Cultural communication patterns in Greece and Argentina

Communication and Culture

Europe, Greece

Cultural beliefs are learned patterns of behavior together with attitudes shared by a given group of people. In essence, culture is a system of shared beliefs, customs, behaviors, values, and artifacts that members of a given society use to relate with their world and with one another. Consequently, culture and cultural beliefs are transmitted from one generation to another through learning (Qingxue, 11). The cultural belief systems that are created or developed within a society help to a great extent in the study of intercultural communication as they are at the center human thoughts and actions. Cultural beliefs are like rules or guideposts that are normative teach the society what is useful, good, right, wrong, what people belonging to a certain group should strive for or even die for in life. Cultural beliefs are extremely important to the human world views and ideologies. In this regard they are conditions which contribute to the manner in which humans perceive and think about the world and consequently the way in which they live in the world (Qingxue, 14).

Communication styles and patterns with regard to cultural beliefs can be categorized as either high context or low context communication. Accordingly, cultures across the world have characteristics which exhibit both high and low variables. High-context communication is where a person already posses information but little is coded. On the other low-context communication pattern is where a person has very little information while most of the information is coded; for instance vast information is vested in the explicit code (Cunningham, et al., 56).

European countries and Western countries exhibit low-context communication patterns and styles. Greece in this context has low-context communication patterns where her population is less homogeneous and hence the trend compartmentalization of interpersonal contacts is highly evident. Individuals in this country lack common experience thus when they interact with each other the need for background information is prevalent. Many communication professional have determined that in low-context communication style; the verbal message tend to contain a substantial amount of information while very little is embedded in the participants (Cunningham, et al., 57). In addition, low-context communication always tends to take a direct and explicit where everything must be stated as the participant are unaware of their surroundings and must depend on verbal communication as a preferable channel of communication (Qingxue, 15).

Part Two: South America, Argentina

Cultural values are learned organization of rules that are essential in making choices and for resolving conflicts. It has been established that cultural values like cultural beliefs guide both perception and communication in a given society. Across the humans, each and every individual has his own unique values that are then spread into a culture. In addition, cultural values are transmitted through a myriad of sources including, family media, school, church and even the state; cultural values are also broad based, enduring and above all they are relatively stable (Foster, et al., 10). Values are always translated into action and in this regard, understanding cultural values help humans to appreciate the behavior of other individuals. South American communities are proud of their states, they are highly educated, and they like to be viewed as cosmopolitan and progressive. In Argentina for instance, a substantial percentage come from across Europe and the Middle East. Argentines like identifying themselves with Europeans.

The cultural values in Argentina influenced the society to have hierarchical relationships. Given this fact Argentines are required to honor their elders, co-workers and business counterparts (Foster, et al., 16). Decisions are often made at the highest level of the hierarchy. Accordingly, Argentines appreciate senior people in approving agreements. However, cultivating personal relationships within a given group of people is usually encouraged because these relationships are very vital in influencing the decisions that are made (Foster, et al., 12).

Argentines has a moderately high context culture and hence the style and pattern of communication. This is mainly due to their tight-knit family relationships. The close family links have influenced them to focus more on non-verbal communication. In essence, cultural values across Argentina demand for observation, tolerance, and understanding. The tingo dance for example is one of the nonverbal communications. Argentines also like engaging in activities that give them a sense of belonging (Foster, et al., 18).

Part 4: Asia, China

Social practice is a design practice or an art that entails engagement with communities of interest. Social practices are usually based in broad social goals, networks and cultural practices (Qingxue, 10). They demand for democratization of relationships between creative practitioner's community that involves sharing of both expert and lay knowledge. Additionally, they also entail valuing of differences as well as the need for shared understanding and agreement. Social practices focus on skills, knowledge while also understanding that people have their own individual lives, family, community, and working (Qingxue, 14). Cultural practices in Asian countries encourage harmonious co-existence; high value is placed on interpersonal harmony.

The harmonious social practices within Asian and China in particular have influenced communication to take a high-context format. Social practices encourages individual to identify with one another like family. The communication is also hierarchical where every person is conscious of his status and behaves according to his status. These social practices recognize extended Chinese family. Consequently, kinship linkages are emphasized where every one is made aware of his obligations and responsibilities to the elderly as well as to the young. Decisions are also made from the top the communicated downwards. Collectivism is deeply rooted in Asian culture and individualistic social practices are discouraged. Chinese believe that the wisdom of many exceeds that of the wisest individual. In the same line argument, their social practices dictates that many people working together make work easier than an individual.