Межкультурная коммуникация в сфере бизнеса. Практикум. Для студентов-бакалавров направления «Лингвистика», профиля «Теория и практика межкультурной ко
.pdfcommunicate, it’s vital to empathize with others while communicating. Paying attention to how your communication partner feels while having a conversation can help to ensure that the message is being sent accurately.
Cultural Barriers to Communication
In today’s global economy, it’s commonplace for employees to interact with people from all over the world. Some companies have offices in different countries, while others work with partners and resellers from different cultures. Often, customers purchase goods and services from businesses across the world. As a result, many businesses face cultural barriers when communicating.
People from different cultures have unique ways of conversing. Sometimes, when people aren’t aware of the cultural differences, communication issues can take place. In some countries, for example, making eye contact is considered rude and forward, while in others, it’s a way to establish trust and show honesty.
When dealing with peers from other cultures, it’s important to conduct research beforehand to understand communication and cultural norms. Businesses that operate globally often offer training on different communication styles to enable employees to converse effectively.
Language Barriers to Communication
Communicating with people who speak different languages can post barriers as well. While English is used as the language of business in many parts of the world, other languages are also used. Some organizations offer introductory language classes for employees who frequently travel to and work in other areas of the globe where English is not the only language spoken.
Sometimes, communicating with people who speak English as a second language can pose issues as well. Literal translations from other languages to English can cause confusion. Similarly, regional differences in the way English is spoken can also
21
introduce barriers. For example, Australian English differs from American English as does British English and Canadian English.
Industry jargon and overly technical language can also act as communication barriers. When dealing with people from outside of the industry, such as a customer, it’s important to use plain English to convey the message rather than insider terms.
Gender Barriers to Communication
The way men and women communicate varies greatly, which can lead to gender barriers in communication. Women often speak double or more the amount of words that men speak each day. The way each gender thinks also differs, which leads to different styles of communication.
In order to avoid gender barriers in communication, it’s important to create a safe and nurturing environment in the workplace so people from any gender and those from the LGBTQ+ community are comfortable communicating in a way that is natural for them.
Interpersonal Barriers to Communication
Interpersonal is a kind of communication barrier that is one of the most difficult to overcome because it is largely rooted in personality. Many people suffer from poor self-esteem and lack the ability to make connections with others. This affects their ability to communicate effectively.
As a result, people may withdraw from everyday business activities because they are unable to overcome their own feelings in order to communicate with others. Some people fear speaking to large groups of people, while others aren’t able to have conversations one on one. It’s important to identify what kind of interpersonal barrier you’re dealing with and take small steps to begin communicating with colleagues.
If an employee is shy and lacks the self-confidence to present to a large group of colleagues, for example, she may need additional support in order to communicate. The company
22
could enable her to present her findings to a smaller group rather than to the entire executive team. Conversely, the company could allow her to communicate her findings in writing rather than giving a verbal speech.
Task 2. Find the English Equivalents in the text:
1.потенциальные клиенты
2.обстановка (среда, окружение), в которой происходит общение
3.шумовой фон или мелькающий свет могут отвлекать внимание
4.мешать общению
5.устройство офиса
6.способствовать (содействовать, стимулировать) общению
7.шумно и оживленно
8.предвзятое мнение (предубеждение)
9.говорить пренебрежительным тоном
10.затаить негативные чувства
11.ошеломить (огорошить, поразить, озадачить)
12.навредить общению
13.ранимость (беззащитность, незащищенность)
14.уверенность в себе
15.эмоциональный интеллект
16.посредник (перекупщик)
17.безопасная и благоприятная среда
18.низкая самооценка
19.наоборот (напротив)
Task 3. Translate the following sentences from Russian into English using the essential Vocabulary from both parts of the text:
1. Предвзятое мнение о человеке часто служит препятствием в общении и является причиной
23
непонимания и напряженности в отношениях между людьми.
2.В странах Ближнего Востока продолжительный
зрительный контакт с представителем противоположного пола может расцениваться как неприличное поведение.
3.Эмоциональный интеллект является ценным качеством в деловой среде. Если Вы обладаете эмоциональным интеллектом, Вы не
только умеете справляться с собственными эмоциями, но и способны во время разговора распознать чувства собеседника, что, несомненно, приведет Вас к успеху в общении.
4.Боюсь, Вы недооцениваете значение обстановки,
вкоторой происходит общение.
5.Такие элементы, как шумовой фон или мелькающий свет на рабочем месте могут отвлекать внимание и мешать общению.
6.Низкая самооценка человека, неспособного
к взаимодействию с другими людьми, может нанести
вред общению.
7. Под культурной восприимчивостью понимается способность проявлять должное уважение к
представителям различных культур, осведомленность о культурных нормах,
обычаях, традициях страны собеседника, о сходствах и различиях между культурами, что будет способствовать эффективному общению.
24
8.Для устранения гендерных барьеров в общении необходимо создание безопасной и благоприятной среды на рабочих местах для того, чтобы представители любого пола и любого сообщества чувствовали себя комфортно и естественно.
9.Если сотрудник застенчив, не уверен в себе и боится выступать перед большой аудиторией, вы, наоборот, можете предложить ему поделиться своими изысканиями в письменной форме.
10.Он активно жестикулировал во время разговора.
11.Мы работаем с партнерами и посредниками из разных стран и часто сталкиваемся с культурными барьерами в общении.
12.Страх, ранимость, недоверие зачастую берут верх, когда человеку не хватает уверенности в себе.
13.В некоторых странах в бизнесе принято выражаться простым и ясным языком, тогда как в других нормой делового поведения является более тонкая (глубокая)
постановка фраз.
14.В некоторых странах рядовые
сотрудники зрительно не контактируют со своими начальниками, так как считается, что это невежливо.
15.Постарайтесь выяснить, какими традициями и обычаями своей страны дорожит Ваш потенциальный клиент.
16.В офисе было очень шумно и оживленно.
25
17.Если ты будешь продолжать говорить с ним таким пренебрежительным тоном, он будет чувствовать себя некомфортно и затаит негативные чувства по отношению к тебе.
18.Я поражен ее отношением к коллегам и начальству.
Task 4. Make a summary of your findings and conclusions concerning the main barriers to communication and the ways of removing them.
Text 3
Task 1. Read the text and answer the following questions:
1.Give the examples of task-oriented countries where people view their conversations as an opportunity to exchange the concrete information. What do the participants of the conversation expect each other in this case?
2.What will the other party of the conversation feel if someone waxes philosophical about the nature of relationships instead of getting to the point?
3.Are there any countries where conversations are an opportunity to enhance the relationships? How do we call them?
4.What do the participants of the conversation expect in this case? And what will the other party feel if someone gets to the point too quickly?
26
5.What is the danger if there is the conversation between the partners from the task-oriented country and the relationship-oriented country?
6.What is a sign of respect and professionalism in such countries as Germany?
7.How can you explain the following phrase? - “Those who speak indirectly are judged as having muddled thinking”
8. In countries like Japan, people prefer to communicate indirectly, especially when it comes to a sensitive topic. In what way do they approach problems to avoid damaging a relationship with the other party?
9.What is the danger when there
is direct vs. indirect communication?
10.What is the difference between low context culture and high context culture?
11.What country can you name the representative of low context culture?
12.Give the examples of countries of high context culture. What do the representatives of this culture pay very close attention to during the conversation?
13. Give the examples of countries where people care for informal setting of having conversations. How can an overly formal setting prevent them from having successful talks?
14. And in what countries is the formal degree of ceremony of great importance for the participants of conversation?
27
15. It’s never easy to have a difficult conversation. Will you share the rules of having a conversation with someone from another culture in order to prevent the style from getting in the way of the content?
Having a Difficult Conversation with Someone from a Different Culture
by Melissa Hahn and Andy Molinsky Most of us don’t enjoy having difficult conversations, period — but when they involve someone from our own culture, we can usually rely on some basic shared assumptions about what the interaction should look like. When we have a difficult conversation with someone from a different culture, however, our task becomes harder by an order of magnitude. Now, not only do we have to address a potentially thorny subject, but we must do so while gracefully maneuvering around a series of cultural trip wires.
To manage this issue it helps to understand the four most common communication trip wires, and the danger each presents.
Getting down to business vs. relationship building
In some countries like the U.S., people view conversations as an opportunity to exchange information. Participants expect each other to get down to business fairly quickly, even if there is a brief exchange of small talk. If someone waxes philosophical about the enduring nature of relationships instead of getting to the point, the other party will feel disoriented about the purpose of the conversation — and annoyed that their time is being wasted.
However, in countries such as Mexico, conversations are first and foremost an opportunity to enhance the relationship. Here, participants expect that most of the interaction will center on the subjective goal of cultivating goodwill and reinforcing
28
feelings of interdependence and mutual obligation. If one party were to “cut to the chase” too quickly, the other party would feel confused about why they were being treated so aggressively. Depending on the context, they may become offended, go into damage control mode, or even interpret the harsh approach as a sign that the relationship is being terminated.
The danger here is that someone from a task-oriented country may focus so much on the immediate problem that the person from the relationship-oriented country leaves feeling devalued. On the other hand, the person from the relationship-oriented country may try so hard to avoid making waves that their counterpart from a task-oriented country winds up assuming that there is no problem to address.
Direct vs. indirect communication
In countries like Germany, it is a sign of respect and professionalism to speak clearly and leave no room for misinterpretation — especially in a difficult conversation. Those who speak indirectly are judged as being inarticulate, having muddled thinking, lacking confidence, or hiding something. If one party were to approach a difficult topic by
“beating around the bush,” it would likely make the other person confused and impatient.
By contrast, in countries like Japan, people prefer to communicate indirectly, especially when it comes to a sensitive topic. To avoid inadvertently damaging a relationship or causing someone to lose face, people approach problems through subtle hints, vague references, or general statements. If someone were to directly state a problem, at best it would make them look ungraceful, immature, and untrustworthy; at worst it could cut the other person like a knife and even end of the relationship.
29
The danger here is that a person from a direct culture may come across as insensitive and ill-mannered, while the person from the indirect culture may appear scattered and shifty.
Low vs. high context
In countries like Canada, the message of a conversation is primarily contained within the exact words that are spoken. Conversation participants might also notice posture, facial expressions, and things that aren’t said for the sake of being nice, but they would not weight them as heavily as what each party actually says.
In other countries, like South Korea, conversation participants scan for meaning on many different frequencies. Not only do they read between the lines in the words that are spoken and pay very close attention to the emotional side of the message, but they also find significance in the conversation setting, the relationship status between the two parties, and the greater organizational and social context playing out behind the scenes.
The danger here is that someone from a low-context culture may think she is communicating a very specific, limited statement — but the person listening to her may infer all kinds of unintended messages. On the other hand, a person from a high-context culture may believe he is presenting a rich tapestry of nuanced meaning, but the person listening to him may only hear the words that he says.
Informality vs. formality
In some countries, such as Australia, where people are generally casual and laid back, they may try to diffuse any tension by approaching the conversation without too much fuss. In fact, they might even interpret an overtly formal setting as a sign that the situation was worse than they’d thought, which would put them on edge.
Yet in other countries, like Poland, people expect the degree of ceremony to match the gravity of the topic being discussed.
30