The world is a small village. Intercultural communication

The Internet is becoming the town square for the global village of tomorrow, Bill Gates.

The term was coined by Marshall McLuhan and refers to information and communication technologies (the Internet, mass media, and social networks) that have shortened distances among people. We live in a world where information travels at the speed of light and is circulated more widely than ever before.

Besides, it is also increasingly interconnected and interdependent, what happens “there” affects things over “here” and vice-versa. For example, by September and October of 2008, the subprime mortgage crisis in the USA had effectively spilled over into the world’s financial markets and real economies.

What shall we do about it?

• Recognize that we live in a complex, global, fast-paced, interconnected, and interdependent world, with its blessings and curses. An increasing amount of goods, capital, and people move freely between different regions and nations whether we like it or not.
• Being fluent in multiple languages is a huge advantage. If we want to be productive and effective in interdisciplinary teams, with global audiences, the first requirement is to be able to communicate effectively.
• Even when all team members can communicate in a common language, you should be aware of historical, cultural, social, religious, linguistic, and gender differences:

1. The sense of time. It is a scarce resource for western countries, time is money. It must be rationed, controlled, and well managed. For other cultures, time is a flexible resource, it should be subordinated to being kind, friendly, and patient to others.

2. Physical contact. Depending on their culture and intimacy, a greeting can be a handshake, a hug, a kiss, two or three kisses, a nose rub, etc. We are hard-wired to need touch, especially in the earliest development stages. We are and desperately need to be and feel connected to others. However, some people can feel very uncomfortable when they are touched.

   Asian people don’t like been touched and/or kissed by strangers, many people use shaking hands, wave, nod or a slight bow as a greeting instead; some women don’t like people touching their pregnant bellies and African-Americans dislike people touching their hair.

3. Silence. Talking is the only right way to communicate in western countries, silence is almost intolerable, and many will say this literally. However, other cultures value silence. It is advocated over redundancy, rude language, and idle talk.

4. Eye contact. This is a sign of confidence, integrity, and sincerity in western culture. Direct eye contact is indeed culture specific. Some cultures view direct eye contact as indicating hostility, rudeness, anger, and even sexual harassment.

5. Physical appearance. Muslim women are required to cover themselves and wearing a veil is compulsory in some Islamic countries.

• If you communicate in your mother tongue, you should try to speak slowly and use simple vocabulary and grammar structures. Avoid idioms (“I smell something fishy,” “This task is a piece of cake”), localisms, slang (“Ain’t,” “Who blew off?,” “He’s talking bollocks”), and double meanings (“It’s a wonder I’m here at all, you know. My pussy got soaking wet. I had to dry it out in front of the fire before I left,” Are You Being Served?).
• Be wary of political, cultural (“The Big Apple is my favorite place to visit”), and sporting references (“Three or more strikes and I’m out”) and, of course, avoid taboos. For example, consider that there are foods (cows in Hinduism or pork for Jews and Muslims), beverages (the consumption of alcohol is prohibited in Islam) and topics (money, death, religion, sex) that are taboos. Avoid swearing (“he is f***ing hilarious,” “Not to mention that she is a b*tch”), humor (“What’s the best part about living in Switzerland? Not sure, but the flag is a big plus”), and using indecent, obscene, and vulgar language.