COMMUNICATION IN A DIVERSE CULTURE 2

Communication in a Diverse Culture

Our communication is affected by the culture within which we grew up. Consequently,
culture is, to a large extent, affected by the way in which we communicate. The people I
encounter as I go about daily activities are from different cultural backgrounds. I make a
conscious and deliberate decision each day to not let our interaction and their contribution to
discussions be buried under cultural and language differences. Therefore, when living in a
diverse environment, communication barriers are bound to occur.
One of the most common challenges that I experience is the language barrier. There are
very many different languages. Every day, I meet people who do not understand my language or
who I do not understand their language. In most cases, I get a translator. When that is not
possible, there is a communication breakdown. Another challenge is prejudices and stereotypes. I
hold certain stereotypes that affect how I relate to people. In the recent past, I have been
searching for information on the basis of some negative stereotypes about some people from
certain countries and cultures. I have been dropping some that I find negative, prejudiced, and
unfair as they affect the way I interact with people from different cultures.
I have been practicing some ways to keep improving communication in a diverse culture.
First, it is important to keep an open mind. When dealing with people from other cultures, it is
okay to disagree on values, beliefs, opinions, and attitudes. Active listening and proper use of
nonverbal communication are also important. Nonverbal communication differs from one culture
to another, and this could be a basis of misunderstanding when communicating in a diverse
culture. Lastly, it is important to understand how people across different cultural backgrounds
communicate or make decisions.