Cross cultural understanding: a handbook to understand others’ cultures

 
EXERCISE 
1.
When does shock culture happen? 
2.
What is meant by honeymoon period? 
3.
How might people decrease the impact of culture shock ? 
4.
What happen to people who cannot adjust themselves to the 
new culture? 
5.
What is the best way to prepare for life in another country? 
 

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Cross Cultural Understanding | 111 
CHAPTER VII 
CULTURAL CONFLICT 
Intercultural communication is communication between 
members of different cultures. In intercultural communication, 
people will deal with different perception, attitudes, and 
interpretations. Even two people from the same culture can have 
communication problems.
The obvious way we communicate is by using words. 
However, as we have seen, we also use non-verbal 
communication: our tone of voice, body language, gestures, 
posture and facial expressions all impact on communication. 
Often people think that the use of gestures and facial expressions 
will be sufficient to convey an accurate message, without regard 
for the different rules of non-verbal communication which may 
apply in the other person‘s culture. However, just as verbal 
communication rules differ across cultures, so too do the rules of 
non-verbal communication. These rules are specific to each 
culture and are largely taken for granted. We respond to these 
rules without being aware of them. 
Therefore it is important to be aware that our own non-
verbal communication might be insulting to others. For example, 
in some cultures, maintaining constant eye contact while talking 
is interpreted as disrespectful, meanwhile other cultures see it as a 
sign of honesty and confidence. 

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112 | Cross Cultural Understanding