How may cultural influences lead to misunderstandng in communication of either verbal or nonverbal messages?

Question

How may cultural influences lead to misunderstandng in communication of either verbal or nonverbal messages?

Answer 1

Communication systems such as language and nonverbal communication are products of culture. They are also tools intricately bound up in the process of culture itself: Language is related to thought processes and to mental learning processes. So interconnected are communication and culture that some researchers use them interchangeably: "culture is communication" and "communication is culture" (Edward T. Hall. The Silent Language, 1959--a terrific book!)

Of course this equation may not always be helpful.  One definition of culture is that it is a learned, shared, and coherent view of a group of people who use symbols to express the meanings of culture.  Culture uses verbal and nonverbal communication to express cultural values, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors. They are not interchangeable, although they co-exist in an important relationship.

Communicators from different cultures, with different "mental data banks", can misunderstand one another.  People think in different ways that are culturally based. They process information differently. People begin with different databases; they process information differently; may even use different mental software.  Misunderstandings of verbal or nonverbal messages, alas, are frequent, because of this.

Answer 2

There are thousands of cultural influences in day to day life that frame how you use language, and what meanings that you would assign to the words.

   For example, the word POST...to a mail man, it would mean the act of mailing a letter, for a computer specialist, it would mean Power On Self Test, for construction workers, it would mean a pole stuck in the ground.  All are common meanings, yet your job related culture defines your first meaning that you assign to the word.

   Many contend that language also defines a culture...for example, the Eskimo people have many words for snow, the average American does not.  As a result of this lack of terminology, we can not express to each other a difference in snow without resorting to extra, defining words.

   Non-verbal communications are also different around the world...even giving someone "The Finger" is not universally known.  

Answer 3

A very good and simple example of a misunderstanding caused by cultural differences, is how a common way of sitting in western countries is an extreme insult to people of middle eastern countries. Sittling with one ankle rested on the other knee to westerners is no problem, but to someone in the middle east, showing them the bottom of your shoe is like telling them that you think they are below you. Interesting how such a simple gesture could lead to so much misunderstanding.