Communicating Effectively in Intercultural Business Settings.doc

Communicating Effectively in Intercultural Business Settings- Focus on Cultural AspectContents内容提要- iAbstract-iiAcknowledgements-iiiChapter One Introductions1.1 1.1 Backgrounds and Significance of the Study of Intercultural Business Communication-11.2 1.2 The Way of Study-11.3 1.3 Organization of This Paper-2Chapter Two Basic Knowledge About Culture2.1 What Is Culture?-52.2 Dimensions of Culture-52.3 Basic Culture elements-62.4 High and Low Context Cultures-72.5 Cultural Levels-8Chapter Three The Nature of Communication3.1 Definition of Communication-113.2 The Communication Process-133.3 Intercultural Business Communication-193.4 Intracultural Communication-203.5Relation of Intercultural Communication and Intracultural Communication-20Chapter Four Communication Patterns4.1 Oral and Nonverbal Communication Patterns-22 4.1.1 Oral Communication-22 4.1.2 Nonverbal Communications-234.2 Written Communication Patterns-37 4.2.1 Language-37 4.2.2 Correspondence Formats-37Chapter Five Barriers to Intercultural Communication5.1 Psychological Problems-395.2 Perception-405.3 Ethnocentrism-405.4 Language as a barrier-425.5 Nonverbal Communication as a Barrier-435.6 Culture Barriers-435.7 Etiquette as a Barrier-44Chapter Six Improving Communication in Intercutural Communication6.1 Improving Cultural Sensitivity-46 6.1.1 Cultural Differences-46 6.1.2 Cross-cultural Learning-49 6.2 Improving Communication Competence-506.2.1 Developing Verbal Communication Skills-506.2.2 Improving Nonverbal Skills-526.2.3 Tackling Perceptual Problems-53Chapter Seven Conclusion-56Bibliography-iv内容提要在世界经济全球化的今天，跨文化沟通已经成为大势所趋。一方面，越来越多的外国人来中国工作，另一方面，越来越多的中国人到海外的中国办事处或者到外国公司里上班。对这些人员来讲，跨文化沟通已经成为日常工作的一部分。他们不仅要熟谙公司的业务知识，也要尽可能的了解东道国的风俗习惯、文化传统，进行有效的跨文化沟通，避免不必要的误解或者冲突，从而能更好的为企业服务。本文主要从文化和交流方面探讨了跨文化沟通的有效途径。第一章是本文的介绍，简单的介绍的本文的背景，文章结构和研究方法。第二章概要的阐述了什么是文化，以及与文化有关的基本要素。第三章主要讨论了什么是沟通，沟通过程构成的要素以及跨文化沟通的几个定义。第四章，列明了沟通的几种模式，从言语沟通到非言语沟通等等。第五章主要讨论了跨文化沟通中可能出现的各种障碍。第六章作者从提高文化的敏感度以及沟通能力两个方面探讨了提高跨文化交流的有效途径，从而把相关的理论应用于实践中。第七章是本文的结束章节。关键词：文化 沟通 跨文化交流AbstractAs globalization is under way, intercultural communication becomes one of the key factors to guarantee business success. The world today is becoming a small village. On one hand, an increasing number of foreigners are coming to work in China, and on the other hand, the number of Chinese working overseas is on the increase. For those people, intercultural communication has come to be a common part of their daily jobs. They must have not only a good command of business knowledge, but also familiarity with the host countrys customs and culture so as to make effective communication in international business settings.To better bolster this topic, the author divides the paper into seven chapters. In Chapter One introduces the background of the paper, the organization of the paper, and the ways of study. Chapter Two furnishes some basic information and elements concerning culture. Chapter Three discusses what exactly communication is, the process of communication and some definitions about intercultural communication. Chapter Four lists some patterns of communication including verbal communication and nonverbal communication. In Chapter Five, the author explores some communication barriers that may appear in intercultural communication. In Chapter Six, the author endeavors to research, in two aspects, on the feasible methods of developing effectiveness in communication, namely the methods of developing cultural sensitivity and achieving communication competence. The last chapter functions as the conclusion of the whole paper.Key Words: Culture Communication Intercultural CommunicationAcknowledgementsI owe the completion of this paper to many people. Their devotion of time, effort and talent to every aspect of the paper is a model for me to learn from perpetually.Above all, I would like to extend heart-felt thanks to my tutor, professor Luo Guoliang, who has not only provided me with huge help during this two-and-a half years study, but also spent generous time directing and polishing my paper, and whose academic insight, critical acumen and constant encouragement carried me through the travail of writing this paper. Without the benefit of his superior knowledge, detailed advice and meticulous scholarship, I wouldnt have had the courage to tackle and complete such a formidable and challenging topic as Intercultural Communication.I also owe a profound debt of gratitude to my other teachers, Professor Xu Yaqin, Huang Yuanshen, Lu Naisheng, Wu Xiaoyu, Zhu Peifen, Li Bangjun, and other teachers who have given me help during these two-and-a half years study at the Shanghai Institute of Foreign Trade.Special thanks are also given to my family. Without their support, my study and this thesis wouldnt have come true. Their love and encouragement have always spurred me on in my life.Chapter One Introductions1.4 1.4 Backgrounds and Significance of the Study of Intercultural Business CommunicationAt the beginning of the twenty-first century, the vision of a global village was no longer considered an abstract idea but a virtual certainty. With the increasing number of multinational corporations and the internationalization of the economy, intercultural business communication continues to become ever more important. In order to maintain competition in the world economy, Government leaders, educators, and business people agree that international activity is important. Since all international activity involves communication, people need a knowledge of intercultural business communication to prepare themselves for upward mobility and promotion in tomorrows culturally diverse domestic and international environments.1.2 The Way of StudyIntercultural business communication allows us to work on the procedural issues of country-to-country contacts, diplomacy, and legal contexts; it allows us to become involved with the substantive, cultural level, and helps sensitize us to differences. It also allow us to gather information to make decisions when we are in an intercultural environment.1As intercultural business communication is a large topic, it is hard for the author to cover all the topics related to intercultural business communication. This paper aims to discuss the nature of communication and its relationship with culture. And on the basis of these, the author tries to offer some ideas in improving intercultural business communication1.3 Organization of This Paper This paper consists of seven chapters. Chapter one introduces the backgrounds and significance of the study of intercultural business communication, and provides information concerning what is stated in subsequent chapters, and the way of study.Chapter Two furnishes some basic knowledge in relation to culture. In this chapter, the author presents some elements about culture, for example, the definition of culture, culture dimension, high and low context cultures, and cultural levels.Chapter Three discusses the nature of communication, listing some aspects relating to communication such as definition of communication, the communication process, intercultural business communication, intracultural communication, relations of intercultural communication and intracultural communication.Chapter Four touches upon communication patterns. In this chapter, oral and nonverbal communication patterns and written communication patterns are discussed in detail.Chapter Five discusses some factors of the barrier to intercultural communication, such as psychological problems, perception, ethnocentrism, language, nonverbal communication, cultural barriers, etiquette and so on.Chapter Six, which addresses the improvement of communication in intercultural communication, is the most important chapter of the paper, focusing on two areas - the cultural sensitivity and communication competence. Chapter Seven is a conclusion.Notes: 1. Rohrlich, P. E. (1998). Why do We Study Intercultural Communication? In Weaver, G. R. (Ed.) Culture, Communication and Conflict: Readings in Intercultural Relations. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Simon & Schuster.Chapter Two Basic Knowledge About Culture2.1 What Is Culture?There are hundreds of definitions of culture. Culture involves every aspect of life, so it is hard to define because it is a large concept. As early as 1952, Kroeber and Kluckhohn found 164 definitions of culture in anthropological literature. From then on, many new definitions have appeared. A definition that meets our need in this thesis is one advanced by Edward Hall, a key researcher into cultures. He wrote: Culture (is) those deep, common, unstated experiences which members of a given culture share, which they communicate without knowing, and which forms the backdrop against which all other events are judged.1From his definition, we could see that culture is a granted reality and rarely examined. Culture is like the air we breathe every moment. It tells us from early childhood what matters, what to prefer, what to avoid, and what to avoid, and what to do. Culture also tells us what ought to be.2 Culture sets up codes for our behaviors and provides justification and legitimization for our behaviors.2.2 Dimensions of CultureIn order to communicate effectively in intercultural business settings, it is essential to know all cultural factors that affect the situation. The following graphical representation of culture (Figure 2-1) has three primary dimensions languages, physical, and psychological.3 Those three dimensions are interdependent. No one dimension is more important than the other two. The individual dimensions develop in harmony with each other. FIGURE 2-1 Dimensions of CultureLanguages(codes / modes) Verbal NonverbalPhysical PychologicalEnvironment Human Behavior Content ProcessesNatural Man-Made Knowledge Belief Encoding System Decoding Thought First, the language dimension is concerned with communication with other people who have the same values and beliefs like our own. Second, the physical dimension is an objective one relating to the physical reality of our environment and the cultural activities of the local people. Third, the psychological dimension is measured subjectively. We must understand our own personal dimensions and know why we are the way we are, when we can alter these characteristics and our way of communication with other people.2.3 Basic Cultural elementsIn order to smooth communication, we should consider the following six aspects or constituents of culture: Peoples views of themselves Peoples views of others Peoples views of organizations Peoples views of society Peoples views of nature Peoples views of the universeSource: Philip Kotler, Marketing Management: Analysis, Planning, Implementation, and Control Ninth Edition Prentice- Hall International, Inc. 19972.4 High and Low Context CulturesEdward T. Hall has suggested the concept of high and low context as a way of understanding different cultural orientations.In a low-context culture, messages are explicit; words carry most of the information in communication. In a high-context culture, less information is contained in the verbal part of a message, since much more information is in the context of communication, which includes the backgrounds, associations, and basic values of the communicators. Who you are that is, your values and position or place in society is crucial in the high-context culture, such as in China or Japan.4Contrasting with people in a high-context culture, people in a low context culture focus on the words rather that the character and backgrounds and values of the participants.In a high-context culture, a persons word is his or her bond. There is less need to anticipate contingencies and provide for external legal sanctions in culture that emphasizes obligations and trust as important values. In these cultures, shared feelings of obligation and honor take the place of impersonal legal sanctions, thus the importance of the purpose of negotiations for a person from a high-context culture is to get to know the potential partner.5In management, low context culture, such as American culture, emphasizes the work itself, while high-context culture takes into consideration more human relationship besides the work itself. For example, the style of Chinese employees is quite different from that of American employees. An American manager urges his subordinates directly and seriously, while a Chinese manager beats around the bush to do so. Why does the Chinese manager behave like that? He is concerned more about human relationship and he communicates with his subordinates in a high-context style, that is, he uses some hints to remind his subordinates instead of telling him directly. That is the reason why a Chinese manager is quite uncomfortable to work with the staff who has an overseas background.2.5 Cultural LevelsCulture can be divided into three levels: the formal level, the informal level, and the technical level.The formal level of culture stresses emotion, and we learn aspect of this level usually by trial and error. Violations result in negative feelings about the violator even though the violation is unintentional. Communication in different cultures enables a person to learn this respect by trial and error. Any effort to get rid of this kind of mistake is absolutely necessary.As to the informal level of culture, actions and responses are automatic and almost unconscious. The rules of such behavior are usually not known although we realize that something is wrong. Informal rules are usually intense at the informal level when a rule involved is affected. Violations are interpreted personally and calling a person by his or her first name too soon could be interpreted as overly friendly and offensive.6 it is vital to refrain from constantly making comparisons between our way of life and that of others. Rather, one must understand other people in the context of their unique historical, political, economic, social, and cultural backgrounds. In that way it is possible to conduct more effective interactions with them.The technical level of culture is visible because it can be taught and involves little emotion. Few intercultural misunderstandings arise at this level in that the reason for the misunderstandings is usually quit easy to determine.Notes: 1. 1. Edward T. Hall, The Hidden Dimension, (New York: Anchor Press/Doubleday,1966)2. 2. Richard Mead, International management,2nd ed., (Malden, MA:Blackwell, 1998), p.8.3. 3. Borden, G. A. (1991). Cultural Orientation: An Approach to Understanding Intercultural Communication. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.4. 4. Warren J. Keegan Global Marketing Management, fifth edition Prentice- Hall International, Inc. 19955. 5. Warren J. Keegan Global Marketing Management, fifth edition Prentice- Hall International, Inc. 19956. 6. Koontz, H. et al Essential of Management Tata McGraw-Hill Publishing Company Limited, New DhlhiChapter Three The Nature of Communication3.1 Definition of CommunicationBecause of its ubiquitous nature, communication is very difficult to define. Thirty-five years ago, Frank Dance compiled a list of 98 different definitions of communication.1 A few years later, Dance and Carl Larson presented a list of over 125 definitions of communication.2 If you were to go to your university library and select a different introductory communication text, the prob