THE IMPORTANCE OF MULTICULTURAL COMMUNUNICATIONS

by

Vanessa Ekeke July, 6th 2010

As an MBA student with a strong passion for politics and international relations, I
realized that the need and importance of effective communication in reaching
diverse groups of people. Effective multicultural communication is becoming more
and more prevalent in the world as technology bridges the gap between countries
and national boarders disappear. To be effective in multicultural communication,
we must have an anticipation of audience expectations and this can only be known
by direct interaction and study of other cultures.

My interest to learn about other peoples and cultures informed my opinion to join
several multicultural meet-up groups that hold monthly and bi-monthly meetings
here in Minneapolis. One of these meet up groups of which I have been a member
for 7 months now is the Minneapolis Multicultural Meet Up group.

Studying Other Cultures

In observing other people from different cultures in this group, I noticed very
striking differences; the way business cards are exchanged, the way people greet
each other, dress, negotiate, make eye contact, give body language, resolve conflict
and even the way visual information is seen and perceived. In my study, I noticed
the difference in the topics of discussion as well as business customs. I also
observed that non-verbal communication amongst races is quite different. Eye
contact and hand and facial gestures differ from one culture to another. As a
student and businessman my interaction with peoples of other cultures has taught
me that just because a person cannot speak English fluently does not mean that he
or she is any less intelligent or less worthy of education.

In this time and age, we must break any barriers created by cultural exclusion. I
have been a victim of the mindset that only tends to look out for their own
interests. This lack of concern for people from other cultures has often led to moral
exclusion which occurs when individuals or certain groups of people are perceived
as outside the boundary in which the moral values, rules and considerations of
fairness apply. This was a problem that plagued my communication with people
outside my race until very recently. Often times those who are morally excluded
are always perceived as nonentities, expendable or undeserving. Many prejudices
and hate crimes today can actually be alleviated if people can attempt to
understand people who are different from them.

Values
In my multicultural immersion, I have learnt that most cultures of the world either
practice individualism or collectivism which are the major dimensions of cultural
variability that are used to explain cross cultural differences in behavior. The
American culture practices individualism where each person is seen as a separate
individual (with own action, and destination) with responsibility to only their
immediate family. In the Asian cultures on the other hand, collectivism is the order
of the day. The group rather than the individual is the most important. The Asian
cultures take on the “we” rather than the “I” factor that dominates the American
culture. As a result of these, they tend to focus more on common interests,
conformity, cooperation and interdependence. These conflicting values in the two
opposing cultures make it hard from people from the two groups to get along very
well with proper understanding. It is common therefore to hear the average
American parent tell his child: You must learn to think for yourself” whereas the
Chinese father would say “ You must learn to think for the family” or “ You must
make the right decision for the family”.

Effective Communication: Reserved or Expressive

I have come to understand that most Asian cultures especially the Japanese are
very quiet and reserved. As a result of these, people from these cultures do not
make a lot of noise in the public neither do they use many hand gestures when
speaking. The Americans on the other hand like to wave their hands. That’s why
you find a lot of Asian appearing apathetic in class but in reality they are not. They
have only been taught to sit still in classroom settings. Most American students in
some parts of the US have been taught that it is acceptable to challenge the
teacher’s opinion during lectures. The Latin American Cultures on the other hand
are very loud and expressive.

Common Discussion Topics

Overtime I have learnt that topics such as environment, sports and weather make
common discussion to the American. However it would be rare to find an
American discussing topic such as politics and religion even in family situations.
This is so because they have been taught to avoid such topics as they are very
controversial. On the contrary these topics are perfect discussion topics for people
from other cultures. The Iranians and Germans for instance will find it absolutely
normal to argue about political and religious issues. For topic of discussion
bothering on health and well being, it would be most welcomed by Spaniards but
would be totally offensive to a person from Saudi Arabia especially during an
initial meeting.

Non-Verbal Communication

The study of non-verbal communication cannot be undermined in our day. It is

important to observe the non-verbal form of communication between people from
other cultures. During my seven months attendance of various meeting of the
Multicultural meet Meet-Ups; I have observed that the more expressive cultures
tend to have more direct, intense eye contact than the reserved cultures. The more
reserved cultures like the Asian cultures would feel uncomfortable with too much
eye contact in a first meeting. The Latin American cultures on the other hand seem
to be more expressive and tend to wear their heart on their sleeves. They tend to be
attracted to people who show their feeling openly than those who mask their
opinions. In contrast to this, the Japanese and Germans would interpret such acts as
childish or immature. I have observed that North Americans tend to maintain
moderate eye contact and at the same time they would be uncomfortable with a
person who cannot look them straight in the eye. This they would interpret as a
sign of dishonesty.

In addition, raised eyebrows communicate different meaning to different cultures.

To the North Americans, it would mean interest or an act of surprise. To the British
it would mean skepticism, the Germans it would mean acknowledging a clever
comment and to the Filipinos it would be a greeting. With all these varied
interpretations, the same gesture would simply mean “NO! to an Arab and it would
signal disagreement with the Chinese.

Conclusion
All said and done, learning about other people’s culture is an opportunity to
immerse in their values and traditions. Even if we cannot learn in depth, it is
important to know the most important concepts and to know the differences
between high and low context cultures, those that embrace collectivism and those
that embrace individualism, those that are reserved and those that are expressive.
These will work in synergy to promote better and effective communication. Since
the world is gradually merging into one small global village, boarder will continue
to disappear, companies will merge with overseas companies and promotion
slogans will be translated into several languages. Student exchange programs are
becoming increasingly popular and the diversity in most schools today is growing
increasingly. No matter how isolated one may be, correspondence with people
from other cultures cannot be avoided and so must be accommodated. Effective
communication with people outside our culture is not simply a problem to be
overcome but it is a standard to be achieved.