Stumbling Blocks In Intercultural Communication

The article provides examples of various experiences students had when it comes to smiling or interpreting smiling in different cultures. From these experiences, we can learn that smiling and other simple gestures can be perceived and understood differently in various cultural contexts. This highlights the importance of cultural sensitivity and awareness when interacting with people from different backgrounds, as what may be seen as a friendly gesture in one culture could be interpreted as inappropriate or offensive in another.

When people want to overcome the tendency to evaluate in order to be better communicators, emotions often make it harder to do so. Emotions can cloud judgment and lead to biased evaluations or reactions. They can influence how we perceive and interpret information, making it difficult to communicate effectively without being influenced by our own emotional state.

From Barna, we learn that the biggest issue in communication arises from a person's inability to consider multiple meanings of a word or phrase in a new language based on connotation or context. This means that understanding the literal meaning of a sentence is not the main problem, but rather the ability to interpret and comprehend the different nuances and implications of words or phrases in a foreign language.

Culture shock is the correct answer because it refers to the stress and disorientation that a person may experience when they are exposed to a new culture or environment. This stress can be caused by the need to constantly be on guard, worry about protecting oneself, and the fear of making mistakes while adapting to the foreign culture. Culture shock can manifest in various ways, such as feelings of homesickness, frustration, anxiety, or even physical symptoms.

The belief that there are no similarities between oneself and foreigners creates a problem because it leads to a lack of expectation for foreigners to understand the Japanese. This can result in a one-sided effort in intercultural communication, where the Japanese person will work hard to understand a foreign stranger but does not expect the same effort from the foreigner to understand them. This can hinder effective communication and mutual understanding between different cultures.

The correct answer is assumption of similarities. This stumbling block refers to the misconception that people from different cultures are similar enough that communication will be easy. It assumes that individuals share the same values, beliefs, and behaviors, which can lead to misunderstandings and miscommunications. This assumption overlooks the importance of cultural differences and can hinder effective intercultural communication.

According to Ernest Becker, the basic function of culture regarding stereotypes is that they lay out a predictable world that makes sense to the observer. This means that stereotypes provide a framework or a set of preconceived notions that help individuals make sense of the world around them. Stereotypes create a sense of familiarity and understanding, allowing people to navigate social interactions and interpret the behavior of others in a more predictable manner.

The correct answers are "Practice body awareness so changes that signify a stress reaction can be identified and counteracted" and "Find opportunities to become familiar with many types of people so that differences become normal and interesting instead of threatening." These options suggest positive ways to handle the stress of intercultural situations, such as being aware of one's body's stress reactions and finding opportunities to interact with diverse groups of people to normalize and appreciate cultural differences. The other options, "Eat foreign foods often so that you are accustomed to their taste" and "Seek out stressful situations so you're simply used to being stressed all the time," are not mentioned as positive ways to handle stress in the article.

This answer is correct because it identifies the stumbling block of "Nonverbal misinterpretations." The explanation provided in the question suggests that people from different cultures have different sensory realities and interpret their surroundings based on their cultural filters. This can lead to misinterpretations of nonverbal cues, such as body language, gestures, and facial expressions, as these cues can have different meanings in different cultures. Therefore, nonverbal misinterpretations can hinder effective intercultural communication.

This question is asking about a stumbling block in intercultural communication. The given correct answer, "Tendency to evaluate," refers to the tendency for individuals to judge or evaluate other cultures based on their own cultural norms and values. This can hinder open-mindedness and prevent individuals from truly understanding and appreciating the perspectives of others.