Immaculate Conception I-College of Arts and Technology

Purposive Communication

Explanatory Essay

By

Celones, Akira Ken G.

Dumaguit, Jason B.

Esma, Justin Randolf M.

Panaligan, Den May A.

Taculao, Amiel John Zen P.

Instructor

Ms. Sheena Pagusara

April 06, 2024

 The Great Wall of Cultural Barriers: Overcoming Cultural Barriers in Communication

Culture has a significant role that influences how we perceive the world, and cultural

barriers might appear like impassable walls dividing individuals. Despite all this, finding

common ground could be instrumental in tearing down the walls that divide us. Culture impacts

how we interact with others, it is similar to a pattern of behavior shared by a society or group of

people, and these patterns shape our perspectives, behaviors, ideas, and emotions. In this sense,

culture pertains to what you have done in the past, or what previous generations have done over

hundreds of years, and how your surroundings still embody this.

According to Edward Brunette Tylor, an English anthropologist, culture is "a complex

whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, law, morals, customs, and any other capabilities

and habits acquired by a man as a member of society." His definition has been widened to

include a person's ability to adapt to their environment, behaviors, and characteristics based on

the society that they lived in. Meanwhile, cultural differences arise when different events and

things have different meanings or perspectives in society.

Cultural differences tend to create cultural barriers. Cultural barriers have their

foundations in a variety of perspectives, experiences, values, and beliefs. These barriers may

interfere with effective communication, effective interpersonal interactions, and awareness of a

person's cultural background. People's diversity extends beyond food and clothes, especially

language, and encompasses their way of life. In part because of cultural differences, some people

tend to take actions that others might see as unfavorable. These different points of view might

lead to misconceptions and misinterpretations. Cultural diversity occurs due to our differences in

language, non-verbal cues, values, and norms. Barriers can be classified as either physical or

immaterial "obstacles hindering, delaying, or preventing access to information" (Swignon, 2011).

 Having cultural differences is inevitable. The existence of people's diversity might

include the occurrence of barriers and challenges in terms of communicating. According to

Erdman (2006), people's memories from early childhood are embedded in them, which might

influence their personalities. The influence could be positive or negative, depending on what

type of environment and culture they have been exposed to. This implies that the outcome might

turn out to be either positive or negative, depending on how people execute or deliver their

intentions. It is crucial to have knowledge, awareness, as well as understanding of every

individual's deeper cultural context; this may serve as valuable background material for further

recognizing people's differences.

Cultural communication barriers can also arise when there are different expectations

about the way meetings and negotiations should be conducted. In some cultures, it is perfectly

normal to interrupt someone who is speaking. However, in others, this would be considered very

rude (Simon and Simon, 2022). According to Newman (2020), there are 5 cultural barriers in

communication which are, Language, Stereotypes and Prejudices, Signs and Symbols, Behaviors

and Beliefs, and the “Us” vs. “Them” or Ethnocentrism.

First is Language. Not speaking the same language fluently can cause a myriad of

misunderstandings and is considered the most crucial barrier in cross-cultural communication.

Verbal communication serves as a vital and key component in many situations. However, the

literal meaning of words might be misinterpreted. If one person isn’t aware of the exact meaning

of a word, it may be misunderstood or misinterpreted by the other person and lead to a conflict of

ideas.
 Second are Stereotypes and Prejudices. Stereotypes are mostly negative images or

preconceived notions about a specific community, group, or culture. The basis of stereotyping

can be many things, though the most common are nationality, gender, race, religion, or age.

Popular stereotypes, for example, are regional stereotypes in the Philippines, which are linked to

people from different regions. For instance, people from Manila may be characterized as highly

modern or entitled, whereas those from the provinces may be perceived as unsophisticated. This

creates prejudice among people of different cultures and causes judgmental attitudes towards one

another. People look at other cultures with certain stereotypes as "bad,” “difficult to work with,"

or “incomprehensible” and treat them with contempt and disrespect. If things get this far on a

team or in a company, working together effectively can become extremely difficult for people

who resent and disrespect each other.

Third is Signs and Symbols. Non-verbal communication like signs and symbols differs

from culture to culture and can therefore not be relied upon in communication. For example, the

“thumbs up," known in the Western world as a sign of approval, is seen as an insult in

Bangladesh. While not quite as easily misconstrued in a team environment as the other factors, it

can still lead to cultural faux pas that may take time to smooth over and could be avoided in the

first place.

Fourth are Behaviors and Beliefs. Cultural differences cause behavioral and personality

differences like body language, gestures, mindsets, communication, manners, and norms, which

may lead to miscommunication. Eye contact, for example, is very important in some cultures but

rude and disrespectful in others. People’s varied religious or spiritual beliefs can also lead to

conflict and cross-cultural barriers. Different cultures also have different understandings of time.

Some countries, like Germany, the Netherlands, Scandinavia, Switzerland, and the United States,
tend to view time as linear. Time is money, and punctuality is a great value. Things tend to be

done one at a time to be able to focus on them and finish the task within a fixed time frame.

Other countries, for example, many Southern European countries like Spain or Italy, see time as

multi-active; this means that the more things they do at the same time, the happier and more

fulfilled they feel. Present reality and especially personal relationships are more important and

valued than schedules or punctuality.

Lastly, the concept of "Us" vs. "Them," also known as Ethnocentrism, is the concept that

one's cultural group is superior to others. For example, some Filipinos believe that Tagalog, their

native language, is superior to other Filipino languages. This superiority could result in prejudice

against speakers of different dialects in the Philippines. In addition, some Filipinos look down

upon indigenous rituals or traditions, failing to recognize their cultural value. Our subconscious

mind might create feelings of estrangement when someone behaves unexpectedly or does not fit

in. A person's standard is his or her own culture; the more that another person's culture, behavior,

language, and ideas contrast with it, the more "different" they are called. This interferes with the

interpretation of the message and develops resentment.

According to Newman (2020), successful and effective cross-cultural management can be

a daunting task even more so for teams with members scattered across the globe. People who are

constantly interacting with each other face-to-face for eight hours every day will bond and find

common ground faster than people who only interact with each other online at certain times.

Open communication is the only way culturally diverse teams can work through and overcome

their differences to make them work well together. Don’t let resentment, problems, or

misunderstandings between team members fester; address them as soon as they arise and allow

all parties to present and discuss their grievances in a safe and open environment. Rally the team
around a shared vision or common cause. Bringing people together around a shared vision or

common cause can be a powerful thing to unite the team and have all members pulling together

in the same direction. Be aware of the stereotypes and prejudices you may have and try to

consciously overwrite them. Understand the differences your team members deal with among

each other and foster a company culture of open communication.

To conclude, culture has a significant role in building up perspectives and influencing

how people see and interact with one another. Cultural differences may lead to barriers as they

hinder the effectiveness of communication and understanding. This can be overcome by

recognizing, respecting, appreciating, and embracing cultural diversity. To overcome cultural

barriers, communication needs initiatives that encourage openness, respect, and deeper

comprehension within the context of one's own culture. Connections play a vital role in breaking

down cultural barriers. Shared values make people respect and understand diverse cultural

perspectives; thus, they also embrace other cultures. This can alone support the goal of effective

relationships and communication. Awareness of cultural contexts is necessary for creating

consequential and respectful interactions that must involve the awareness of cultural contexts.

The key to understanding cultural differences is addressing personal, procedural, and

environmental communication barriers. This fosters inclusivity and interpersonal interactions.

 References

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Cultural Barriers to Effective Communication in Business | SIMON & SIMON. (2022, May 20).

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business

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