PPT PPT Module Module 33 Communicating Communicating Across AcrossCultures Cultures McGraw-Hill/Irwin ©2007, The McGraw-Hill Companies, All Rights 3-2 Communicating Communicating Across Across Cultures Cultures ♦To learn how to  Continue to analyze your audiences  Begin to adapt your message to your audiences  Begin to understand what your organization wants 3-3 Communicating Communicating Across Across Cultures Cultures Start by answering these questions:  Who is my audience?  Why is audience so important?  What I need to know about my audience(s)? 3-4 Communicating Communicating Across Across Cultures Cultures Start by answering these questions:  Now that I have my analysis, what I with it?  What if my audiences have different needs?  How I reach my audience(s)? 3-5 Diversity Diversity and and Culture Culture Basics Basics ♦ Diversity has always been with us— even if people didn’t recognize it or its value ♦ There is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to working with cultural differences  Use the information in this module as guidelines, not rules set in stone  Remember that people are individuals as well as members of groups ♦ Be open to change and difference 3-6 Diversity Diversity in in the the Workplace Workplace ♦ Gender ♦ Race and ethnicity ♦ Regional and national origin ♦ Social class ♦ Religion ♦ Age ♦ Sexual orientation ♦ Physical ability 3-7 Diversity Diversity in in the the Workplace Workplace ♦High-Context Cultures  Most information is inferred from the context of a message  Little is “spelled out.”  Examples: Japanese, Arabic, and Latin American cultures 3-8 Diversity Diversity in in the the Workplace Workplace continued continued ♦Low-Context Cultures  Context is less important than words  Most information is spelled out; words are privileged  Examples: German, Scandinavian, and dominant U.S cultures 3-9 Diversity Diversity in in the the Workplace Workplace continued continued ♦Remember  In nations like the U.S., Canada, and Brazil, multiple cultures exist While the dominant culture may be privileged, recognize that minority cultures may have different norms with regard to behavior 3-10 Dimensions Dimensions of of Culture Culture ♦ Values, Beliefs, and Practices ♦ Nonverbal Communication ♦ Body Language ♦ Eye Contact ♦ Gestures ♦ Space ♦ Spatial Arrangements ♦ Time ♦ Dress ♦ Colors ♦ Height ♦ Oral Communication ♦ Understatement, Exaggeration, and Silence 3-11 Conversational Conversational Style Style ♦ How long a pause tells you that it’s your turn to speak? ♦ Do you see interruption as rude? ♦ Do you show interest by asking lots of questions? 3-12 Communicating Communicating with with Different Different Cultures Cultures ♦Brenda Arbaleez suggests being  Aware that values and behaviors are influenced by culture  Flexible  Sensitive  Aware of the others’ values, beliefs, and practices  Sensitive to differences among individuals 3-13 Ways Ways to to Make Make Language Language Nonsexist Nonsexist ♦Use  Words that treat both sexes respectfully  Titles that not imply one sex “ought” to a certain job  The appropriate gender pronoun when referring to a specific person 3-14 Ways Ways to to Make Make Language Language Nonsexist Nonsexist continued continued ♦ Use  “Ms.” As the courtesy title for a woman unless • The woman has a professional title • You know that a woman prefers to be addressed by a traditional title 3-15 Ways Ways to to Make Make Language Language Nonsexist Nonsexist continued continued ♦When you write about anyone who may be in a job or position, make pronouns nonsexist  Use plurals  Use you  Revise the sentence to omit the pronoun  Use pronoun pairs 3-16 Ways Ways to to Make Make Language Language Nonracist Nonracist ♦Eliminate adjectives that reinforce negative stereotypes  Biased: The motivated black students were assigned to internship positions throughout the company  Bias-free: The students were assigned to internship positions throughout the company Ways Ways to to Make Make Language Language Nonracist Nonracist continued continued ♦Identify race or ethnic origin only if it’s relevant  Biased: Paloma Esteban, a Latino, has been appointed Vice-President of Finance  Bias-free: Mike Waters, a Sioux, translated the governor’s speech into the Lakota language 3-17 Ways Ways to to Make Make Language Language Nonracist Nonracist continued continued ♦Eliminate words and phrases with negative connotations  Biased: Many of our managers who come from culturally deprived backgrounds now function as role models for young people through our mentoring program 3-18 Ways Ways to to Make Make Language Language Nonracist Nonracist continued continued  Bias-free: Many of our managers whose family heritage is African, Asian, or Spanish now function as role models for young people through our mentoring program 3-19 3-20 Talking Talking about about People People with with Diseases Diseases or or Disabilities Disabilities ♦Use “people first” language and avoid using adjectives as nouns  Biased: • the alcoholic • the drug addict • the handicapped  Bias-free: • the woman who is an alcoholic • the man who abuses drugs • people with disabilities 3-21 Talking Talking about about People People with with Diseases Diseases or or Disabilities Disabilities continued continued ♦Emphasize people’s abilities, not their limits or disabilities  Biased: Jenny Ling has done an outstanding job as our spokesperson, even though she has diabetes  Bias-free: Jenny Ling has done an outstanding job as our spokesperson for the past seven years Ways Ways to to Make Make Language Language Nonagist Nonagist ♦Refer to age only if it’s truly relevant  Biased: Tomoko Watanabe, 67, is president of Competitive Data Management  Bias-free: Tomoko Watanabe is president of Competitive Data Management 3-22 Ways Ways to to Make Make Language Language Nonagist Nonagist continued continued ♦Avoid stereotypes  Biased: With her grandmotherly ways, good old Mary Grace makes everyone in Unit feel special  Bias-free: For the past 35 years, Mary Grace has been helping to create team spirit in Unit 3-23 Ways Ways to to Make Make Language Language Nonagist Nonagist continued continued ♦Avoid negative labels for children, such as “children from broken homes.” ♦Remember families can be singleparent and diverse ♦Use nonsexist descriptions and images of children 3-24 3-25 Bias Bias Free Free Photos Photos and and Illustrations Illustrations ♦Check visuals for bias  Are the people diverse?  Are power relationships balanced?  Can you create your own visuals rather than rely on biased clip art? ... audiences  Begin to understand what your organization wants 3- 3 Communicating Communicating Across Across Cultures Cultures Start by answering these questions:  Who is my audience?  Why is... and behaviors are influenced by culture  Flexible  Sensitive  Aware of the others’ values, beliefs, and practices  Sensitive to differences among individuals 3- 13 Ways Ways to to Make Make... makes everyone in Unit feel special  Bias-free: For the past 35 years, Mary Grace has been helping to create team spirit in Unit 3- 23 Ways Ways to to Make Make Language Language Nonagist Nonagist