Is it necessary to stop speaking and using a native language in order to identify with a new culture - Essay Example

Lecturer 18 November Is it necessary to stop speaking and using a native language in order to identify with a new culture? Many barriers exist to cross cultural interactions and language barrier is an example. There is need to manage such barriers in order to ensure effective communication and interactions. Consequently, it is necessary to stop speaking in a native language in order to identify with a new culture, when the native language establishes a barrier, because the move is likely to undermine potential language barriers.

Cultural competence that includes “cultural awareness” and “cultural sensitivity” is one of the strategies to managing cross-cultural barriers to interactions and informs the decision (Gurung 3). Cultural awareness involves knowledge of cultures around a person while cultural sensitivity involves ability to identify cultural trends and to adjust to needs in a cultural set up. It is therefore important to identify possible differences between one’s native culture and a new culture and to understand effects of the differences.

In cases where language difference is a barrier to cross cultural interaction, a speaker must identify differences in language and respond by refraining from speaking in the native language. This will ensure effective interaction between a speaker and members of a new culture. However, if the native language is not offensive to members of the new culture, and especially if the language is pleasing to the members, then its use is likely to facilitate cross cultural cohesion and the language should be used.

It is necessary to stop using a native language in a new culture if the language is offensive to members of the new culture and cultural awareness and cultural sensitivity inform the decision. Works citedGurung, Regan. Multicultural approaches to health and wellness in America. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 2014. Print.