Human interaction is at the heart of any social object and sphere of influence. Regardless of whether two or more individuals are in a relationship, their communication should not only be professional or casual but should also allude to the cultural features of each individual. The era of globalization is flourishing; borders between countries are disappearing, and so are those between people. It is essential to consider each person’s characteristics and how they follow their cultural code (Abramson et al., 2018). This comprehension is called cultural relativism, and it requires considering the cultural aspects of each people’s life and understanding what they might be associated with.
Culture is now as influential as the language of communication itself. With everyone’s characteristics and consideration of their unique abilities in communication and general interaction, it is possible to convey one’s thoughts or desires. Building friendships or business connections is problematic if one does not adhere to one’s culture; ethnocentrism frequently leads to workplace stereotypes and discrimination. In ‘Role Play: Mango Seller,’ it was interesting to learn that disengaging from a conversation about a cultural issue can often be the best way to handle an uncomfortable situation. The one thing that struck me in the ‘Cultural Taboo Quiz’ is that the most difficult can be the peculiarities of the culture of Eastern countries. They are radically different from those of American and European society.
I learned that in China, people avoid wearing white clothing to a celebration and using white paper to wrap gifts because the white color is traditionally worn for mourning. It is typical in India to eat with the right hand rather than the left, as the left is considered dirty. A person unaware of this peculiarity may offend the master of the house, thereby undermining the whole bond between them (Department of State, n.d.). In addition, there is a large quality of other differences, which are not only related to food but also to greeting, which worsens the relationship between people without even an introductory dialogue. In the scenario, I comprehended the differences between high and low-context communication. For instance, direct cultures often assess indirect communication as insincere and deceptive. Indirect cultures, like China and Japan, believe that nurturing a harmonious relationship is more important than objective truth. The activities were easy and engaging, and I acquired new knowledge about various cultures and high and low-context communication.
References
Abramson, N. R., Moran, R. T., & Harris, P. R. (2018). Managing cultural differences: Global leadership for the 21st century. Routledge.
Department of State. (n.d.). So you’re an American? Www.state.gov. Web.