6 Significant Communication Barriers Found Across Cultures
Ignorance is viewed as the primary barrier in cross-cultural communication. In order to communicate effectively, you need to become familiar with the norms of different cultures; or, at the very least, acknowledge that those differences exist.
In this post, we’ll describe 6 major areas where communication barriers are likely to occur. This will help address the ignorance frequently found in cross-cultural communication.
1. Gestures
When you’re unfamiliar with a spoken language, you may resort to hand signals as a form of communication. However, if misinterpreted, those hand signals may cause disastrous results.
For example: In the Western culture, the “V-for-victory” sign performed with the palm outward is viewed as a symbol of peace; but, in Great Britain, if done with the back of the hand outward, it’s equivalent to a middle finger.
9 American Hand Gestures Never to Make Overseas.
2. Eye Contact
If you’re traveling abroad, be wary of eye contact. Some cultures may view it as impolite, rude, or even flirtatious.
In the U.S., eye contact is often portrayed as a form of honesty and alertness. Yet, in many Hispanic cultures, eye contact is often avoided as a sign of respect for someone in a position of authority, such as a law enforcement officer.
3. Comfort Zones
Comfort zones are a big part of non-verbal communication. A comfort zone is the distance that is maintained between people while they communicate. This distance will vary from culture to culture.
For example: Americans usually maintain an arms-length distance during a conversation, while Hispanics tend to be more comfortable at a closer distance. Those from Arab cultures are comfortable much closer still.
4. Touch
Touch can be used to convey compassion and understanding. In some cultures, it’s fundamental to communication. In others, it can be perceived as inappropriate – especially between opposite genders.
Arabs, Hispanics, and Turks tend to use a larger amount of personal contact during conversation. Cultures where there is less contact include most Northern European cultures and many Asian cultures.
5. Directness
Americans think of themselves as honest and frank by being direct. Some Asian cultures may find too much frankness rude and offensive. They may use words like “maybe” or “perhaps” to avoid offending others when they really mean “no.”
6. Time
The mainstream U.S. population tends to admire promptness and tight schedules. Time is money, they say.
Slower-paced cultures, for example Island time, do not seem too concerned about schedules and timeliness. In some Hispanic cultures, the relaxed “mañana” attitude prevails; things will get done when they get done – no rush!
Read our blog post: 6 Secrets to Time Management.
When communicating with someone new, it is crucial to be considerate of their culture.
You should always MEET on common grounds to establish a respectful environment.
- Make time to discuss.
- Explore differences.
- Encourage respect.
- Take personal responsibility.
Enroll now in the STS course: Cross-cultural Communication to learn more.
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This course discusses the unique characteristics of communicating across cultural lines. It also discusses various cultural perspectives, and the skills and abilities needed to address them in the workplace and society.
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6 Significant Communication Barriers Found Across Cultures (Article)
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