Download Unit 1a - 广东工业大学外国语学院

Unit 1b
Communication
Useful Terms
Follow-up evaluation （跟踪评估）
Make (lodge) a complaint （投诉）
Complimentary ticket （赠票）
Communication
Definition:
The process by which information and
feelings are shared by people through an
exchange of verbal and non-verbal messages.
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
Intercultural communication is quite simple
the process of communication between
individuals from different cultures. To
understand intercultural communication
requires an accurate perception of what is
conveyed in the verbal mode, as well as
what is non-verbal.
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
Skills in intercultural communication are of
great importance: first, expatriates attempt
to integrate into a foreign culture, and
second, a corporation has to operate in a
foreign culture and market its products
there.
Hall’s Communication Model
Hall classified societies into two distinctive
groups: high-context societies, and lowcontext societies. The United States is a
typical example of a low-context society,
while Japan is an example of a highcontext society.
Hall’s Communication Model
According to Hall, low-context societies
are characterized by:
heterogeneity (异质性/多样性);
high social mobility;
high job mobility;
short-term relationships;
insiders and outsiders being not closely
distinguished.
Hall’s Communication Model
High-context societies are characterized
by:
homogeneity (同质性);
little social mobility;
little job mobility;
long-term relationships;
insiders and outsiders being clearly
distinguished.
Hall’s Communication Model
People who live in low-context societies engage
in explicit communication while people in highcontext societies habitually engage in implicit
communication. Therefore, although people from
within a high-context society are able to
communicate without being misunderstood,
people from low-context cultures have to master
the communication patterns of a high-context
society if they want to be assimilated or
accepted there. The vice versa is also true.
Communication Disparity
Facilitators of Intercultural
Communication
1. Intercultural training
Intercultural training involves a person being
educated about the rules that govern
communication, interaction and behaviour in
another culture. Through intercultural training,
expatriates can learn the basic communication
rules of a foreign culture, such as how others
may be addressed and what sort of mannerisms
would be inappropriate.
Facilitators of Intercultural
Communication
In many Asian countries, Korea being a
typical example, people are careful not to
disagree openly with a person much older
in age. Therefore a global manager in
Korea would have to be extremely
diplomatic in dealing with older Koreans.
Facilitators of Intercultural
Communication
2. Language training
The possibilities for communication and
interactions are considerably enhanced if
managers are proficient in the language of the
culture in which they operate. An effective global
manager is well versed in at least two languages,
if not three. It may be true that English is a
widely spoken language in the business world.
However, it is also true that it is spoken by only a
small percentage of the world’s population.
Facilitators of Intercultural
Communication
3. Communication infrastructure
A
considerable
amount
of
the
communication engaged in by global
managers involves the use of modern
technological systems. Hence, corporations
interested in transnational operations invest
heavily in the physical infrastructure
necessary for global communication. Modern
communication systems range from e-mail to
(teleconferencing) videoconferencing.
Email Format
Sender: William
Receiver: Smith
CC: Paul
Subject: Monthly Report
Dear Smith
….
Best Regards
William
Memo Format
To: All heads of department
From: Smith Chen, VP of Sales Department
CC: SK Gao (President)
Subject: Monthly Report
Dear SK,
….
Regards
Smith