How can cultural differences influnce communication?

Question

How can cultural differences influnce communication?

Answer 1

Inside jokes! Nobody will ever get the funny n popular terms I usually say to Bengali people during situations that are somewhat the same. N um kinda used to getting weird looks for jus saying 'Goody times!' and laughing out loud.

Answer 2

The most glaring difference that would influence communication would be language. It takes years of careful study to be able to speak a new language, and some even say that true fluency can rarely be achieved. The difficulty of learning a language also componds other ways in which cultural variation makes communication difficult. For example, sometimes body language is a very important component of communication wherein certain stances/postures have different significance and meaning in communication. There is even variation in the appropriate ways to smile and laugh, proper polite ways to shake hands, ways to introduce people of different ages and sexes, ways to eat and drink that communicate different ideas and different relationships with the people around you.

All of these different communication behaviors stem from culturally significant ways of understanding human relationships, hierarchies, and values. When members with shared culture communicate with one another, they are not just exchanging simple facts, but enacting culture. Because of this, when people from vastly different backgrounds try to communicate for the first time, misunderstandings are to be expected, but as mutual understanding grows, the ability to communicate improves. I hope this helps.

Answer 3

All of the other answers are very valid, but I would also add one thing that plays into them, as one person mentioned language, is the very idea that cultural differences (different perceptions/language)  effect the development of our language and cognition, and vise versa. This is described in the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis more succinctly than I wish to try and fill in this tiny text box. Here is a link to start with, though there are most likely much better citations than wikipedia, it will do for now. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sapir-Whorf...

Answer 4

1) They affect what is considered appropriate and inappropriate. Certain gestures, tones of voice, informalities and expected formalities, etc.

2) they affect the context of the discussion. Some things just shouldn't be talked about according to some cultures, while others consider it polite. So some information is held back.

3) It affects how information is presented. The japanese culture, for example, speaks heavily in metaphors, while many Americans prefer either a straight-out answer or a sarcastic tone.