Cover not available
Article published In:
Australian Review of Applied Linguistics
Vol. 19:1 (1996) ► pp.21–37

Misunderstanding in cross-cultural communication

The influence of different value systems as reflected in spoken discourse

| Canberra Institute of Technology

This paper examines the spoken discourse of immigrant professionals problem solving in small groups in order to see how different cultural values both influence, and are reflected in, the way a problem is defined and solutions proposed. It also provides evidence that these values are one of the factors that contribute to miscommunication in this type of communication. Three types of miscommunication are identified: misinterpretation of the message because a cultural filter distorts the message; incomplete comprehension because the underlying values are not explicated and the hearers remain unaware of the full implications of the message; and comprehension but misunderstanding and dissonance because the values of the hearers are at variance with the reality of the message. The extent to which the views of individuals conformed to the value systems general ascribed to their cultural background is discussed and instances of individual variance noted. Finally, the implications for teaching and workplace training suggested by these findings are discussed.

Published online: 1 January 1996
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/aral.19.1.02fit
References
Asian Management Journal
June-July 1993: 14–19.
Banks, S.P. Ge, G. and Baker, J.
(1991) Intercultural encounters and miscommunication. In G. Coupland (ed) Miscommunication and problematic talk. Sage, Newbury Park.Google Scholar
Barlund, D.C.
(1975) Communicative styles in two cultures: Japan and the United States. In A Kendon, R.M. Harris and M. Ritchie Key (eds) Organisation of behaviour in face-to-face interaction. Mouton, The Hague. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Baxter, J.
(1983) English for intercultural competence: an approach to intercultural communication training. In A. Landis and R.W. Brislin, (eds) Handbook for intercultural training volume two. Pergamon Press, New York. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Blommaert, J.
(1991) How much culture is there in intercultural communication? In J. Verscueren, (eds) The pragmatics of intercultural and international communication. John Benjamins, Amsterdam. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Clyne, M.
(1985) Beyond grammar: some thoughts on communication rules in our multicultural society. J. Pride (ed) Cross-cultural encounters: communication and miscommunication. River Seine Publications, Melbourne.Google Scholar
Clyne, M. Ball, M. and Neil, D.
(1991) Intercultural communication at work in Australia: complaints and apologies in turns. Multilingua, 10–3: 251–273. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Condon, J.
(1986) … So near the United States. In J. Merril (ed) Culture bound: bridging the culture-gap in language teaching. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.Google Scholar
Du Bois, J. Cumming, S. and Schuetz-Coburn, S.
(1988) Guide for transcribing spoken discourse. University of California, Santa Barbara.Google Scholar
Gumperz, J. Jupp, T. and Roberts, C.
(1979) Cross talk: a study of cross-cultural communication. National Centre for Industrial Language, London.Google Scholar
Hall, E.T.
(1976) Beyond culture. Anchor Press Doubleday, New York.Google Scholar
Luce, L. and Smith, E.
Cross-cultural literacy: a national priority. In Luce and Smith eds Towards internationalism Newbury House Massachusetts
Roberts, C. Davies, E. and Jupp, T.
(1992) Language and discrimination: a study of communication in multi-ethnic workplaces. Longmans, London.Google Scholar
Robinson, G.
(1985) Cross-cultural understanding: processes and approaches for foreign language, ESL and bilingual education. Pergamon, New York.Google Scholar
Smith, L.
(ed) (1981) English for cross-cultural communication. Macmillan, Hong Kong. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Trompenaars, F.
(1993) Riding the waves of culture: understanding cultural diversity in business. The Economist Books, London.Google Scholar
Willing, K.
(1992) Talking it through: clarification and problem-solving in professional work. Macquarie University, Sydney.Google Scholar
Wierzbicka, A.
(1985) A semantic metalanguage for a cross-cultural comparison of speech acts and speech genres. Language and Society, 141:491–514. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
(1991) Cross-cultural pragmatics: the semantics of human interaction. Mouton de Gruyter, Berlin. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Cited by

Cited by 1 other publications

Mulyana, Deddy & Fiona Verity
2016. Health consumer participation, medical dominance and digital ethics in Indonesia: the Prita Case. Health Sociology Review 25:3 ► pp. 300 ff. DOI logo

This list is based on CrossRef data as of 23 april 2024. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.