Differences Between Japanese And North Americans
Interactions between North Americans and Japanese :
Considerations of Communication Style
The Summary
Communication style has a very big impact on the dynamics of face-to-face encounters, that is, whether a conversation proceeds smoothly or by fits and starts, whether both continually interrupt each other or are both able to talk simultaneously without interrupting and whether their style of listening match. Differences in ethnic background coupled with those of communication style probably increase chances that implicit unverbalized matters will be overlooked or misinterpreted. To be able to understand deeper and more sophisticated effects of style differences can take years. In exploring such differences of “the other”, one cannot …show more content…
However, in this discussion, there are three variables suggested as a core to explore communication style: (1) orientation to interaction, (2) code preference, and (3) interaction format. These are not to be understood as stereotype descriptions of all members of any cultural group but rather as stylistic preferences of the cultural group as a whole. Communication style orientations are anchored in cultural standards but allow for individual movement depending upon the situation and cultural …show more content…
Primers for effective communication warn against making assumptions about others’ needs or want and stress speaking about yourself. North American consciously separate fact, inference and judgment, and they suggest withholding judgment upon entering new culture. They are admonished not to fill in the meaning before checking it out. It is also assumed that only through detailed verbalization can one most concretely and accurately “check out” what the other means. In the other hand, Japanese prefer a style of communicating that appreciates and employs assumptions about the opinions and feelings of their compatriots. There is a vast difference between a primary emphasis upon verbalization or written forms and a primary emphasis upon what can be sensed, guessed at, and inferred from the total situation before verbalization. An impressive rather than expressive emphasis places high value on the person who can “hear one and understand ten.” Speaking is no longer considered a vice; the concept of enryo translates into a hesitancy to speak frankly and immediately and shows concern over being labeled
Considerations of Communication Style
The Summary
Communication style has a very big impact on the dynamics of face-to-face encounters, that is, whether a conversation proceeds smoothly or by fits and starts, whether both continually interrupt each other or are both able to talk simultaneously without interrupting and whether their style of listening match. Differences in ethnic background coupled with those of communication style probably increase chances that implicit unverbalized matters will be overlooked or misinterpreted. To be able to understand deeper and more sophisticated effects of style differences can take years. In exploring such differences of “the other”, one cannot …show more content…
However, in this discussion, there are three variables suggested as a core to explore communication style: (1) orientation to interaction, (2) code preference, and (3) interaction format. These are not to be understood as stereotype descriptions of all members of any cultural group but rather as stylistic preferences of the cultural group as a whole. Communication style orientations are anchored in cultural standards but allow for individual movement depending upon the situation and cultural …show more content…
Primers for effective communication warn against making assumptions about others’ needs or want and stress speaking about yourself. North American consciously separate fact, inference and judgment, and they suggest withholding judgment upon entering new culture. They are admonished not to fill in the meaning before checking it out. It is also assumed that only through detailed verbalization can one most concretely and accurately “check out” what the other means. In the other hand, Japanese prefer a style of communicating that appreciates and employs assumptions about the opinions and feelings of their compatriots. There is a vast difference between a primary emphasis upon verbalization or written forms and a primary emphasis upon what can be sensed, guessed at, and inferred from the total situation before verbalization. An impressive rather than expressive emphasis places high value on the person who can “hear one and understand ten.” Speaking is no longer considered a vice; the concept of enryo translates into a hesitancy to speak frankly and immediately and shows concern over being labeled