Analysis of Communication Styles - Report Example

COM 3461 paper Introduction Communication is highly influenced by cultural values and norms. Different cultures have different characteristics and they impact the way people communicate in those cultures. For example some cultures rely on implied communication more while other cultures prefer explicit and straight forward communication. The point is that we cannot generalize the way people communicate as communication manifests in different forms in different cultures. Cultures actually influence mindsets and behaviors and in turn influence the way people communicate with each other. In this paper we will discuss concepts of cultural belief, values, norms and social practices with reference to cultures of different regions to understand how these concepts influence communication. United Kingdom and Cultural Belief Cultural beliefs are defined as ‘commonly held beliefs about moral standards and generally accepted norms of a culture. Cultural beliefs are deep rooted in a culture and are inherent in nature meaning that they are carried forward from one generation to another’ (Arnett, 2003). The most popular cultural belief in United Kingdom is freedom of speech and respect of law. People of UK strongly believe that everyone should be free to say what he or she likes without any restrictions from the government (European Cultural Values, 2007). English people also value law and order a lot and the definition of right or wrong is within the legal framework. Therefore people are expected to follow the law at all times and law enforcement agencies are respected. These cultural beliefs influence the communication style of Englishmen greatly. English people are considered straight forward. Their culture is regarded as a low context culture according to Hall’s cultural model (Hall, 1976). Low context cultures are characterized as cultures where communication is explicit and words have literal meaning instead of implied meaning. English communications style therefore is also very straightforward and people are expected to say everything clearly without hiding anything. The connection between cultural belief and communication style of Englishmen is quite clear. Freedom of speech influences their communications style and makes them communicate in a straightforward manner without relying on verbal queues. Also the cultural belief of respecting the law is clearly seen in the communication style of Englishmen. They are able to clearly see what is right and wrong and this makes them communicate frankly. There are no grey areas for the Englishmen because law is considered as standard. This is why they are able to say what they want to say explicitly. Cultural beliefs influence communication by shaping mindsets of the society in general. Englishmen believe that law is superior and freedom of speech is important and this in turn translates into their explicit communication style. Examples of English communication style can be clearly seen in the daily interaction with them. For example the grocery seller is likely to give all information about the products he is selling. There are also no price negotiations in general as people are expected to pay what is asked. There is a general agreement that prices will be set fairly and all this is because of the cultural beliefs of Englishmen. Brazil and Cultural Values Values can be defined as cultural specific ideas about what is agreeable or disagreeable, fair or unfair in a society. Cultural values are ideas that are printed in the minds of a particular social group and these ideas aid in establishing an identity for that social group. Cultural values of Brazil are tolerance, conciliation and friendliness (Rex, 1997). The people of Brazil also try to avoid conflict. It is not in their nature to indulge in personal conflict as they are warm and welcoming people. Brazilian values of tolerance and friendliness make them very good hosts. The cultural values of Brazil influence their communication style greatly. Brazilian culture is a high context culture which means that people mostly rely on implicit communication. Words have more than literal meaning in Brazil. People don’t talk to each other as frankly as Englishmen and implicit communication is done. Body language and facial expressions are used to communicate instead of using literal words. This is because of the values of tolerance and friendliness. People are not expected to say everything in an out right manner. Because Brazilian people want to avoid personal conflict they do not voice negative opinions openly and rely on implicit communication. In Brazil people are not expected to insult others. Guests are welcomed and they are treated as family members. The color of the dress indicates the feelings of the person. People wearing black are thought of as mourning the loss of someone. This shows that even color of clothing indicates something in Brazil. South Africa and Cultural Norm Cultural norms can be defined as generally accepted principles which guide the behavior of the people of a particular culture. These principles are different for different cultures and they serve as standards for the behavior of people of a social group. Cultural norms in South Africa dictate that people enjoy their lives to the maximum and ensure a work life balance. People are not expected to work on weekends. Also cultural norms dictate that males work and women stay at home. Overall South African people have a laid back approach towards work. These cultural norms influence the way South Africans communicate. South Africa is also a high context culture where people are expected to use implied queues during communication instead of talking in a straightforward manner. The communication during business dealings is also not straightforward and it is advised that business deals are not rushed (Cybor Link, 2010). This shows that communication style is influenced by the cultural norms prevalent in the society. South Africans try to come to conclusions that can benefit everyone as they are not willing to hurt anyone’s interest. The communication is also done in a friendly manner and there is no sense of urgency whatsoever. People talk about private life of others casually and private and public life are not different. This shows clearly that communication style is influenced by the set cultural norms of the country. South Africans score high on uncertainty avoidance (Hofstede’s Model, 2012). This means that they are not willing to take risks and want to be sure when they take decisions. This is reflected in their communication style which is laid back and friendly. The aim of the communication is also to benefit everyone in general and South Africans do not like cut throat competition. This is why they have communication style that focuses on implicit communication. An example would be that of price negotiations which are common in day to day dealings in South Africa. Pakistan and Social Practices Social practices are defined as generally accepted rituals or practices in a social group. These practices are also culture specific and are considered as standard in a particular society. The basis of these practices is not rationality. They are based on the inherent cultural norms and beliefs of the people. In Pakistan people are very religious therefore social practices are heavily influences by religion. Offering prayers, going to mosque regularly and reciting Quran (holy book of Muslims) are the regular social practices. The society in general is a patriarchal society where men are expected to work and women are expected to stay at home. It is also a social practice to respect elders to a great extent and younger people, in the presence of elders, are expected to stay quiet or speak with caution and respect. Social practices of exchange gifts are also quite common in the country as people are friendly in general. Men and women are also not allowed to socialize openly. People of the country also do not like uncertainties in general. The communication style of people of Pakistan is very implicit. People do not speak their hearts out and one has to understand what they are trying to say from their body language and facial expressions. The answers of Pakistanis are also very vague and one has to ask again and again in order to comprehend what they really mean (Communicaid, 2009). Older people are opinion makers and their decision is considered final in any communications. This shows that social practice of respecting the elderly clearly influences the communication style of people of the country. It is not uncommon to see people negotiate about prices of general items. People also feel conformable to talk with people they know well. Strangers are not easily trusted and therefore people are not open to strangers. Negative emotions are also kept under wraps by people. All these are examples of social practices influencing communication styles. Conclusion Communication styles are heavily influenced by cultural norms, values, social practices and beliefs. People when communicating cannot escape their values and therefore cultural orientation influences the style in which people communicate with each other. Different regions of the world have different norms regarding communication. These norms influence communication style of the people. English people, Brazilians, South Africans and Pakistanis all have different communication styles which are influenced by their cultural values and norms. References Arnett, J. (2003). Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood: A Cultural Approach. London: Prentice Hall Doing Business in Pakistan. (2009). Communicaid. Retrieved on June 17, 2012 from http://www.communicaid.com/access/pdf/library/culture/doing-business-in/Doing%20Business%20in%20Pakistan.pdf Hall, E. (1976). Beyond Culture. London: Anchor Books Hofstede, G. (2012). Hofstede’s Value Dimensions. Retrieved on June 17, 2012 from http://geert-hofstede.com/south-africa.html European Cultural Values. (2007). Euro barometer. Retrieved on June 17, 2012 from http://ec.europa.eu/culture/pdf/doc958_en.pdf Rex A. Hudson. (1997). Brazil: A Country Study. Washington: GPO for the Library of Congress South Africa Introduction. (2010). Cybor Link. Retrieved on June 17, 2012 from http://www.cyborlink.com/besite/africa.htm Read More