Chapter 4: Intercultural Communication
3. Communication Misunderstanding
Why do misunderstandings and comprehension problems often occur when people from different cultural backgrounds communicate with each other? Different behavioral norms on the verbal as well as on the nonverbal level (hand signals, facial expressions, gait, posture, eye and body contact) can lead to misinterpretations.
Misunderstandings on the verbal level
- Interpretation of terms: The word compromise has a negative connotation in the Middle East. "Até logo" literally translated from Portuguese as "See you soon!" can also mean "See you sometime". In French, the word "concept" tends to mean writing down initial ideas, a "brainstorming", and does not, as in German, associate a written, structured text document. In Indonesian, "belum," German for "not yet," is a euphemism for "no."
- Form of address and greeting: In the USA, Sweden, Brazil, it is customary to address each other by their first names; in Germany, this can be considered disrespectful.
- Direct or indirect communication: the direct tone of Northern Europeans is considered rude, impolite and insensitive in many Asian and Latin American countries.
- Use of titles: Titles must be used in many countries; in others, this tends to make you look like a braggart.
Misunderstandings on a non-verbal level
- Dress code: differs significantly. Dressing casually in jeans and a sweater at work may be taken as an affront in France, Latin America, or Asia.
- Table manners: If you don't know the table manners of the local culture, you will quickly be considered uncultured.
- Written vs. oral contracts: In Indonesia, for example, a verbal agreement or handshake counts just as much as a written elaboration of business formalities in Germany.
- Gestures and facial expressions: Whether negotiating partners greet each other with a limp or strong handshake, whether they touch each other when speaking - all this is included in our mostly unconscious assessment of a person.
- Natural body distance: Northern Europeans prefer a distance of about an arm's length in conversations, while Southern Europeans and Latin Americans prefer a shorter distance.
Misunderstandings at the para-verbal level
Voice pitch, tone of voice and volume: Loud speech is perceived as aggressive in some cultures, while soft speech is interpreted as insecurity in other countries.
Speech tempo and melody: Monotone speech can be interpreted as disinterest in some cultures. Speaking at a very fast pace can be especially disconcerting to non-native speakers and cause comprehension problems.
Pauses and silences: Taking pauses between speeches is considered a sign of politeness and respect in some cultures; in other cultures, interrupting others' speeches is customary and desirable; otherwise, one would hardly get a chance to speak.
(See also: Berninghausen, Hecht- El Minshawi, 2009)