Cross Cultural Comparison of Tendencies in the German and Japanese Communication Style
Cross Cultural Comparison of Tendencies in the German and Japanese Communication Style
Table of Contents
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
Introduction ................................................................................................................3 Context and Values in Communication .....................................................................4 Nonverbal Communication ........................................................................................5 Linguistic Characteristics ...........................................................................................7 Conflict Management, Criticism and Decision-Making................................................9 Conclusion ...............................................................................................................11 References ...............................................................................................................12
1. Introduction
The German and Japanese culture are by nature profoundly different and characterized by contrasting cultural standards. These distinctions and idiosyncrasies also manifest in the style of communication seen within these cultures.
While most characteristics completely contrast there are few analogies. Being aware of these is the groundwork for mastering intercultural communication and managing cultural diversity. It is therefore of uppermost importance, especially with regard to business matters, to identify values, context levels, nonverbal communication patterns, linguistic characteristics as well as tendencies in conflict management, criticism and decision-making that are prevalent in the Japanese and German style of communication. It must be stressed, however, that these attributes are only common tendencies and do not claim conformity among all individuals raised within either the German or Japanese culture. Thus this analysis strives to pinpoint and compare differences and similarities in speech
Table of Contents
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
Introduction ................................................................................................................3 Context and Values in Communication .....................................................................4 Nonverbal Communication ........................................................................................5 Linguistic Characteristics ...........................................................................................7 Conflict Management, Criticism and Decision-Making................................................9 Conclusion ...............................................................................................................11 References ...............................................................................................................12
1. Introduction
The German and Japanese culture are by nature profoundly different and characterized by contrasting cultural standards. These distinctions and idiosyncrasies also manifest in the style of communication seen within these cultures.
While most characteristics completely contrast there are few analogies. Being aware of these is the groundwork for mastering intercultural communication and managing cultural diversity. It is therefore of uppermost importance, especially with regard to business matters, to identify values, context levels, nonverbal communication patterns, linguistic characteristics as well as tendencies in conflict management, criticism and decision-making that are prevalent in the Japanese and German style of communication. It must be stressed, however, that these attributes are only common tendencies and do not claim conformity among all individuals raised within either the German or Japanese culture. Thus this analysis strives to pinpoint and compare differences and similarities in speech
References: Christopher, R C 1987, The Japanese Mind, The Goliath Explained, Charles E. Tuttle Company, Inc., Japan. Donahue, R T 1998, Japanese Culture and Communication: Critical Analysis, University Press of America, Inc., Lanham. Goldman, A 1994, Doing Business with the Japanese: a Guide to successful Communication, State University of new York Press, New York. Hale, N 2009, Intercultural Communication, Villingen-Schwenningen. Kodansha International, 1994, Japan Profile of a Nation, Kodansha America, Inc., New York. Maynard, K S 1997, Japanese Communication: language and thought in context, University of Haiwai‟i Press, Hawaii. Schroll-Machl, S 2008,Doing Business with Germans, Their Perception, Our Perception.