Cross-Cultural Communication
Cross-Cultural Communication Research Paper
Bulgaria versus Japan
Ivan Ivanov
November 30, 2011
MBA 501: Business Communications & Research Methods
According to Benjamin Whorf’s theory (1956), the nature of the language we speak affects and determines our behavior and way of thinking. Japanese is a very good example of how this theory works. Japanese people use their language in a completely different way from anyone else and their behavior makes sharp contrast to the rest of us. From Japanese point of view our way of communicating is confusing and rude. The reason why is very simple - communication conventions between Bulgaria and Japan have noting to do, all the signals besides the language and as a result of it the body language, silence and manners are completely different. Japanese is hard to understand, it looks ambiguous and vague and people sound vague just for being polite. They introduce their statements with long phrases and use impersonal verbs. As a result you just cannot understand what they are referring to. Lewis, R. (2006) gives a good example how a Japanese boss would ask his subordinates to tidy up their offices: "As we have some important visitors coming at twelve o 'clock and since we wish them to get the best impression of our company, perhaps we could improve the orderliness around here". A Bulgarian boss would say it without any specific introduction: “Tidy up your office, please”. Something quite natural for Bulgarians like reporting other people 's statements seems unappropriate to delicate Japanese. Lewis (2006) shares that his secretary in Japan has refused to give information about the information of his incoming calls and has asked him to ring back the caller. Independence versus interdependence
Bulgarian culture values the suprimacy of the individual over the group, separate from the others, which contrasts with the Japanese collective consciousness and behavior. Bulgarian
Bulgaria versus Japan
Ivan Ivanov
November 30, 2011
MBA 501: Business Communications & Research Methods
According to Benjamin Whorf’s theory (1956), the nature of the language we speak affects and determines our behavior and way of thinking. Japanese is a very good example of how this theory works. Japanese people use their language in a completely different way from anyone else and their behavior makes sharp contrast to the rest of us. From Japanese point of view our way of communicating is confusing and rude. The reason why is very simple - communication conventions between Bulgaria and Japan have noting to do, all the signals besides the language and as a result of it the body language, silence and manners are completely different. Japanese is hard to understand, it looks ambiguous and vague and people sound vague just for being polite. They introduce their statements with long phrases and use impersonal verbs. As a result you just cannot understand what they are referring to. Lewis, R. (2006) gives a good example how a Japanese boss would ask his subordinates to tidy up their offices: "As we have some important visitors coming at twelve o 'clock and since we wish them to get the best impression of our company, perhaps we could improve the orderliness around here". A Bulgarian boss would say it without any specific introduction: “Tidy up your office, please”. Something quite natural for Bulgarians like reporting other people 's statements seems unappropriate to delicate Japanese. Lewis (2006) shares that his secretary in Japan has refused to give information about the information of his incoming calls and has asked him to ring back the caller. Independence versus interdependence
Bulgarian culture values the suprimacy of the individual over the group, separate from the others, which contrasts with the Japanese collective consciousness and behavior. Bulgarian
References: Acuff, Frank L.. ( © 2008). How to negotiate anything with anyone anywhere around the world, third edition Beamer, Linda & Varner, Iris (2008). Intercultural Communication In The Global Workplace Condon, John C Lewis, Richard D.. ( © 2006). When cultures collide: leading across cultures, third edition. [Books24x7 version] Available from http://common.books24x7.com.proxy.cityu.edu/toc.aspx?bookid=13710 Martin, Jeanette S Mole, John. ( © 2003). Mind your manners: managing business cultures in the new global europe, third edition. [Books24x7 version] Available from http://common.books24x7.com.proxy.cityu.edu/toc.aspx?bookid=4929 Press, Axiom Socializing in Japan (2011). Country Reports. Retrieved November 25, 2011, from http://www.countryreports.org/country/Japan/visiting.htm