Cultural Connections

What is Culture? Why Learn About Cultures?
By Michele Carlson, M.A.

As the world grows in global trade, travel, and friendship, it is important to learn about other cultures so that we can resolve conflicts peacefully and experience the best each culture has to offer.

When we think of the term culture, we often think of language, music, art, dance, style, religion, architecture, environment, attitude and behavior (expected and accepted or not accepted behaviors). In the academic world, culture is about values and shared meanings. The term culture describes webs of shared meaning and values. People who come from different cultures don’t interpret messages exactly the same way? (Griffin, 2003, p. 74). Culture is what describes anticipated, expected, and appropriate rules for behavior or communication.

It is important to understand that others have a different way of Seeing the world –this can have a great impact on behavior, values, and decisions for what is acceptable or not acceptable. Values, expectations, and perceptions influence the processes for determination of the meaning or appropriateness of actions or communication.

For example, in numerous cultures respect is valued. However, How respect is shown varies. In some places respect is shown by looking a speaker in the eyes, while in other cultures respect is shown by not looking the speaker in the eye. Thus, it is important to realize what the cultural expectations are so that one can avoid being inadvertently offensive in personal or business settings.

Since no one person fully represents his or her culture; when you are communicating you may wish to keep in mind to whom you are communicating, what their relationship is to you, what the context is, what your cultural expectations are, what their cultural expectations of you may be. It advisable to do your best to interact respectfully and effectively so you reach mutual agreements, or be open to creating new positive relationships and friendships with those from other cultures.

We can broaden our perception to understand where someone else is coming from while still holding to our own beliefs. When we broaden our horizon, we can expand our businesses into new cultures and create mutually beneficial prosperous situations.

Books For More Information About Culture: Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands; How to Do Business in Sixty Countries

Terri Morrison, Wayne A. Conaway, & George A. Bordern. Ph.D. (ISBN 1-55850-444-3)
In Mixed Company: Communicating in Small Groups and Teams
J. Dan Rothwell
A First Look at Communication Theory, 5th Edition
Em Griffin (ISBN 0-07-248392-4)