PPT
Module 3
Communicating
Across Cultures
McGraw-Hill/Irwin ©2007, The McGraw-Hill Companies, All Rights Reserved.
3-1
Communicating Across
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.
3-2
Communicating Across
Cultures
Start by answering these questions:
Who is my audience?
Why is audience so important?
What do I need to know about my
audience(s)?
3-3
Communicating Across
Cultures
Start by answering these questions:
Now that I have my analysis, what
do I do with it?
What if my audiences have different
needs?
How do I reach my audience(s)?
3-4
Diversity and Culture 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.
3-5
Diversity in the Workplace
Gender
Race and ethnicity
Regional and national origin
Social class
Religion
Age
Sexual orientation
Physical ability
3-6
Diversity in the 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.
3-7
Diversity in the Workplace
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.
3-8
Diversity in the Workplace
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.
3-9
Dimensions of Culture
Values, Beliefs, and Time
Practices Dress
Nonverbal Colors
Communication Height
Body Language Oral
Eye Contact Communication
Understatement,
Gestures Exaggeration, and
Space Silence
Spatial
Arrangements
3-10
Conversational 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?
3-11
Communicating with Different
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.
3-12
Ways to Make Language
Nonsexist
Use
Words that treat both
sexes respectfully.
Titles that do not imply
one sex “ought” to do a
certain job.
The appropriate gender
pronoun when referring
to a specific person.
3-13
Ways to Make Language
Nonsexist 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.
3-14
Ways to Make Language
Nonsexist 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.
3-15
Ways to Make Language
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.
3-16
Ways to Make Language
Nonracist 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 to Make Language
Nonracist 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 to Make Language
Nonracist 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
Talking about People with
Diseases or 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
3-20
Talking about People with
Diseases or Disabilities 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.
3-21
Ways to Make Language
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 to Make Language
Nonagist continued
Avoid stereotypes.
Biased: With her grandmotherly
ways, good old Mary Grace makes
everyone in Unit 2 feel special.
Bias-free: For the past 35 years,
Mary Grace has been helping to
create team spirit in Unit 2.
3-23
Ways to Make Language
Nonagist continued
Avoid negative labels for children,
such as “children from broken
homes.”
Remember families can be single-
parent and diverse.
Use nonsexist descriptions and
images of children.
3-24
Bias Free Photos and
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?