Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication in

Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication in Austria INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM This short memo gives a brief overview of challenges to effective verbal and nonverbal communication in Austria. This understanding of potential challenges is important in enhancing communication with Austrians. With the advent of globalization, the world is becoming increasingly interconnected. People often interact with individuals from other countries in the course of their business and personal lives. As such, the issues that foster and can cause problems with communication between cultures become increasingly important (Countrywatch).

Verbal and nonverbal communication in Austria, as in most other countries, relies on a complex set of interactions. There are five main obstacles to intercultural communication and understanding in Austria. These are language, non-verbal cues, preconceptions and stereotypes, a tendency to evaluate or judge, and anxiety or stress (Countrywatch). Language is the most obvious potential stumbling block for communication in Austria. The Austrian language, obviously, is much different from that of English.

However, variations in connotation and context can be especially problematic, even when the dictionary meaning of a word is understood (Countrywatch). Non-verbal cues also play an important role in potential communication difficulties. "People from different cultures inhabit non-verbal sensory world" (Countrywatch), as they interpret information in the framework of their own culture (Countrywatch). Non-verbal communications like gestures, postures, and vocalizations are often easy to learn, while status, time and spatial relations, and forms of respect are much more difficult to recognize for those outside Austrian society (Countrywatch).

Preconceptions and stereotypes about Austrian society can also be a barrier to communication (Countrywatch). For example, outsiders often equate Austrian culture with German cultural stereotypes of racism, stubbornness, and intolerance. Similarly, the outsider's tendency to evaluate or judge, coupled with anxiety about uncertainties can trouble communication attempts (Countrywatch). To the outsider, their mother culture is correct and natural, while Austrian culture can seem foreign. Often, this leads to a tendency to judge the actions and feelings of Austrians, rather than attempting to understand them.

Further, uncertainty and stress can stifle the flow of conversation (Countrywatch). Understanding the challenges to verbal and nonverbal communication in Austria can provide an important step to enhancing communication with this country. An understanding of the non-verbal cue of forms of respect, coupled with an understanding of language, can greatly enhance communication in Austrian culture. Titles are very important in Austrian culture, indicating the non-verbal importance of proper forms of respect in Austria. Language is important also, as the wives of men with titles often hold their husbands' title.

For example, the wife of an Austrian professor named Schmidt may be known as Frau Professor Schmidt (Munter). The importance of non-verbal cues in communication in Austria can hardly be overstated. For example, North Americans and Israelis may interpret stroking a beard as being deep in thought. However, Austrians see the same gesture as meaning "How boring" (Barth, Calcote, and Ragsdale). Similarly, temporal non-verbal communication is important. Austrians place high value on punctuality, and failing to be punctual is considered disrespectful (University of Leoben MUL).

In summary, it is important to pay particular attention to non-verbal and verbal cues when attempting.