Communication Across Cultures

As a bicultural person who speaks three languages, my life evolves in many cultures and languages. Code-Switching is something I am too familiar with. Within my home, our conversations can start in English, travel through French, Wolof words, or whatever our children will understand better. Our neighborhood is very diverse, and I often interact with the Black communities (African Americans, Gambian, Malian, and Liberian Americans and African immigrants), Caucasian and Hispanic American communities. I will discuss some of the communication strategies I use to interact with three particular groups: Gambians, Malians, and Caucasian American from Hispanic background.

The strategies I use to communicate differ from group to group. My interactions from Gambians are often the easiest as I feel we practically share the same cultural beliefs and practices except the fact that they speak English and we speak French. We also have a native language in common, as most Gambians speak Wolof just as we do. I am naturally other-oriented and highly empathetic. This is expected in my culture and therefore, when I communicate with Gambians, I am very observant, attentive and give feedbacks that reassure my interlocutor that I am indeed listening.

As for the Malian community, our cultures are somewhat different therefore, I am more attentive, apprehensive and restrained when communicating with them. I am often too cautious. I try my best not to offend. Therefore, I listen more and speak less. I also often rely on their nonverbal cues because we are often communicating in French or English, which can be both foreign languages. Even though, we are similar in many ways, (we are all black, African, and West Africans among other shared social identities) I try to restrain from assuming similarities. I know that assuming similarities can impede communication as much as believing in stereotypes.

It is more challenging for me to speak to Spanish-speaking families because I do not understand Spanish. I often rely on the non-verbal cues, intonations and try to restrain from getting too close. I make it appoint to learn from my interactions with them. I am very bad with names but I always remember their names and children’s names. The Hispanic community is relatively small in our neighborhood, so when I am talking to someone and refer back to the previous person I talked they often know them. This often sparks a smile. Some of the core concepts of the Golden rules I use with this community. I give them the benefit of the doubt. I treat them with respect. However, I never put “myself in their shoes” because we might have different shoe shoes. :-D

Communication across culture can be challenging. However, when communicators are open-minded, show respect and value one another’s perspectives, it can provide opportunities for growth and mutual understanding. More importantly, it can be a gateway to a more tolerant world.