Communication is more than just the mechanical transfer of information. Culture plays a very significant role in communication expectations and style. I'll be discussing some of the differences in communication styles. First is politeness. politeness differs according to culture. In Hindi politeness is determined by the use of up to two as well as verb forms.
Americans use thanks and please quite a bit. They also soften requests with phrases like, if you don't mind, could you but don't be fooled. They really expect you to get it done. Is it okay with you if which is a polite way of asking permission? In some cultures, it's okay to interrupt. In a lively discussion, we usually Wait until the other person stops speaking or completes their sentence before we start talking.
Interrupting another student in a class discussion will be seen as rude and may lower your participation rate. I expect that many of you won't have a problem and dominating the discussion. You will need to be purposeful in entering in to the classroom discussion. In a lively discussion before between friends, some interruption is okay. But never dominate a conversation. And at times, you may feel uncomfortable and don't say much at all.
Americans are very uncomfortable with silence and will feel the silence with their own thoughts, leaving you without an opportunity to say what you really think or you really want. Americans are comfortable with informal speech. One place that this shows up is in each emails. Indian emails tend to be more formal and wordy than American emails. Do away with the formality and cut to the chase as we say. Most Americans like you to get to the point very quickly.
If you need to talk to professor who is busy, you don't start with how are you but with, I need to talk to you about the lab equipment. He'll tell you if he can talk now or when he will be available to talk. When lots of emails are going back and forth between Americans, they don't begin with dear or high. It's very normal for emails to begin with the first name, and sometimes that even gets dropped, especially if it's a reply. Generally, short emails do not mean that they're upset with you. Long emails are more likely to indicate that someone is upset with you conversation when varies depending on the situation and also the culture.
When an American is ready to end the conversation, they will usually say something like, Well, I'm glad we could meet today. Or, well, I don't want to take any more of your time, I should let you go. These are sentence signals that the American wants to end the conversation. They are pre closing and cues not to prolong the conversation. Or Americans may end the conversation very abruptly. They might look at their watch and they'll say, I gotta go, gotta be late and they jump up, rush out, leaving you sitting in a coffee shop all alone.
This isn't an escape, it probably means that they're enjoying the conversation and lost track of time. Every culture has a way of beginning conversations in India. If you don't understand something and want to ask your professor a question. questions you may say, I have a doubt. In the US that phrase isn't use and could mean, I doubt what you are saying or I don't have confidence in you, most of which are negative. Better to say, Professor in your lecture on Friday, you said that.
Could you clarify that for me? Or simply, I have a question. The phrases we use to begin a conversation are called lead phrases. When an American hears we're working on a lab report, could you send that is the lead phrase that is indicating that we are asking for information and we want that information fast. She could either send it immediately or ask how soon it is needed. That would be a good response to that kind of question.
Start with that lead. phrase, listening to how other students start conversations and picking up their lead phrases is a good way to learn how to start conversations. Be sure to take responsibility. If you mess up. Americans like to understand what went wrong and who is responsible. Then they can move on, fix the problem and forget about it.
It's okay to make a mistake. It's not okay to try to hide it or not admit when you're wrong. Americans use these phrases when they realize they messed up. I'm sorry, I could have done a better job. Apologies. I wasn't able to get it done.
I apologize. I should have gotten that to you yesterday. You're right. That was not a good option. Being open, about where you are and mistakes you made is very healthy thing in the US. Jokes often contain assumed knowledge, it may take you a while to understand American humor.
Recently I heard an American giving a lecture on leadership to a group of Indians. He jokingly said that the group of the previous lecture in another Indian city were not very bright and a bit da, and he hoped this group was better. The Indian audiences did not understand it as a joke, and some were quite offended. Americans us put down you were quite often. It's not meant to hurt but simply to be funny. Don't try using it until you understand it, but don't be offended by it either.
Learn how when and to whom you can express your feelings. Northern European countries are far more reserved than Southern European countries and much less emotional in their communication. America will be a mix of both people. So don't become overly sensitive to a very emotional American, or to an American who seems to say very little about their personal life. At times, you also will need to express your sentiments in more subtle ways. If you are an emotional Indian, and at times you perhaps will need to be a bit more emotional.
And there's direct and indirect communication. The most significant cultural differences are in this area of direct and indirect communication styles. Americans tend to be direct but not as direct as the Dutch and Germans, while Indians tend to be indirect in certain situations, but not as indirect as the Japanese. Most cultural differences are on a continuum, and someone will most always be on your left or on your right in terms of their communication style. Americans are straightforward and direct, but also try to moderate our directness, with tact and politeness. directness is equated with honesty and respect for the person with whom we're communicating.
We don't like lots of flattery, you may hear an American saying, If I don't say anything, if I can't say honestly, communication is primarily the responsibility of the person speaking, meaning must be expressed precisely, things must be explained clearly. And unambiguously. Low context cultures are associated with direct communication, and more concerned with the factual exchange of information. So that transaction Maybe completed without formality or protocol. Low context cultures focus more on the word spoken and are less aware of the subtleties in communication or hidden meaning. Indirect speakers are concerned with how the listener will receive the communication.
The speaker is more aware of the circumstances of communication and makes a special effort not to offend the listener, polite and respectful communication keeps the listener from losing face or social status. This communication works well if both communicators are from the same social context, because each member is clued in on the subtle hints of the language. They understand what is being said and appreciate the respectful manner in which the message is being delivered. Even if the message is negative At least they know that their personhood is being respected. High Tech communication is often associated with cultures who are more concerned about how information is impacting the person receiving it. So that harmony in the relationship is preserved.
High context communicators are very conscious that their communication projects a desire for harmony and respect. Looking at this communication model, notice indirect communicators often feel that when an issue or problem is addressed, it's not just the problem or the issue, but that they personally are being attacked. In the academic setting, your ideas will be discussed, sometimes very critically. And you may feel personally offended. That is not the intent. Chris Thinking demands tearing apart arguments and reasonings.
If we were to come up with clear thinking and fully solve problems. So remove yourself mentally, from your opinion or problem. Look objectively at the issue again, in dialogue with your fellow student or professor. The expectation is that you engage in critical thinking, and that communication is clear. The best way to learn about Americans and how they communicate is to be an observer. Watch them and begin to get the flow of their communication style.
Let me encourage you to focus on your communication during your time in the US, become a good communicator, become a communicator, they can cross cultures. In the long run, this may be one of the most effective and important 10 skills that you learn for your future career