Chapter 4: Communicating Across Cultures
haptic
characterized by a predilection for the sense of touch
kinesic behavior
communication through posture, gestures, facial expressions, and eye contact
cultural noise
cultural variables that undermine the communications of intended meaning
low-contact culture
cultures that prefer much less sensory involvement, standing farther apart and touching far less; a "distant" style of body language
paralanguage
how something is said rather than the content- the rate of speech, the tone and inflection of voice, other noises, laughing, or yawning
object language (material culture)
how we communicate through material artifacts , whether architecture, office design and furniture, clothing, cars, or cosmetics
material culture
see term object language
proxemics
the distance between people (personal space) with which a person feels comfortable
attribution
the process in which a person looks for an explanation of another person's behavior
communication
the process of sharing meaning by transmitting messages through media such as words, behavior, or material artifacts
nonverbal communication
the transfer of meaning through the use of body language, time, and space
monochronic cultures
those cultures in which time is experienced and used in a linear way; there is a past, present, and future, and time is treated as something to be spent, saved, wasted, and so on. See also polychronic cultures.
polychronic cultures
those cultures that welcome the simultaneous occurrence of many things and emphasize involvement with people over specific time commitments or compartmentalized activities
high-context cultures
those cultures where feelings and thoughts are not explicitly expressed; communication is implicit and as a function of the context and understanding of the person
high-contact culture
those cultures where people prefer to stand close, touch a great deal, and experience a "close" sensory involvement
low-context cultures
those societies where people convey their thoughts and plans in a direct, straightforward communication style; communication and information is explicit
resilience
traits such a having an internal locus of control, persistence, a tolerance of ambiguity, and resourcefulness
openness
traits such as open-mindedness, tolerance for ambiguity, and extrovertedness
intercultural communication
type of communication that occurs when a member of one culture sends a message to a receiver who is a member of another culture
ringi system
"bottom-up" decision-making process used in Japanese organizations
noise
anything that serves to undermine the communication of the intended meaning