Ensuring Internet communication success.

Ensuring Internet communication success.

            With today’s global economy we as world citizens may find our jobs located away from home or at home using the internet. In either case you will perhaps have to communicate with people from across the globe. This could be challenging, especially if you don’t understand how other cultures communicate. It is hard to decipher sometimes what is being said while using messengers and other avenues to socialize. Some use it as a tool others use it to reinforce their values. Imagine what a person in japan; a country high on collectivism is thinking when you are trying to convey a message. Was the appropriate language used when communicating with this Japanese citizen? When it comes to the internet, the perception of the written word and face to face communication may be complicated so consider supplements when using electronic means to communicate.

 “The difference between self-disclosure behaviors in face-to-face and computer-mediated relationships is more pronounced among individuals high in collectivism than those high in individualism” (Tokunaga, 2009). Intercultural relationships could have misunderstandings due to different rules and norms. Even if you are proficient in the local language, local customs, and have proper net etiquette, internet based communication could cause more problems if not used correctly. According to a study conducted by (Gill, 1998)  he found that two different countries use email for the same reasons but, engage in this form of communication completely differently The study reported on differences between Japanese and British usage of e-mail to appropriately convey emotions. In the study the Japanese were concerned with contextual elements of communications which negated the e-mail texts because they did not know the person who sent the email as a whole. “Social self does appear to be part of e-mail communication in the Japanese case, as does the maintenance of social practices.” (Gill, 1998).  Email in japan is used in conjunction with meeting in person offline as a follow-up.  Understandable, since they try to avoid misunderstandings in email by using emotion faces to reflect comfort levels when communicating. The British on the on the other hand takes an individualistic approach when using email. They use it as a fictional tool rather than incorporate values as the Japanese do. This kind of mistake is simple to make and perhaps easy to correct. If you are in japan, when sending email be open to meeting in person if the recipient is confused or reflects an uncomfortable smiley face. Understand what is expected when communicating with other cultures.

-Rowe K. 

 

References

Gill, S. (1998). The cultural interface: The role of self. In C. Ess & F. Sudweeks (Eds.), Proceedings, Cultural Attitudes towards Technology and Communication, (pp. 246-251). Australia: University of Sydney. Retrieved March 15, 2005, from http://www.it.murdoch.edu.au/catac/catac98/pdf/20_gill.pdf.

Tokunaga, R. (2009). Journal of Intercultural Communication Research

Vol. 38, No. 3, November 2009, pp. 133–147