuwasiliana tofauti na maneno. Kwa Wamarekani na Wajerumani, maneno ni muhimu sana, hasa katika mikataba na mazungumzo. Watu katika tamaduni zenye muktadha mkubwa, kwa upande mwingine, huweka mkazo fulani kwenye muktadha unaozunguka kuliko juu ya maneno yanayoelezea mazungumzo. Mgiriki huona mkataba kuwa taarifa rasmi inayotangaza nia ya kujenga biashara kwa ajili ya wakati ujao. Wajapani hutumia mikataba kama taarifa za makusudi, na wanadhani kwamba mabadiliko yatafanywa kadiri mradi unavyoendelea. Wamexico huona mikataba kuwa mazoezi ya kisanii ya kile ambacho kingeweza kutimizwa katika ulimwengu mzuri. Hawataraji mikataba kutumika kwa uthabiti katika ulimwengu halisi. Mwarabu aweza kudhulumiwa kwa kutaja tu mkataba; neno la mtu ni lenye kulazimisha zaidi. Mfuatano wa kiakili wa kufikiri hutofautiana sana ulimwenguni pote na huathiri sana mchakato wa mawasiliano. "Manajiri hawezi kudhani kwamba wengine hutumia taratibu sawa za kufikiri, kama inavyoonyeshwa na uzoefu wa mgeni wa Canada nchini Thailand: ""Wakati katika Thailand gari la mgeni wa Canada lilipigwa na dereva wa Thai ambaye alikuwa amevuka mstari wa mara mbili wakati wa kupita gari lingine." Baada ya kushindwa kuthibitisha kwamba kosa lilikuwa la dereva wa Thailand, Mkanada huyo alimzuia polisi. Baada ya mazungumzo ya dakika kadhaa, yule Mkanada alimwonyesha mstari wa mbili katikati ya barabara na kumwuliza polisi moja kwa moja. "Masharti haya yana maana gani?""Akasema polisi, ""Yanaonyesha katikati ya barabara na ni hapo ili niweze kuamua ni umbali gani wa ajali kutoka kwa hatua hiyo.""" Haikuwa imefika akilini mwake kwamba mstari maradufu huenda usimaanishe <unk> hakuna kupita kuruhusiwa (Harris na Moran, 1991). Lugha iliyoandikwa au kuelezwa ni sababu ya kawaida ya kutokuelewana, kutokana na kutokuwa na uwezo wa mtu wa kuzungumza lugha ya mahali hapo, tafsiri duni au ya neno kwa neno, kushindwa kwa msemaji kuelezea maneno, au mtu kukosa maana iliyotolewa kupitia lugha ya mwili au alama fulani. Hata kati ya nchi ambazo zinashiriki lugha moja, kunaweza kuwa na matatizo katika subtleties na nuances asili katika matumizi ya lugha, kama ilivyoelezwa na George Bernard Shaw: "Uingereza na Marekani ni mataifa mawili kutenganishwa na lugha ya kawaida." Ingawa ni afadhali kuzungumza lugha ya kigeni kwa ufasaha, wengi wetu hatuna ustadi huo. Kwa bahati nzuri, shughuli za biashara za kimataifa mara nyingi hufanywa kwa Kiingereza, ingawa kiwango cha ujuzi kinaweza kuwa kidogo miongoni mwa wale ambao ni lugha ya pili. Wasimamizi kutoka nchi zinazozungumza Kiingereza hufanya kosa kubwa kwa kufikiri kwamba watu wanaotumia Kiingereza kama lugha ya pili daima kuelewa nini ni alisema. Uelewevu waweza kuwa wa juu tu. Kwa mfano, kuna uwezekano wa kuwa na mawasiliano ya Kiingereza kama lugha ya pili (Guffey, 2000). - Jifunze misemo ya kigeni: Katika mazungumzo, hata wakati Kiingereza kinatumiwa, raia wa kigeni hufurahia unapojifunza salamu na misemo michache katika lugha yao. Fanya mazoezi ya maneno kwa sauti ili ueleweke. Kwa mfano, kwa Kiingereza, unaweza kutumia sentensi fupi (kwa maneno chini ya 15), na jaribu kushikamana na maneno 3,000 hadi 4,000 ya Kiingereza ya kawaida. Kwa mfano, tumia vitu vya zamani badala ya vitu vilivyopitwa na wakati na vitu vyenye thamani badala ya vitu vyenye anasa au vyenye kupendeza. Ondoa maneno ya kuchekesha, maneno ya michezo na ya kijeshi, usemi wa kawaida, na usemi wa kibiashara (maneno ya pekee ya kibiashara). Kuwa makini hasa kwa misemo ya lugha ambayo haiwezi kutafsiriwa, kama vile kuchoma mafuta ya usiku wa manane na chini ya hali ya hewa. - Sema polepole na utoe maneno waziwazi: Epuka kusema kwa kasi, lakini usiongeze sauti yako. Weka alama nyingi sana kwa kutumia vipindi vya kusitisha na vituo. Sikuzote andika namba ili wote waone. - Angalia ujumbe wa macho: Kuwa makini na usemi glazed au macho wandering <unk> hizi kukuambia kwamba msikilizaji ni waliopotea. - Kuhimiza maoni sahihi: Uliza maswali ya kuchunguza, na kumtia moyo msikilizaji aeleze kile unachosema. Usifikiri kwamba kusema ndiyo, kunyoosha kichwa, au tabasamu kunaonyesha kwamba unaelewa. - Angalia mara kwa mara kwa uelewa: Kuepuka kusubiri mpaka kumaliza ufafanuzi mrefu kuomba maoni. Badala yake, taja jambo moja kwa wakati, ukisimama kidogo ili uone kama umeelewa. Usiendelee na B mpaka A amegunduliwa. - Kukubali lawama: Ikiwa kutoelewana hutokea, kwa fadhili kukubali lawama kwa kutoeleza maana yako waziwazi. - Sikiliza bila kukatiza: Punguza tamaa yako ya kumaliza sentensi au kujaza mawazo kwa msemaji. Kumbuka kwamba huenda ukashtakiwa mara nyingi nje ya nchi kwa kusikiliza kidogo sana na kuongea sana. - Kumbuka kutabasamu! Roger Axtell, mtaalamu wa tabia ya kimataifa, anaita tabasamu aina moja ya mawasiliano inayoeleweka na muhimu zaidi katika shughuli za kibinafsi au za biashara. - Kufuatia kwa maandishi: Baada ya mazungumzo au mazungumzo ya mdomo, kuthibitisha matokeo na makubaliano na barua za ufuatiliaji. Kwa mapendekezo na mikataba, waachie mtafsiri awatayarishe nakala katika lugha ya mahali hapo. Unapotuma barua na hati nyingine kwa wafanyabiashara katika tamaduni nyingine, jaribu kurekebisha mtindo wako wa kuandika na sauti ifaavyo. Kwa mfano, katika tamaduni ambako utaratibu na mapokeo ni muhimu, uwe mwenye adabu sana. Usidhani hata kushiriki utani wa hivi karibuni. Ucheshi hutafsiriwa vibaya sana na waweza kusababisha kutoelewana na itikio baya. Jifunze njia za kuwasiliana zenye msamiati. Je, barua, barua-pepe, na faksi ni jambo la kawaida? Je, utaratibu wa moja kwa moja au wa moja kwa moja wa tengenezo ungekuwa wenye matokeo zaidi? Mapendekezo yafuatayo yanaweza kukusaidia kuandaa ujumbe ulioandikwa kwa mafanikio kwa watazamaji wa tamaduni nyingi (Guffey, 2000). - Kuchukua muundo wa ndani: Jifunze jinsi nyaraka zinavyofomatiwa na kushughulikiwa katika nchi ya msomaji anayekusudiwa. Tumia muundo wa ndani na mitindo. - Tumia sentensi fupi na mafungu mafupi: Sentensi zenye maneno chini ya 15 na mafungu yenye mistari chini ya 7 ni rahisi zaidi kusoma. - Kuepuka usemi ambiguous: Ni pamoja na kiwakilishi pronouns (kwamba, ambayo, ambaye) kwa uwazi katika kuanzisha vifungu. Kuendelea mbali na contractions (hasa wale kama hapa ni tatizo). "Kutumia maneno ya kawaida (kama ""mwezi wa bluu,"" ""mwisho wa mwezi,"" ""mwisho wa mwezi,"" ""mwisho wa mwezi,"" ""mwisho wa mwezi,"" ""mwisho wa mwezi,"" ""mwisho wa mwezi,"" ""mwisho wa mwezi,"" ""mwisho wa mwezi,"" ""mwisho wa mwezi,"" ""mwisho wa mwezi,"" ""mwisho wa mwezi,"" ""mwisho wa mwezi,"" ""mwisho wa mwezi"" na ""mwisho wa mwezi"") ni muhimu." Tumia vitenzi vinavyohusisha tendo fulani (nunua printer badala ya kupata printer). "Kutumia maneno ""mwenye maana nyingi"" (neno ""nuru"" lina maana 18 tofauti) ni jambo la kawaida." Ikiwa ni lazima, eleza maneno ambayo huenda yakawa yenye kuchanganya. "Badilisha maneno ya neno kwa maneno ya neno moja (kurudi badala ya kuleta nyuma, kuchelewesha badala ya kuahirisha, kudumisha badala ya kuendelea).""" - Tumia sarufi sahihi: Jihadharini na vifungu visivyofaa, vifungu visivyofaa, na vipande vya sentensi. Tumia alama za kawaida za alama. - Quote namba kwa uangalifu: Kwa ajili ya biashara ya kimataifa, ni wazo nzuri kujifunza na kutumia mfumo wa metric. Unapotaja namba, tumia tarakimu (15) badala ya kuziandika (kumi na tano). Daima badilisha tarakimu za dola kuwa sarafu ya mahali hapo. Epuka kutumia tarakimu ili kueleza mwezi wa mwaka. - Mkaribishe msomaji katika utaratibu, sauti, na mtindo: Panga ujumbe wako ili umvutia msomaji. Ikiwa sauti ya kupendeza, salamu za kidesturi, usemi usio wa moja kwa moja, marejeo ya familia na majira, au kuomba msamaha bila masharti yanatarajiwa, jitahidi kukubali. Tabia ya kuwasiliana bila maneno (ingawa mara nyingi huambatana na maneno) inaitwa mawasiliano yasiyo ya maneno. "Watu wengi wanaamini kile wanachoona kuliko kile wanachosikia, kwa hivyo usemi ""picha ina thamani ya maneno elfu"" unaonyesha kwamba ujumbe huu wa hali ya chini unawakilisha kati ya 65% na 93% ya mawasiliano yaliyotafsiriwa." Hata tofauti ndogo katika lugha ya mwili, rhythms ya hotuba, na usahihi, kwa mfano, mara nyingi husababisha kutokuamini na maoni mabaya ya hali kati ya vyama vya kimataifa (Li et al., 1999). Media kwa ajili ya mawasiliano kama yasiyo ya maneno inaweza kuwa categorized katika aina nne: - Kinesics tabia - Object lugha Cross-utamaduni Mawasiliano ufanisi Usimamizi wa mawasiliano ya msalaba wa kitamaduni inategemea sana juu ya uwezo wa meneja binafsi na tabia. "Kama ilivyoelezwa na Rubin, ""Heshima (iliyoonyeshwa kupitia mawasiliano ya macho, msimamo wa mwili, sauti, na sauti) - Mtazamo wa mwingiliano (uwezo wa kujibu kwa wengine kwa njia ya kuelezea, isiyo ya tathmini, na isiyo ya hukumu) - Uelekezaji kwa maarifa (kutambua kwamba maarifa, utambuzi, na imani ya mtu ni halali tu kwa mtu mwenyewe na sio kwa wengine wote) - Usimamizi wa mwingiliano - Uvumilivu kwa utata - Utendaji wa mwingiliano wa wengine (uwezo wa mtu kuwa na kubadilika na kuchukua majukumu tofauti kwa ajili ya mshikamano wa kikundi na mawasiliano ya kikundi)." Ujuzi huo waweza kukusaidia kuelewa, kuthamini, na kukubali vizuri zaidi maadili na tabia za tamaduni nyinginezo. - Jifunze kuhusu tamaduni nyingine: Elimu yaweza kukusaidia kubadilisha maoni yasiyofaa ya kitamaduni, kupunguza hofu, na kupunguza kutoelewana. Ujuzi wa tamaduni nyingine hufungua macho yako na kukufundisha kutarajia tofauti. Ujuzi huo pia huongeza thamani ya maisha yako. - Kuzuia Ethnocentrism: Epuka kuhukumu wengine kwa maoni yako ya kibinafsi. Ondoa maoni ya kwamba tamaduni nyinginezo si sahihi, zina kasoro, au ni za kale. Jaribu kuwa na mtazamo wa wazi. - Kuepuka Hukumu: Jitahidi kukubali tabia nyingine kama tofauti, badala ya kama haki au makosa. Jaribu kutokuwa mwenye kujilinda katika kutetea utamaduni wako. Jitahidi kuwa mwenye kupendeza. - Angalia zaidi ya Stereotypes: Kumbuka kwamba watu binafsi ni mara nyingi tofauti na stereotype yao ya kitamaduni, hivyo kusahau maoni ya awali na uchunguzi chini ya uso. - Tafuta Mazingira ya Kawaida: Wakati tamaduni zinapogongana, tafuta suluhisho zinazoheshimu tamaduni zote mbili. Uwe mwenye kubadilika-badilika katika kufanya makubaliano. - Angalia ishara zisizo za maneno katika Utamaduni wako: Kuwa makini zaidi kwa maana ya mawasiliano ya macho, usemi wa uso, msimamo, ishara, na matumizi ya muda, nafasi, na eneo. Ni nini tofauti kati ya tamaduni hizo na za watu wengine? - Tumia Kiingereza cha kawaida: Sema na andika katika sentensi fupi kwa kutumia maneno sahili na Kiingereza rahisi. Ondoa maneno ya kuchekesha, lugha ya kienyeji, usemi wa kawaida, vitenzi, mafupisho, na maneno yoyote ambayo hayawezi kutafsiriwa kwa urahisi. - Kuhimiza Maelezo sahihi: Katika mazungumzo uliza maswali ya kuchunguza na usikilize kwa makini bila kukatiza. Usifikiri kwamba kusema ndiyo au tabasamu kunaonyesha kwamba unakubali au unaelewa. - Kukabiliana na Mapendeleo ya Mitaa: Fanya uandishi wako kutafakari mitindo ya hati ya msomaji, ikiwa inafaa. Kueleza sarafu katika takwimu za mitaa. Andika miezi ya mwaka ili uelewe waziwazi.