Introduction
In the modern world where information flows are often multidirectional and constant, cross-cultural communication has become almost a daily occurrence. On the Internet, the information passes through thousands of minds from every corner of the earth. Advancements in transportation technologies also made it possible to travel physically across the borders with high speed making the process of intercultural communication even more ordinary. However, this process takes certain efforts as every culture is diverse. It may create some particular and sometimes unavoidable barriers. That is why it is important to discover what role cultural awareness, trust building, and communication practices play in the process of cross-cultural exchange.
Cultural Awareness
When it comes to cultural differences, there might be a thousand and more nuances that need to be considered in order not to offend the other party in conversation. Every nation has its own patterns of behavior that involve mimics, gestures, words, jokes, and eye contact traditions, which in their own way influence the level of understanding between the representatives of other countries. For example, in Venezuela it is appropriate to touch a person during the conversation provided there is some minimal level of trust and familiarity between them. In Scandinavian countries, the psychological and physical distance between people is more sizable, so tapping on a shoulder or touching a person’s elbow during a conversation could be considered a violation of personal space. Therefore, to become skillful at cross-cultural communication a person needs to be aware of such notions and be respectful of the traditions representatives of other countries might have. If there is no opportunity to learn about the cultural differences beforehand, it is always polite to ask about them when appropriate.
Trust Building
Establishing trust is also an important issue to be mindful of when engaging in conversations with people of different cultural backgrounds. However, in each nation, there are different ways to earn trust, which can sometimes be quite sophisticated. For example, in Asian countries, it requires a lot of time to know each other to build trust. There seems to be no better strategy to earn trust among representatives of other countries than to be polite, respectful, and responsive. Any persistence in this matter could potentially produce an opposite effect and sever the relationship. On the other hand, establishing at least a minimal level of trust could potentially result in friendship or mutually beneficial relationships.
Effective Communication Practices
Similar to trust-building, there is no universal recipe for effective dialogue with foreign people. Each country has its own understanding of effective communication practices. In the US, it is often appreciated when people speak directly and stay on point, whereas in the Arab world it is polite to discuss family, friends, and relatives first. As it is important not to offend your foreign counterpart, it would be a courtesy just to follow the practices they use asking them about the details. Knowledge about such nuances could be invaluable in building good relationships.
Conclusion
All things considered, all of the aspects mentioned above are of utmost significance when it comes to cross-cultural conversations. As each country has its own practices in those spheres, choosing an effective communication strategy requires a great deal of education on cultural, trust, and communication nuances before engaging in conversation. If there is no such option, it would rarely be an offense to ask about certain details. General politeness, respect, and responsiveness seem to have universal value across the globe and are useful tools of an effective communicator.