- Globalization, the multi-culture, and cultural relations contribute to increasing demand for learning cultures.
- In addition, multiple global issues, such as pollution and climate change create the necessity of coordination and collaboration to cope with them.
- Many countries, especially the USA face the phenomenon of cultural distortion due to immigrants. In order to create a prosperous community these cultural differences must be solved through intercultural communication.
Slide 2 Japanese Experience
- Finding a common language with Japanese people is not an easy task. Miscommunication and misunderstanding occur due to the lack of common cultural background.
- Non-verbal communicational differences – silence, facial expression, body language, and pauses enhance miscommunication and create additional barriers for understanding the culture better;
- “Japanese English” peculiarities – Japanese people are difficult to understand due to specific way they translate Japanese words into equivalent English words.
Slide 3 American – Japanese Interaction
- Learning each other through observation -> lack of a single platform for understanding. Both Americans and Japanese pay different attention to details, which makes their perception of the same things differently;
- Negative perception of foreigners by the Japanese. According to my personal experience, communication with them creates certain tension that is difficult to overcome;
- Japanese see all fluent English-speakers as those who belong to American culture;
- Basic knowledge of the Japanese culture and traditions can be to a tourist’s advantage.
Slide 4 Japanese Uniqueness
Japanese have a strong belief in being exceptional nation. They believe that other cultures are not able to perform some simple things Japanese can do since early childhood:
- Other people cannot speak Japanese or use chopsticks;
- Sense of foreigners’ being at disadvantage;
- Ironic belief that Japanese impacted English language.
Slide 5 Prerequisites of Misunderstanding
When trying to find common ground with the Japanese one needs to pay closer attention to the following aspects:
- Language difference;
- Environmental and technological considerations;
- Concepts of authority;
- Time perceptions;
- Nonverbal communication;
- Social organization.
Slide 6 Overcoming Language Barrier
- Paralanguage in the sentences – some sentences may have some hidden meaning, therefore, one should not take everything for granted;
- Missing words in the sentences – trying to speak fast, Japanese often miss some words in the sentences, which complicates communication with them;
- Fillers like “Hai/Yes” – do not mean that a Japanese person confirms what you are saying. Rather it means that he understands you;
- Eye-contact avoidance – long eye-contact may be considered rude and disrespectful with Japanese.
