Cultural Diversity & Communication

 

Culture is a complex concept with many different definitions. But, simply put, "culture" refers to a group or community with which we share everyday experiences that shape the way we understand the world." It includes groups we are born into, such as race, national origin, class, or religion.

        The way I communicate with people depends on who I am conversing with at a particular time; different communication methods for a male, a family with a foreign nationality, children, colleagues, etc. Therefore, employing the strategies listed below could help communicate more effectively with the people irrespective of their social identity.

Developing Awareness of Individual Cultures

Learning the basics about culture and at least something about the language of communication in different countries is essential. This is necessary even for the basic level of understanding required to engage in appropriate greetings and physical contact, which can be tricky inter-culturally. For instance, kissing a business associate is not considered an appropriate business practice in the U.S., but one peck on each cheek in Paris is an acceptable greeting. 

Increasing our knowledge and understanding of different cultures requires seeing our behaviors and reactions are often culturally driven. While they may not match our own, they are culturally appropriate.

Keep It Simple

The second strategy is to keep communication simple.

When we communicate, we should keep in mind that even though English is considered the international language of business, it is a mistake to assume that every person speaks good English. The truth is that only about half of the 800 million people who speak English learned it as a first language. And, those who speak it as a second language are often more limited than native speakers (ctb, n.). So when communicating cross-culturally, we must endeavor to keep your communication clear, unambiguous, and straightforward. We should avoid humor until we know that the person we communicate with "gets it" and is not offended by our jokes. Humor is notoriously culture-specific: many things that pass for humor can be seen as very offensive in another culture.

Use a translator

Third and not least, if language barriers present themselves, it may be in everyone's best interest to employ a reliable, experienced translator when the person is a non-English speaker. Their use of the language may be peppered with culture-specific or non-standard English phrases, which can hamper the communication process. The translator can help everyone involved recognize cultural and communication differences and ensure that all parties, regardless of geographic location and background, come together and stay together throughout the communication period.

        In summary, relationships are powerful. It is our connection to each other that gives meaning to our lives. Our caring for each other is often what motivates us to make a change. And establishing relationships with people from diverse backgrounds can be vital in making significant changes in our communities. As individuals and in groups, we can change our communities. We can set up neighborhoods and institutions where people commit themselves to work to form strong relationships and alliances with people of diverse cultures and backgrounds. We can establish networks and coalitions in which people are knowledgeable about each other's struggles and are willing to lend a hand. Through effective communication, together, we can build sturdy and caring relationships based on trust, understanding, and shared goals.

                                                                     Reference

TheUniversity of Kansas. (n.d.). Building Relationships with People from Different Cultures. Retrieved 

     from https://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/culture/cultural-competence/building-relationships/main