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Local and Global Communication in Multicultural Settings
I. Communication in Multicultural Settings A. Multiculturalism
- A person respectful of and engaged with people from distinctly different cultures is called multiculturalist (Gamble, T. & Gamble M., 2013).
- It is the view that cultures, races, and ethnicities, particularly those of minority groups, deserve special acknowledgment of their differences within a dominant political culture.
- It is the co-existence of diverse cultures, where culture includes racial, religious, or cultural groups and is manifested in customary behaviors, cultural assumptions and values, patterns of thinking, and communicative styles.
- It is a kind of policy that aims at protecting cultural diversity.
B. Multicultural vs. Intercultural Multicultural refers to a society that contains several cultural or ethnic groups. People live alongside one another, but each cultural group does not necessarily have engaging interactions with each other. For example, in a multicultural neighborhood people may frequent ethnic grocery stores and restaurants without really interacting with their neighbors from other countries.
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Intercultural describes communities in which there is a deep understanding and respect for all cultures. Intercultural communication focuses on the mutual exchange of ideas and cultural norms and the development of deep relationships. In an intercultural society, no one is left unchanged because everyone learns from one another and grows together.
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C. Challenges on Multicultural teams (Brett, Behfar, and Kern, 2006)
1. Direct versus indirect communication Communication in Western cultures is typically direct and explicit. The meaning in on the surface and the listener doesnāt have to know much about the context. Unlike in some cultures in which the meaning is embedded in the way the message is presented. 2. Trouble with accents and fluency Although English is the international business language, misunderstandings or deep frustrations may happen because of non-native speakersā accents, lack of fluency, or problems with translation and usage. 3. Differing attitudes toward hierarchy and authority In a Korean-U.S. negotiation, the Americans were having difficulty getting information from their Korean counterparts, so they complained directly to higher-level Korean management, nearly wrecking the deal. The higher-level managers were offended because hierarchy is strictly adhered to in Korean organizations and culture. It should have been their own lower-level people, not the U.S. team members, who came to them with a problem. And the Korean team members were mortified that their bosses had been involved before they themselves could brief them. The crisis was resolved only when high-level U.S. managers made a trip to Korea, conveying appropriate respect for their Korean counterparts.
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4. Conflicting norms for decision making Cultures differ in terms of making decisions, how quickly it should be made, and how much analysis should be done beforehand. Not surprisingly, American managers like to make decisions very quickly compared with managers from other countries.
D. Multicultural Communication Tips (American Management Association, 2005)
- Simplify your message by using less complex sentence structures and vocabulary.
- Never shout to be understood.
- Define the meaning of critical technical words and acronyms.
- Avoid non-standard abbreviations, such as āU Rā for āyou are.ā
- Be patient and try to follow team membersā ideas and logic, which may be different from yours.
- Ask people to repeat once, maybe twice, if you do not understand them. If that does not work, ask them to say it in a different manner.
- Remain cool and composed, even when you have made a mistake that results in embarrassment for you or when you feel embarrassed by others (in most cases, they did not mean to embarrass you).
- When you feel strong emotions about something said or done by someone who comes from a culturally different background than you do, clarify their meanings and intentions before you express your emotions.
- If you cannot think of any positive interpretation of someone elseās actions or words, chances are you are missing something. Clarify with the person or with someone who has experience in dealing with similar cultural groups.
- Adapt your space requirements to those of your counterparts whenever possible. You can judge someoneās comfort zone by the distance to which they extend their hand when shaking hands.
- When someone does or says something that seems weird and/or wrong, give him/her the benefit of the doubt. Ask yourself: āHow else could I interpret these words or actions?ā
- Communicate important messages via several different media to ensure that they are received. Make sure that all the messages are consistent.
II. Cultural and Gender Sensitivity A. Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism
- Ethnocentrism is a view or opinion that oneās own group is the center of civilization; all other groups are merely a reflection of oneās own group, and oneās own way of life is the best way of life; group can be defined by economics, race, religion, caste, or class; some degree of ethnocentrism is known in all societies and cultures; racism and extreme nationalism are examples.
- Cultural Relativism is the view that moral or ethical systems, which vary from culture to culture, are all equally valid and no one (1) system is really ābetterā than any other.
B. Differences in Customs and Behavior (Adler and Elmhorst, 2012)
1. Formality In the United States and Canada, first names are seen as friendly and indicative of fondness and attachment. In other countries such as Mexico, Germany, and Egypt, titles are important way of showing respect and it is best to use them until you are invited to a first-name basis. 2. Social Customs Japanese use bow (lower is more respectful), Thais use wai (pressed palms with a head bow), and Europeans and South Americans use handshake as their greeting. In Japan, business cards are given and received with care. The recipient should use two (2) hands and study the card carefully, treating it with the same respect s/he would give its owner. Many cultures have gift giving as a part of the business protocol. In China, it is important to avoid giving gifts in sets of four (4). Cows are sacred to India so gifts of leather should be avoided. 3. Styles of dress For men, the standard Western business suit is common in many urban settings. For both men and women abroad, conservative dress will take you much further than the latest fad or fashion.
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Dear Mothers, please ensure that your children wash their hands after using the bathroom.
Dear Families, please ensure that your children wash their hands after using the bathroom. Everyone must do his part. Everyone must do their part. The employer will address the situation when he is ready.
The employer will address the situation when ready.
4. Use equal forms of address Addressing women by their marital status is an old practice dating back to the 1700s. Women were often called by their husbandās full name, for example: āMrs. John Smith.ā Nowadays however, this practice is no longer appropriate. In the same way, women are often referred to as someoneās partner, instead of an individual in their own right. Clearly, this creates an imbalance in who is deemed important in public life. It is good practice to avoid referring to women as somebodyās wife, widow or mother unless absolutely necessary. Example: Gender biased Gender sensitive Miss, Mrs. Ms. Men and ladies Men and women / women and men Man and wife Wife and husband / husband and wife Juan Dela Cruz and his wife Juana. Mr. and Ms. Dela Cruz / Ms. And Mr. Dela Cruz Mrs. Juan Dela Cruz Juana Dela Cruz, Ms. Juana Dela Cruz 5. Create a gender balance Generics are nouns and pronouns intended to be used for both women and men. For example, the terms āfatherlandā or āmankindā describe concepts that encompass men and women but both terms are evidently male-dominated. Male-specific generics tend to call up primarily male images for readers and listeners. It is best to avoid such generics, to create a more gender-inclusive language. Similarly, word order can often give the assumption that one (1) sex is superior to the other, or that the latter sex is an afterthought. For example, using the phrases men and women, or ladies and gentlemen, may give this impression. Instead, it is better to address groups of people with generic terms. For example, addressing a group as colleagues or members of the delegation avoids using any gender bias. Example: Gender biased Gender sensitive Fatherland Native land Mother tongue Native tongue Manās search for knowledge has led him to impressive scientific discovery.
The search for knowledge has led us to impressive scientific discovery.
People have continually sought knowledge. This led to improved scientific discovery. Juan Dela Cruz and his wife Juana. Mr. and Ms. Dela Cruz / Ms. And Mr. Dela Cruz This project aims at building the entrepreneurial capacities of men and women in the district. Outputs will include business trainings for salesmen and owners of small enterprises
This project aims at building the entrepreneurial capacities of women and men in the district. Outputs will include business trainings for salespeople and owners of small enterprises. Mankind Humanity, human beings, people
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6. Promote gender equality thorough titles, beliefs, and names Titles for people and occupations often reflect inequitable assumptions about males and females; gender-sensitive language promotes more inclusive and equitable representations or both females and males. Referring to a woman as a ācareer womanā instead of a āprofessionalā, or to a server as a waitress can exacerbate inequality, as women are not perceived as equal to men. Additionally, feminine suffixes such as āess or āette can also reinforce the notion that women are subordinate, or doing a different job to men. For example, instead of using actress or stewardess, for women professionals, it is better to use the generic term (actor or flight attendant) to avoid promoting gender inequality. Example: Gender biased Gender sensitive Salesman / saleswoman Sales clerk; sales person; sales representative Career woman Professional, executive; business person Stewardess; waitress Flight attendant; waiter / server Male nurse Nurse Congressman Member of Congress Spokesman Spokesperson
References: Adler,. R., & Elmhorst, J., (2012). Communicating at work: principles and practices for business and the professions. New York: McGraw Hill. Brett, Jeanne & Behfar, Kristin & Kern, Mary. (2006). Managing Multicultural Teams. Harvard business review. 84. 84-91, 156. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/6666162_Managing_Multicultural_Teams. Cultural relativism. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.allaboutphilosophy.org/cultural-relativism.htm Defining Multiculturalism. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.ifla.org/publications/defining-multiculturalism Eagan, J. (2015). Multiculturalism. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/topic/multiculturalism Ethnocentrism. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/Ethnocentrism/ Gamble, T. & Gamble, M. (2013) Communication Works. McGraw-Hill-Higher Education. Multiculturalism. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.iep.utm.edu/multicul/ Multicultural communication tips. (n.d.). American Management Association. Retrieved from http://www.amanet.org/training/articles/multicultural-communication-tips.aspx. Principles of gender-sensitive communication. (n.d.). United Nations Development Programme. Retrieved from http://www.jm.undp.org/content/dam/jamaica/docs/gender/JM-AUG-29- UNDP%20Gender%20Seal-Principles%20of%20gender-sensitive%20communications.pdf. Sribar, R. (2015) Glossary of common terms in gender equality and feminist theory. Gendering Science: Slovenian Surveys and Studies in the EU Paradigms, Vienna: Echoraum Retrieved from http://eige.europa.eu/rdc/thesaurus/terms/1218. Whatās the difference between multicultural, intercultural, and cross-cultural communication? (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.springinstitute.org/whats-difference-multicultural-intercultural-cross-cultural- communication/
