INTRODUCING
CROSS-CULTURAL COMMUNICATION IN THE WORKPLACE
PART TWO
By Teri Burgos-Gutierrez
This column is a continuation
of last month’s where the author gave the
reasons why the workforce should be culturally sensitive
if they are to be globally competitive. She now
provides the following helpful guidelines:
A. Some foreign
(middle class) conversational and cultural do’s
and don’ts.
Here is
a list of conversational and cultural conventions
among some foreigners. Some are valid in our own
culture.
1. Do not
ask: how much someone earns; how much
something they bought costs; about a stranger’s
political stance; personal questions like age
or marital status. Do not respond to “How
are you?” by starting to talk about your
headache or digestion problems.
2. In conversations,
there is very little simultaneous talk or overlap
between two speakers; some interruption is allowed,
especially to ask for repetition or explanation,
but too much is considered impolite.
3. Apart from between
close friends or family, avoid direct
criticism, blunt disagreement and any other conflict
like political arguments; in general avoid bluntness
and heated emotions.
4. Politely
performed negative answers, polite disagreement,
and conveyance of bad news are accepted unlike
in some oriental cultures.
5. Going off the
point is not encouraged; try to be concise,
direct, and to-the-point; objectivity and truth
are expected in most circumstances; avoid boasting;
the natural reaction is to be modest.
6. Compliment
people on a new dress, hairstyle, and respond
to others’ compliments by thanking them
or being modest.
7. Do not
say “Good Appetite” before starting
to eat (the French “Bon Apetit” is
used but not commonly); after a meal say thank
you and compliment the host or hostess on the
food.
8. Say “Excuse
me” after sneezing (other people might say
“bless you”); but blowing
one’s nose in public is accepted; but belching
and spitting are not.
9. Indicate
that you are listening with frequent but not constant
reactions like nodding, encouraging noises, and
phrases; make sure there is regular eye contact
with your communication partner.
10. Smile
a lot; it is considered polite behavior.
11. Avoid
physical contact, except for shaking hands;
there is hardly any kissing as a greeting except
between family and friends; do not get too close
and leave enough personal space; say “Excuse
me” if you brush past somebody even if you
do not actually touch the person.
12. No loud
shouting, snapping fingers or clapping hands to
call the waiter in a restaurant.
13. Be on
time and not early or late.
USING FOREIGN WORDS AND PHRASES IN CURRENT
ENGLISH
“How charmingly and effectively these foreign
tags assist one in the great task of calling a
spade by some other name!”
Aldous
Huxley
Aside from exposure
to the common idiomatic expressions given previously,
knowledge of foreign words and phrases
used in current English can help the speaker add
more power to his words. The list below contains
some examples of some of the most commonly used
foreign words:
agenda
a la carte
album
al dente
alias
alibi
ambiance
arbiter
aroma
avalanche
ballerina
basilica
bazaar
bistro
bonanza
bouillon
boudoir
boutique
bouillabaisse boulevard
buffet
camaraderie cameo
camouflage
canape
cappuccino
cassette charade
charisma
chandelier
chauffeur
chemise
cheri
cliché
clientele
coleslaw
confetti
cotillon
couturier
cuisine
diva
divorcee
discotheque esprit
euphoria
expertise
expose
façade
facsimile
fantasia
faux pas finale
fetus
gourmet
gusto
insomnia
interim
karma
kimono
lingerie
kindergarten macho
massage
matinee
motiff
musicale
novio
opera
pasta
petite
phobia
piano
rendezvous prophylaxis
restaurant
resume
replica
plaque
renaissance sachet
salon
sauna
scenario
saute
soiree
solitaire
sonata
synopsis
taboo
trauma
tutii-frutti tycoon
typhoon
ultra
valet
virtuoso
versus
vertigo
vodka
yoghourt
yoga
zombie
Cross-cultural
“Hello”
Try reading the
different ways you can greet people from different
parts of the globe. If you are familiar with other
foreign greetings, can you share it with your
co-workers?
1. English
– Hello
Spanish – Hola
Pronunciation – OH-lah
2. English
– Good day
Japanese – Konichiwa
Pronunciation – Koh-NEE-cheewah
3. English
– Hello
Hebrew – Shalom
Pronunciation – Sha-LOHM
4. English
– Hello
Chinese – Ni hao
Pronunciation – Nee HaOW
5. English
– Good day
Italian – Buon giorno
Pronunciation – bwohn JOR-noh
6. English
– Good day
German – Guten Tag
Pronunciation – GOOT-en Tahk
7. English
– Good day
French – Bonjour
Pronunciation – bohn-Zhoor
8. English
– Good day
Swedish – God dag
Pronunciation – goo dahg
9. English
– Hello
Guam – Hafa Adai
Pronunciation – HAFA-dey
10. English
– Good day
Greek – Kalimera
Pronunciation – Kah-lee-MEH-rah
11. English
– Hello
Korean – Annyong ha shimnikka
Pronunciation – An-YOH HASHim-ni-kah
12. English
– Hello
Russian – Zdravstvuite
Pronunciation – ZzDRAST-vet-yah
My name
is …
You can
now introduce yourself to people from various
parts of the world.
1. Greek
– To honoma moo
Pronunciation – Toh HO-no-MA MOO
2. French
– Je m’appelle
Pronunciation – ZHUH mah pell
3. Korean
– Che irumun (your name) imnida
Pronunciation - Chay-rehMUN (name) imneeDAH
4. Russian
– Menia zovut
Pronunciation – Men-Yah zoh-Voot
5. Spanish
– Me llamo
Pronunciation – May YAH-moh
6. Chinese
– Wo-duh ming-d’zih
Pronunciation – Woh teh ming tsuh
7. Italian
– Mi chiamo
Pronunciation – MEE kee-AH-mo
8. Swedish
– Mitt namn ar
Pronunciation – Meet nahmn
9. Hebrew
– Shmee
Pronunciation – ShMEE
10. Japanese
– Watakushi-wa (your name) desu
Pronunciation – Wah-TAHK-sheewah (your name)
DEHSS
Si juus maase! That means THANK YOU among the
people of Guam!
