Intercultural Communication

Hey Everyone, 

Lets talk about intercultural communication. Read this article on the Ten Commandments of Intercultural Communication and let me know what you think. In the mean time, here are my thoughts after reading the article:

 “What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions, and repulsion. Life is plurality; death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and peculiarities, by eliminating different civilizations and cultures, progress weakens life and favors death. The ideal of a single civilization for everyone, implicit in the cult of progress and technique, impoverishes and mutilates us. Every view of the world that becomes extinct, every culture that disappears, diminishes a possibility of life”

- Octavio Paz

In my opinion, this quote represents the importance of diversity and the richness of culture in the world. A world without difference is a world of robots. This week’s article exists because of our differences. Every difference and every individual makes the world interesting. It is our duty to learn and understand these differences as well as the similarities.

Understanding, consciousness, and awareness of cultural differences are the common themes for these guidelines. I would personally apply these guidelines when I meet someone for the first time. The guidelines remind me to be conscious of the various forms of respect in different cultures. Shaking hands is a great example. Shaking hands may be disrespectful in certain cultures because you are touching the person. Speaking before spoken to may also be a sign of disrespect. 

No matter how you look at it, meeting new people and engaging in conversation increases the chances of offending the other person. These guidelines remind me of the enormous size of this world and the variety of people occupying it. The best way we can adapt to the size and variety of the world is by taking the time to learn and understand each person’s individual uniqueness. Living in a bubble is not justification for not knowing something; it is just arrogance.

References

World of Quotes. (2011). Retrieved July 14, 2011, from World of Quotes Web site: http://www.worldofquotes.com/topic/Culture/1/index.html