5 Factors that may impair with Cross Culture Communication

Essay by simran1 November 2006

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1) Conventions for courtesy - When people from different cultures communicate misunderstandings often result not only from their words but also their ways of communicating. Every language has common conventions for polite interaction and certain formalities and courtesies is expected which other may dismiss as insincere chitchat. In the example, the person (Indian) talking to the agent seems to be defensive behavior even though it does not seems rude to the other East Indian. But it comes to a disagreeable to people who are not used to this tone of voice. When the two people are not communicating on the same level, then it comes to a totally shut down. One of the two individual should stop and try to make sure that they eliminate that split of communication.

2) Sequence- Skillful exchange of information is essential in any business, education or public enterprise. But the ways that people sequence information can be very different.

Some people line up their thoughts in a straight line leading directly to the point (one step at a time). While other people may prefer talking in loops or spirals. They start on a subject and go on with elaborate details and variations on the subject before returning to the main point. They get to the same place in the end but not in the same way. The 1-2-3 illustrator finds hard time following the person in loops. Both gets frustrated

3) Phasing- Cultural habits also influence people's ideas of when it is appropriate to discuss certain things. For example in a business deal, to jump directly into the business conversation could be rude and could misinterpret that we are ignoring the person as a human being. Differences in phasing in conversation are not only cultural but regional too. In the north for example, people...