Intercultural - international faux pas - Essay Example

INTERNATIONAL FAUX PAS International faux pas According to research, a faux pas is a publicly uncooperative or insensitive action, particularly one that infringes accepted social standards, principles, traditions, or the guidelines of good manners (Asobele, 2002). In most cases, what is communal exercise in one place of the world may undeniably be offensive in another. Therefore, because of the abundant diversity of traditions, cultures, as well as norms it has become almost not easy to list particular behaviors that a person should or should not avoid.

There are some behaviors that were considered inappropriate not only in one culture but in a number of other cultures during the research. For instance, developing assumptions is one of the practices (Blanchot, 2001). This implies that a number of people have the tendency of assuming that they understand things and the way they are.In addition, it is also inappropriate to neglect creating relationships before proceeding with the intended business. In almost all cultures, it is not proper to attempting to carry out business even before establishing a relationship with the other party.

This is viewed as acting too formally and it is not proper. Furthermore, it is also not proper to neglect following the suitable eating etiquette. This could include rejecting an offer of drink or a meal, eating in public, as well as displaying inappropriate table etiquettes (Gaskin, 2008). The most difficult culture to live in is the Chinese culture. The faux pas in my culture that a person from outside might do includes a man greeting a woman in a modesty manner while lowering his gaze to avoid lewd on both sides.

ReferencesAsobele, T. (2002).Nigerian cultural diplomacy in the twentieth century. New York, NY: Promocomms Limited.Blanchot, M. (2001). Faux Pas. Stanford: Stanford University Press.Gaskin, S. (2008).Fatal Faux Pas. Oxford: Secret Acres.