Major Communication Issues in a Multicultural Environment

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Table of Contents

Summary
Multiculturalism in Irish Medical Colleges’ setting
Body language and language issues
Cultural misconceptions
Differences in the decision-making approach
The difference in approaches to knowing
The solution to tackle multicultural communication differences
References

Summary

Communication among human beings is vital; people are social animals, and they communicate to understand each other. A number of issues challenge effective communication among people from diverse cultures. In a normal situation, people have those whom they do not understand, those whom they have blazed, and to the extreme, there are biases and prejudices against some groups and classes of people. Faigley (3) notes that communication is essential in home, businesses, and communities and in-country; however, when dealing with diverse people, some communication issues exist. This paper discusses some of the major communication issues in a multiculturalism society; it will consider the case of the Irish Medical Colleges’ setting.

Multiculturalism in Irish Medical Colleges’ setting

Guffer and Almonte (4) are of the view that globalization and international integration of countries have enabled people with diverse cultures to come together for education purposes in colleges, universities and tertiary institutions; hardly will there be a dominant group but there is always a stream of different cultures. For effective communication among staff, students and amongst themselves, there is a need to have cultural intelligence, however, there are numerous challenges that hinder effective communication, they include:

Body language and language issues

Carroll (2) is of the view that even in similar community and culture, the way individuals communicate, and the style they use is different in their own aspects; when it comes to multicultural environments, the differences are even wider. Communication styles include language, symbols, signs and the degree that which non-verbal communication is considered important. The Irish people talk different English than the Britons, thus in case the two parties are in the same setting, then their communication is likely not to be effective. The tone and the volume of communication means different among different communities, for example, a raise in voice among the Irish is likely to be a sign of fight or anger, while in the case of Africans it implies happiness. When students are communicating with each other, they are likely to misunderstand each other since the values they hold for particular aspects are different. An Irish may use a certain tone to emphasize something but an Asian may take the information differently. In extreme cases, some communications signs might be fully be misunderstood; in communication between a Congolese and an Australian where acceptance is given by signs and symbols, then there would be differences. to an Australian, shaking one’s head from right to left is a show of acceptance, while in a Congolese, it means denial, such a communication cannot be effective.

Cultural misconceptions

Aristotle (1) notes that conflicts and conflict resolution is an integral stages in communication, people should solve their differences in an effective manner so as they can develop a single angle of perceiving situations. Different cultures have different ways of solving conflicts that might be a challenge to effective communication. In a University set up, in a room shared by a Kenyan (more specifically a tribe called Meru), and an Irish, when the two have conflict, then the way they take the issues is different. For the Kenyan, he believes in keeping quiet and solving the issues with his heart, he does not consider opening up as important, on the other hand, Mexican believe they can solve problems better if they discuss the issue at hand, it is only them they can feel relieved and communicate (Guffey, 2009).

The Irish have some traditional medicine that they believe can cure certain diseases, in case a lecturer holds a different view, then there is likely to emerge some conflicts between the two parties.

Differences in the decision-making approach

Miller (6) says that communication is essential for decision making, especially in offices, people need to make decisions that are likely to shape the way things are operated within the organization.

Whitaker (8) is of the view that to make effective decisions, working people need to communicate among themselves effectively. What they aim at doing is determined by their decision-making approach as well as how they have been socialized. For example in Muslim societies, men are seen as superior to women, according to the culture in case of dispute, the standpoint of a man should prevail. Now takes an office where the boss is an Irish, Christian woman and has a subordinate who is a Muslim man. When they are communicating and some dispute occurs that calls for the management’s final decision, then the Muslim man is likely to be offended and will be cautious when communicating next time. This hinders effective communication in teams.

The difference in approaches to knowing

Guffey (5) says that communication is effective if people are willing to air their views and responses to various issues; different cultures have the way they disclose their information, and some believe that some information can not be disclosed to certain classes of people while others have no such limitations. When two people who understand different disclosure approaches are working in the same office, they are likely to have differences and their angles of taking things will be different. This will hinder effective communication.

The solution to tackle multicultural communication differences

Samovar, Porter and Edwin (7) are of the view that to ensure that staffs and students of diverse cultures live together in harmony and communicate among them effectively; universities should consider having a cultural awareness course. The course should aim at coaching employees and students on how to live with people of cultures different from theirs. The main issue to consider is respect for other people’s cultures and appreciation of goodies brought about by diversity; enacting cultural intelligence programs among staff and students will improve communication efficiency in the university.

References

Aristotle H. The Art of Rhetoric. England: Penguin Group; 1991
Carroll J. Language thought and reality. The M.I.T. Press; Massachusetts;1996.
Faigley L. Non-academic Writing: The Social Perspective. New York: Guilford Press;1985.
Guffer ME, Almonte R. Essentials of Business Communication. New York: Cengage Learning; 2009.
Guffey M. Business Communication: Process and Product. New York: Cengage Learning;2009.
Miller C. Invention in Technical and Scientific Discourse: A prospective survey, in Research in Technical Communication. Connecticut: Greenwood Press; 1985
Samovar L, Porter E, Edwin R. Communication between Cultures. London: Cengage Learning; 2009
Whitaker R. Media writing: print, broadcast, and public relations. New York: Routledge;2004.

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