BA 4216 Cross-cultural Studies in Organizations Communication Instructor: Çağrı Topal

Definitions Sharing perceptual fields Attributing meaning to behavior or residue of behavior A two-way process of information exchange A contextual negotiation of meaning

Definition Communication is a two-way process in which the persons involved in the communication process try to achieve a shared meaning by exchanging information and attributing meaning to their behaviors within a context Intentional or unintentional

Basic components Source Encoding Message Channel Receiver Decoding Feedback

Characteristics of communication-1 There is no direct mind-to mind communication We can only infer Communication is a dynamic process We seek to define the world Communication is interactive Communication is inevitable Time binding links us together

Characteristics of communication-2 Communication is symbolic Communication doesn’t necessarily mean understanding Communication has a consequence Communication is self-reflective Communication occurs in a context We are alike and we are different

Cross-cultural (mis)communication Sending a message to a person from another culture Failure to receive the message of a person from another culture

Major obstacles to intercultural communication Mode of thinking and reasoning Stereotyping Language Perception Religion Ethnocentrism

Communication in high-context cultures Highly contextual Reliance on nonverbal cues Deliberation in business negotiation Personal relationship Slow and difficult change Less personal space and more touching More collectivist Japanese language and culture

Communication in low-context cultures Highly abstract Less reliance on nonverbal cues Speed in business negotiation Contractual relationship Fast and desirable change Large personal space More individualistic English language and culture

Nonverbal communication The process of exchanging nonverbal stimuli in a communication setting that are generated by the source and his or her use of the environment that have potential message value for both the source and the receiver Intentional or unintentional Attempt to achieve shared meaning

Nonverbal vs. verbal communication-1 Both based on a culturally agreed set of symbols In both, attachment of meaning to the symbols Nonverbal governed biologically whereas verbal messages deliberately Nonverbal learned much earlier Nonverbal more emotional in its appeal and impact

Nonverbal vs. verbal communication-2 Nonverbal more universal Nonverbal simultaneously from a multiple of channels while verbal through a single channel Nonverbal continuous and a never-ending process Absence of message in nonverbal communication as a message Nonverbal messages more confusing

Categories-1 Time Space Material possessions Silence Kinesics Facial expression Posture Gestures

Categories-2 Eye contact Touch Dress Paralanguage Smell

What to do Assume difference until similarity proven Describe not evaluate Learn and use cultural assumptions Treat intepretations as a guess not fact