Intercultural communication: What is it and how to succeed?

Communication between cultures is becoming increasingly important these days and in a variety of settings: in the workplace, at universities and schools, and indeed in everyday life. It is essential in being part of a global community that we are able to communicate cross-culturally. But what is intercultural communication? And how is it done successfully?

In this post, we’ll look more in detail at multicultural communication and the kind of skills you will need to interact with people from all walks of life. And if you are interested in an international career in whatever sector you wish, then you could consider the Degree in Translation and Intercultural Communication at Universidad Europea

Defining intercultural communication

Intercultural communication refers to the exchange of messages and information between individuals or groups from different cultural backgrounds. It involves the ability to understand, appreciate, and effectively interact with people from diverse cultures.

Intercultural communication requires the consideration of cultural differences in values, beliefs, customs, language, and communication styles, and the ability to adapt to these differences to build successful relationships and achieve common goals.

It is essential in today's globalised world where people from different cultures interact with each other in various settings such as education, business, healthcare, and social contexts.

Intercultural and cross-cultural communication: Key factors

In whatever the situation – whether it’s in the workplace, classroom, or elsewhere – there are a number of factors to take into consideration when it comes to successfully communicating with people from other cultures. Let’s take a look at some of them now:

• Awareness: Cross-cultural communication starts with this. Whenever you interact with people from different cultures, you should be aware that your way is not the only way (and neither is theirs). Cultural differences play a big part in how we communicate, and not just verbally. For example, many nationalities view eye contact as a sign of respect when talking to someone but for others it is not that important. Many differences like these may cause conflict or tension. That’s why it would be better if we are aware and understand how to manage these differences.
• Maintain etiquette: Before meeting, make sure you research the target culture and know what the local etiquette is. Many cultures expect a degree of formality at the beginning of communication between individuals. Every culture has its own specific way of indicating this formality: ‘Herr’ and ‘Frau’ in Germany, reversing family and given names in China and the use of ‘san’ in Japan for men and women etc.
• Avoid slang and colloquial phrases: In business settings in particular, not everyone will be up to speed with colloquialisms and slang terms. It is always a safe bet to avoid this, and stick to more formal language to avoid misunderstandings, or even causing offence.
• Practice active listening: This is an important factor in intercultural communication. Repeat or summarize what the other person has said. That way, as well as showing you are paying attention, you ensure that any key information has been understood and eveyone is on the same page.
• Be careful with humour: Another aspect to look out for when in business settings in particular is the use of humour. It is probably best to be avoided in general as what may be funny to one person may cause offence to someone else. If you do go down the route of using humour, you should be aware that sarcasm, for example, a stalwart in British humour, is not received will in many other cultures.
• Avoid closed questions: When talking to people from other cultures where English is not the main language, avoid using questions that require a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer. That’s because in some cultures, it can be difficult, or embarrassing even, to answer negatively – so you may get a ‘yes’ even if they mean ‘no’. Try to use open ended questions and let the other person answer with plenty of information.

We hope that this helps you understand some of the key points to intercultural communication the next time you have to interact with people from different cultures. If you’d like to know more, in the Degree in Translation and Intercultural Communication, you will study subjects such as cultural mediation, and socio-cultural perspectives. In addition, you will work on translation and interpreting skills, not just at our state-of-the-art campus, but also via internships and work placements at some of the leading companies in the sector.