Executive Summary:

In this project we selected a video which has a title “Is Rowan Atkinson real Mr. Bean".
As this video is short and cover more topics like group communication, verbal
communication, barriers, Nonverbal communication etc. that is why we selected this
video. In this video we explain some topics which include verbal communication and its
types, non-verbal communication and its types (kinesics, proxemics, paralanguage,
chronemics, and artifacts), barriers in communication, breadth of communication. First
video is not covering all the topics that is why we select another video with title "A boy
and a man talk about life". The topics which are not explained by the first video we
explain them from second video. In the second video the communication between the
child and old man is showing non-verbal and verbal communication as the gestures and
expression of boy in conversation covers non-verbal and the talk between them covers
verbal communication. For the written communication which is the type of verbal
communication we select a letter as an example and describe all the 7C’s of
communication with respect to this letter and explain each and every C of communication
with examples.
 Introduction to Communication

Communication:
Communication is simply the act of transferring information from one place, person or
group to another. Every communication involves (at least) one sender, a message and a
recipient.
Communication Process:
Communication is a complex cycle, and it
is hard to figure out where or with whom a
communication experience starts and
closes. Models of communication simplify
the cycle by giving a visual representation
of the different parts of a communication
experience. As few models clarify
communication in more detail than others,
yet even the most complex model doesn't
reproduce what we experience with even a
moment of a communication experience.
Models fill a significant need for students
of communication since they permit us to
see explicit ideas and steps inside the cycle
of communication, define communication,
and apply communication ideas. At the point when you become mindful of how
communication functions, you can think even more purposely through your
communication experiences, which can assist you with bettering get ready for future
communication and gain from your past communication.
Models of Communication:
The three models of communication that help us to understand the concepts of
communication process in a better way are listed as under:
1. Liner model
2. Interactive model
3. Transactional model
1. LINEAR MODEL:
Definition:
 In this model, communication can be defined as a one-way process.
The word linear suggests that this model works in a linear way which means a straight
line that starts from one point and ends on the other.
Basic model:
This is the earliest, basic and most simple model.
Five questions:
The linear model comprises of the following five questions:
1. Who?
2. Says what?
3. In what channel?
4. To whom?
5. With what effect?

Shortcomings:
 Communication is portrayed as a process that flows in one direction only.
 There’s a sender and a receiver. The sender only sends messages and the receiver
is capable of receiving messages only but can’t respond to any message.
 The concept of noise was neglected initially but later on Shannon and Weaver
proposed a model that involved noise as well.

2. INTERACTIVE MODEL:

Definition:
The interactive model can be defined as a model that portrays communication as a
process in which both sender and receiver have their active participation. The receiver
decodes the message of the source and gives feedback.
Two-way communication:
We can say that it’s two-way communication.

Feedback:
The concept of feedback is necessary in this model. The receiver can comment on the
message, ask any questions and respond the way they want to. It can be verbal as well as
non-verbal and can be done intentionally or unintentionally.
Personal fields of experience:
Messages are created and interpreted
within the personal fields of
experience when we talk about the
interactive model. This clarifies the
concept of misunderstandings because
when two people share their fields of
experiences, they develop better
understanding.
Shortcomings:
 The interactive model doesn’t
provide the concept that both sender and receiver communicate simultaneously.
 The concept of time is not given.
 Dynamism of communication is not explained which is essential because when
two people communicate, their communication changes over time.
 The concept of noise is not given.
 Communication is shown as constant when in reality it varies.

3. TRANSACTIONAL MODEL:
Definition:
The model of communication that involves dynamism of communication, concept of
time, noise and emphasizes that communication is a constantly changing and
continuous process is called the transactional model.
Dynamism and time:
Communication varies as time progresses and this is a very important point here.
Communication is not a constant process, it involves continuous outcomes and growth
and this model depicts that correctly.
Concept of noise:
This model correctly explains the concept of noise that not only involves external
disturbances in communication but also involves mental biases and disturbances such as
preoccupation. It means that we are not only focusing on what the communicators say to
each other but also what’s on their mind!
Concept of systems:
This model also shows that communication occurs within systems that they affect
communication and interpretations. For example, a common town, and culture. It also
includes each person’s personal systems. (Family, religion, friends)
Field of experience:
In this model each person’s field of experience and the shared field of experience
between communicators is also shown as something that changing over time. This is very
important to show because when we meet new people and interact with them, we grow
ourselves and it also has an impact on the way we interact with people.
Communicators:
In this model the people involved in communication are well defined and termed as
communicators instead of labelling them as “sender” or “receiver”. This also implies that
you can send a message through symbols, involve gestures, listen to the other person and
do both at the same time as well. This, I believe is the most perfect representation of
communication.
Advantages and Limitation of Models of Communication

Breadth of Field of Communication

Aristotle, a famous Greek philosopher, believed that effective public speaking was
essential to citizens’ participation in civic affairs (Borchers, 2006). He taught his students
how to develop and present persuasive speeches to influence public affairs. Although
public speaking remains a vital skill, it is no longer the only focus of the communication
field. The modern discipline includes seven major areas of research and teaching:
Intrapersonal Communication:
Intrapersonal communication is a communicator's internal use of language or thought.
It can be defined as communication with one's self, and that may include self-talk, acts
of imagination and visualization, and even recall and memory. 
Self-talk:
Self-talk is your internal dialogue. It's influenced by your subconscious mind, and it
reveals your thoughts, beliefs, questions, and ideas. Self-talk can be both negative and
positive. It can be encouraging, and it can be distressing. Much of your self-talk depends
on your personality.
Positive self-talk:
Positive self-talk makes you feel good
about yourself and the things that are going on in
your life. It's like having an optimistic voice in
your head that always looks on the bright side. It
include:
o Complimentary
o Motivational
o Outer-dialogue
o Goal Setting
Example:

https://youtu.be/vSvRA8jUSxQ
Negative Self-talk:
Negative self-talk is any inner dialogue you
have with yourself that may be limiting your
ability to believe in yourself and your own
abilities, and to reach your potential. It is any
thought that diminishes your ability to make
positive changes in your life or your confidence
in yourself to do so.
o the worrier
o The helpless one
o The perfectionist
o The self-critic
How culture shapes our intrapersonal communication?
Culture shapes our intrapersonal communication by social orientation like gender,
nationality, religion, values and race.
Aspects of Culture that affects the Self:
o Self-Credentialing is being arrogant and self-centered (Swiss and US culture),
Self-humbling is conservative, modest, verbal restrains and self-depreciation
(Native Americans and West Africa)
o Relationship on the spirit World, Nature and Other Living Things (The Raising of
a Culture Affects our Communication, Religion, Environment, Self-Thought)
o Doing of being Orientation to Life is Middle Class Africans, Asian Americans,
Latino Americans, European Americans (Achievement oriented, based on
financial gains or respect through accomplish, based on what other thinks),
Africans, Native Americans, Hindy, Buddhists (Strive for self-goals, Not used to
evaluate self-worth value, Don`t drug, self-worth; non-issue)
o Attitudes Toward Others (Religion, Personality is affected by culture values,
sexual orientation)
o Low Context Communication Societies are British, Germans, Danes, Swedes,
Euro, Americans, Canadians, Australians (Emphasize on experience of ideas
through explicit verbal messages, provide easily decodable message)
o High Context Communication Societies are Arabic, Spanish, Japan, China, South
korea, Vietram, Nigeria, Mexico, Kuwait and South Arabia (Sates based, style
influence self-concept, actions in specific cultures dictator now the culture and
one’s self is perceived).
Ways to Change Your Self-talk:
The basic ways to change your self-talk are:
o Self-Talk and Conflict Resolution.
o Moving to Positive Self-Talk.
o Watch for the self-talk statements about yourself.
o Monitor the self-talk of people around you.
o Identify negative self-talk that you want to change.
o Eliminate internal negative chatter.
o Replace negative self-talk with positive self-talk.
Why self-talk is important?
Instead, positive self-talk helps you to about see
the whole truth, not just the negative aspects of
any given situation. By using more positive
self-talk, you are more likely to build
confidence and self-esteem, feel more in control
of events in your life, and achieve your goals.

Interpersonal Communication:
Interpersonal communication occurs
between two people who form a dyad.
Interpersonal communicators make
personal contact, build a connection, and
establish a relationship. The process of
interpersonal communication is ongoing
and ever changing, and occurs whenever
we interact with another person, sharing
responsibility for creating meaning (what
we extract from the interaction) and managing our relationship (determining its nature).
Every interpersonal interaction is transactional in nature, meaning it involves two people
who simultaneously function as sender and receiver; it contains messages (the content of
communication), channels (the medium or media carrying the message), noise (anything
interfering with the reception of a message), feedback (information returned to a message
source in response to a message sent), context (the physical, psychological, temporal, and
cultural setting for communication), and effect(s) (the emotional, physical, and/or
cognitive influence of the communication).
Essential Elements for Interpersonal Communication:
Characteristics of Interpersonal Communication

Motives of Interpersonal Communication

Communication is the process

through which people use
messages to generate meanings
within and across contexts,
cultures, channels, and media

o Interpersonal
Communication & specific
goals.
o Self-presentation goals
o Instrumental goals
o Relationship goals

Interpersonal Communication Competence

Consistently communicating in ways that are appropriate, effective, and ethical.
o Appropriateness: the degree to which your communication matches situational,
relational, and cultural expectations.
o Effectiveness: The ability to use communication to accomplish the three types of
interpersonal goals (self-presentational, instrumental, and relational.
o Ethics: The set of moral principles that guide or behavior toward others.
How Culture and Gender Shapes Our Interpersonal Communication?
Gender and cultural prescriptions shape interpersonal communication. Because of their
potential to enhance or complicate interpersonal relations, we can demonstrate sensitivity
and avoid misunderstandings by increasing our awareness of the culture and gender
preferences of others and recognizing the importance of respecting and adjusting to
differences.
Case Study
-Amanda-
Last summer I went with my church group on a building mission in Mexico. I’d never
lived away from home, so I was nervous about whether I would feel homesick or scared
or be awkward interacting with Mexicans. The first week there, I stayed with my group
and just did the work. But then I met a woman who lived down the street, and we talked.
I began to go out on my own to meet people. Pretty soon, I felt totally comfortable and
accepted there.
Group Communication:
The term "group communication" refers to the messages that are exchanged
by group members. The messages that are exchanged by group members provide
evidence of the nature of the group. The messages that are exchanged identify whether
the group is a social group or a task group. Groups also define the quality of life of a
person in many essential ways. A group may strongly influence an individual. Also, the
actions taken by groups define many of the decisions shaping the world. People are
influenced by groups such that they experience and understand the world.
Purpose of Group Communication:
The purpose of group communication is to exchange information in order to make
decisions, resolve confusion, build rapport and get closer to attaining the business goal.
However, group communication also has an effect on how the individuals in
the group treat each other and feel about each other.
Why Quality Group Communication is important?
Quality of communication between the
members of a group is also an essential factor
in making decisions and achieving goals. It
has been seen that with the growing number
of members in the group, the effectiveness of
communication keeps on decreasing. For
quality group communication, the group
members must possess a sense of belonging
and mutual respect to each other along with
common goals. The importance of effective group communication increases in the
business environment. Many variables play a part here. Take the example of a seating
arrangement.

In a circular setting arrangement, members can make eye contact and communicate with
everyone else in the group; hence a web network style is followed in communication with
everyone can share ideas. It has been observed that this type of arrangement is most
effective in idea generation, decision-making and problem-solving. The types of
messages a group exchange determine the kind of the group. It can be a social group or a
task group depending upon the nature of messages being exchanged by them. The quality
of messages can also determine the roles played by each member of the group.

Communication and Effectiveness of Group Communication:

Effective group communication is based on mutual respect and understanding between

peers. It will come about if you encourage an environment where people are aware of
their communication style, and where you continually work with them to develop
better communication skills.

The group strengths we’ve identified are realized only if members participate effectively.
If members don’t participate or lack the communication skills to participate effectively, a
group can’t achieve its potential for creativity, thoroughness, resourcefulness, and
commitment. Thus, we need to know what influences communication in small groups and
how communication itself influences the nature and quality of group work. We’ll
consider three features of small groups that directly affect participation.

Cohesion:

Cohesiveness defines the degree of closeness that the members feel with the groups. The
more the members feel attracted to the group, the greater will be the group
cohesiveness. The greater the cohesiveness, the greater the influence of
the group members to persuade one another to conform to the group norms.
Although cohesion is a multi-faceted process, it can be broken down into four main
components: social relations, task relations, perceived unity, and emotions.
Group Size:

Size (the number of people involved) is an important characteristic of the groups,

organizations, and communities in which social behavior occurs. When only a few
persons are interacting, adding just one more individual may make a big difference in
how they relate. There is no set number of members for the ideal small group. A small
group requires a minimum of three people (because two people would be a pair or dyad),
but the upper range of group size is contingent on the purpose of the group. When groups
grow beyond fifteen to twenty members, it becomes difficult to consider them a small
group based on the previous definition. An analysis of the number of unique connections
between members of small groups shows that they are deceptively complex. For example,
within a six-person group, there are fifteen separate potential dyadic connections, and a
twelve-person group would have sixty-six potential dyadic connections. As you can see,
when we double the number of group members, we more than double the number of
connections, which shows that network connection points in small groups grow
exponentially as membership increases. So, while there is no set upper limit on the
number of group members, it makes sense that the number of group members should be
limited to those necessary to accomplish the goal or serve the purpose of the group. Small
groups that add too many members increase the potential for group members to feel
overwhelmed or disconnected.

Case Study

-Yolanda-

The worst group I was ever in had three members. We were supposed to have five, but
two dropped out after the first meeting, so there were three of us to come up with
proposals for artistic programs for the campus. Nobody would say anything against
anybody else’s ideas, even if we thought they were bad. For myself, I know I held back
from criticizing a lot of times because I didn’t want to offend either of the other two. We
came up with some really bad ideas because we were so small we couldn’t risk arguing

Power Structure:

Power structure is a third feature that influences participation in small groups. Power is
the ability to influence others. There are different kinds of power, or ways of influencing
others.

“Power over” (Dominance) is the ability to help or harm others. This form of power
usually is expressed in ways that highlight the status and visibility of the person wielding
influence. A group leader might exert positive power over a member by providing
mentoring, positive reports to superiors, and visibility in the group. A leader could also
exert negative power over a member by withholding these benefits, assigning unpleasant
tasks, and responding negatively to the member’s communication during group meetings.

“Power to” (Empowermnet) is the ability to empower others to reach their goals. People
who empower others do not broadcast their own influence. Instead, they act behind the
scenes to enlarge others’ influence and help others succeed. Power to be expressed in
creating opportunities for others, recognizing achievements, and arranging circumstances
to facilitate others in accomplishing their goals. In small groups, power to involve the
capacity to create community, inspire loyalty, and build team spirit so that members of
groups are productive and satisfied (Boulding, 1990). Group members who use power to
help each other foster a win–win group climate in which each member’s success is seen
as advancing collective work. Members perceive themselves as a unit that benefits from
the successes of each individual member.

Case Study

-Stanley-

The different kinds of power we discussed make me think of my high school. The
principal came over the intercom to make announcements or lecture us on improper
behaviors and threaten us about what was going to happen if we misbehaved. The
teachers were the ones with power to. Most of them worked to empower us. They were
the ones who gave us encouragement and praise. They were the ones who helped us
believe in ourselves and reach our goals.

Leadership:
A series of functions, mostly communication responsibilities, to handle task, procedural
and climate matters.

Leadership Styles:

Laissez-faire leadership is the direct opposite of

autocratic leadership. Instead of a
single leader making all decisions for an
organization, group or team, laissez-faire
leaders make few decisions and allow their staff
to choose appropriate workplace
solutions. Laissez-faire leaders share these
characteristics.

An authoritarian leadership style is exemplified

when a leader dictates policies and procedures,
decides what goals are to be achieved, and directs
and controls all activities without any meaningful
participation by the subordinates. Such
a leader has full control of the team, leaving low
autonomy within the group.

Democratic leadership, also known as

participative leadership or shared leadership, is a type
of leadership style in which members of the group take
a more participative role in the decision-making process.
This type of leadership can apply to any organization,
from private businesses to schools to government.

Case Study:

-LANCE-

I used to belong to a creative writing group where all of us helped each other improve our
writing. We were all equally vocal, and we had a lot of good discussions and even
disagreements when the group first started. But then one member of the group got a story
of hers accepted by a big magazine, and all of a sudden we thought of her as a better
writer than any of us. She didn’t act any different, but we saw her as more accomplished,
so when she said something, everybody listened and nobody disagreed. It was like a wet
blanket on our creativity because her opinion just carried too much weight once she got
published.

Organizational Communication:

Organizational communication is
defined as the channels and forms
of communication that occur
within organizations, such as
corporations, non-profits, and
governmental bodies. It includes
both communications within
an organization and public-
facing communications.

Key Features of Organizational

Communication:

The following  key features of organizations that affect communication:

1. Organizations are systemic: They are large, have many parts, and have both internal
(e.g., employees) and external (e.g., customers, competitors, vendors) constituents.

2. Organizations are hierarchical: Because of their size and complexity, organizations

have identifiable reporting structures.

3. Organizations have divisions of labor: Organizations hire individuals to do jobs

related to the mission of the organization.

4. Organizations must have collective action by employees: The employees’ and their

jobs must all work together to perform the business of the organization.

5. Organizations have layers of goals: Organization have mission statements, policies

and procedure to help with collective action, departmental goals, and even personal goals
set during employee annual performance reviews.

Characteristics of Organizational Communication:

Organizational communication helps us to

 o Accomplish tasks relating to specific roles and responsibilities of sales, services,
and production
o Acclimate to changes through individual and organizational creativity and
adaptation
o Complete tasks through the maintenance of policy, procedures, or regulations that
support daily and continuous operations
o Develop relationships where “human messages are directed at people within the
organization-their attitudes, morale, satisfaction, and fulfillment
o Coordinate, plan, and control the operations of the organization through
management 

Organizational Communication Goals

Internal communication is information and ideas exchange within the organization

itself, while external communication means exchange of information both within the
organization itself and outside the organization.

Organizational Communication Networks

Formal and Informal Communication are two internal communication. Formal

communication flows through official channels designed in the organization chart.
Whereas Informal Communication is faster and flows freely in the organization
discussing about a diverse range of topics. The communications may be oral or written.
Whys is Organization Communication important?

The importance of communication in an organization can be summarized as

follows: Communication promotes motivation by informing and clarifying the
employees about the task to be done, the manner they are performing the task, and how to
improve their performance if it is not up to the mark.

Case Study:

-Jed-

I sing with the Gospel Choir, and we have a good following in the Southeast. When I first
joined the group, the other members talked to me. In our conversations, what I heard
again and again was the idea that we exist to make music for God and about God, not to
glorify ourselves. One of the choir members told me about a singer who had gotten on a
personal ego trip because of all the bookings we were getting, and he started thinking he
was more important than the music. That guy didn’t last long with the group.

Mass and Social Media:

Communication & Mass Media Complete   

Communication & Mass Media

Complete (CMMC) is a robust communication
studies database. It provides full-text, indexing
and abstracts for many top communication
journals covering all related disciplines,
including media studies, linguistics, rhetoric
and discourse.
Communication Abstracts
Communication Abstracts is a bibliographic database for communication and mass media
studies. It provides cover-to-cover indexing and abstracts for hundreds of top journals
covering communication and other closely-related fields of study. 

Film & Television Literature Index with Full Text   

Film & Television Literature Index with Full Text is the pinnacle resource for researchers
of film and television, providing the most comprehensive, balanced collection of full-text
and bibliographic coverage from scholarly and popular sources, and spanning the entire
spectrum of film and television studies. 

Newspaper Source Plus   

Newspaper Source Plus provides a full-text digital collection of the world's major news
content. It includes millions of articles from newspapers, newswires and news magazines.
In addition, it offers television and radio transcripts and ongoing daily updates from
popular news sources.

Breadth of communication in social media:

Social Media has added a whole new dimension to the concept of communication. There
are numerous ways to communicate with people through numerous means. Pictures,
tweets, links, blog  posts, videos – the choices are endless.

It has also become imperative to have social media presence on to be able to connect and
network with people. But with so many media, it is equally a challenge to learn the
nuances of each and be good at each of them. I have often felt the aberration in using a
medium due to ignorance of how it works or etiquette of using online mediums. Even
though this post is not a set of rules, I have put together a list of basic pointers to etiquette
of communicating in this overwhelming universe of social media. These are in no
particular order and aren’t categorised according to any platforms:

 “Communication is constantly evolving, some people are used to seeing their

friend’s online avatar as if the face”. There is a greater desire to share with other
people you barely know, than actually hanging out with friends and making
memories. At the end of the day, nothing can replace face-to-face conversation
and interaction. Despite the explosion of online endorsements and social media
dialogue between individuals and brands, researchers have found word-of-mouth
exchanges and in-depth conversations are still most influential.

Public communication:
Communication management:
o The ongoing challenge of defining public relations
 o Organizational and social ignorance of the value of public relations efforts to
organizations
o The lack of a formally recognized managerial-level function for public relations
within the organization
o The overlap and/or encroachment of other managerial functions on public relations
o The size of the public relations function/presence in most organizations
o The breadth and variety of public relations practitioner roles
o The varied background of public
relations practitioners
o The lack of general
managerial/business education for
public relations technicians and
managers
o Whether you call it public relations,
communication or communications,
there’s a debate about whether it’s a
strategic management function. Let’s
assume that management involves
planning and strategy describes
purpose.
o In one corner is this year’s CIPR president, Sarah Hall, who has edited two
#Future Proof eBooks to articulate this case. She’s joined by academics including
Anne Gregory and Danny Moss
o In the other corner are various practitioners, fighting a rearguard action on social
media – and some academics who want the focus to be the benefit public relations
brings to society rather than to organizations.

Intercultural communication :

The growth of intercultural interactions increases the

need for nonverbal communication competency to
help obviate potential cross cultural communication
difficulties. Foreign language studies too often
concentrate on vocabulary, grammar, and syntax, and
forgo the role and methods of nonverbal
communication.

Japanese culture and modes of communication present

excellent opportunities to examine a society that
emphasizes nonverbal behavior. In Japan, an accomplished nonverbal communicator is
held in high esteem. Extensive previous research on Japanese indicates how Japanese
culture plays an important role in shaping nonverbal communication activities.

Verbal Communication:

Formal communication refers to the flow

through proper, predefined channels and routes
of official information. The knowledge flow is
regulated and requires intentional effort to be
properly communicated. A hierarchical structure
and chain of command follows structured
communication. Typically, the structure is top
down, from administrators in different divisions
and senior workers in the company who trickle
down to lower-level employees. Employees are
bound to obey formal lines of contact when carrying out their duties. Formal
communication, as it is a timely and structured communication flow, is considered
efficient.
Passive, Assertive and
Aggressive Communication:
Passive Communication:
Passive communication is a style
in which people have formed a
pattern in which they avoid
sharing their views or emotions,
safeguarding their rights, and identifying and fulfilling their needs. Therefore, passive
people do not openly react to hurtful or anger-inducing situations. Rather, they encourage
accumulating grievances and annoyances, usually unaware of the buildup.

Aggressive Communication:
Aggressive communication is a style in which individuals communicate their thoughts
and opinions in a way that violates the rights of others and advocates for their needs. In
this way offensive communicators are verbally and/or physically threatening.
Assertive communication:
Assertive communication is a style in which people explicitly communicate their beliefs
and emotions and actively advocate for their interests and needs without compromising
others' rights. These people value themselves, their time, their mental, spiritual, and
physical needs, and are strong advocates for themselves, while being very respectful of
others' rights.

Informal Communication:
The casual or unofficial way of communication is called informal communication. This type of
conversation happens randomly and uses more casual language.
Example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mXN4tuaebo

1. Passive Communication:

In this type of communication the person fails to

express their ideas or needs as they don’t think
that their needs are important. They have a hard
time saying no. However, they give the other
person a lot of importance. They are also easy to
get along with as they have a go with the flow
attitude but all of this causes them to have a lot of build up anger and resentment
and causes a lot of misunderstandings.
Example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9twM706YmXA

2. Assertive Communication:

Assertive communication means expressing what you

feel clearly while also respecting the other person’s
views and ideas. Being assertive allows a person to
take responsibility of themselves without
disrespecting the other person.
Example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=Ymm86c6DAF4&pbjreload=101

3. Aggressive Communication:

Aggressive communication is a style of communication in

which the person stands up for his/her own rights and
needs while disrespecting or violating the other persons
ideas. This type of style of communication has high emotion
and low empathy.
Example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=habCAIfmbv8

Case study: Rashad was present during a team meeting with staff personnel. Role
clarification forassistive personnel is one of the topics. Rashad thought part of his
job description includesanticipating toileting and hygiene care for the patients he
attends. One of the registered nurses ina loud voice states that Rashad is not to
think only to listen and respond when a nurse gives himinstructions. The aide,
Rashad sat quietly for fear of retaliation from the nurse and loss of his
job(Hansten & Jackson, 2009). The nurse’s communication style was aggressive.
The intention is toembarrass and belittle the aide by what she interprets is her
power of authority. Stating he is notto think when caring for patients but only to
function as instructed by the nurses is a deliberateattempt to hurt the feelings of
Rashad and boost her personal ego of superiority and dominance.
Written Communication

Conciseness:

Conciseness refers to saying in the fewest possible terms what we want without losing the other
qualities of C. A succinct message saves both the sender and the recipient time and cost.
Conciseness refers to the absence of redundant terms for the recipients and the incorporation of
interesting subjects. Conciseness consists of the following points that must be considered.

Eliminating wordy expressions:

It refers to the replacing of long wordy expressions by shorter terms of same meanings and
avoiding overusing empty phrases and limiting the use of passive voice.
Example:
Wordy: At this time
Concise: Now
Wordy: She bought desk that are of executive type.
Concise: She bought executive type desks.

Include only relevant material:

 stick to the purpose
 delete irrelevant words
 Avoid long introductions, unnecessary explanation
 omit obvious information to the receiver

Example:
 Avoid unnecessary repetition:
Sometimes repetition is necessary but when same thing is repeated
two or three times without any reason the message becomes wordy
and boring.

 Use of short name.

 Use pronoun or acronyms or initials rather than repeating
long names.
 Cut out all needless expressions and repetitions of phrases of
sentences.

Completeness:
Every communication must be complete and adequate. Incomplete communications leave the
recipient guessing, causing misunderstandings, and delaying acts. Every individual should
therefore be provided with all the facts and figures needed. It also helps to create good will and a
sense of empathy for others as there may be different histories, cultures, opinions, needs and
experiences for both the reader and the sender. Completeness requires the following items to be
considered.

1. Providing All necessary information

It means to provide entire information
keeping in mind there point of views.
It can be done by answering all “WH”
questions
 Who, When, Where, Who?

2. Answer All Questions Asked:

A reply or reaction to an incomplete reply.

3. Give Something extra, When desirable

It refers to providing some extra information related

to the question asked by the opposite party.

Case Study:
Consideration:

Consideration means preparing every message receiver in the mind; Being considerate means
you do not lose your temper. Consideration covers the sic C’s of effective communication.
Consideration comprises of following points

1. Focusing on “you” instead of

“I” and “We”
The message should focus on
how message receivers will be
benefited, what they would
2. Showing audience benefits or interest in
the receiver

3. Emphasize positive, pleasant facts

A way to show consideration for the receiver

is to accent the positive. This means stressing
what can be done instead of what can be
done
Concreteness:

Concreteness, rather than general and repetitive, refers to being more precise, definite, and vivid.
The receiver knows exactly what is necessary or needed, the key advantage of being concrete.

1. Using specific facts and figures

Whenever possible use specific, exact, precise statement or
figure instead of general words which helps in making
message more concrete

2. Put action in verbs

Verbs can bring concreteness back to being alive and dynamic.
3. Selection of more vivid and image-building words
Clarity:
Instead of the receiver having to guess stuff and return to you for more detail, every message
needs to come out directly from your contact. This would just contribute to emails wasting more
time. In one letter, do not attempt to convey so many things. This will dilute the reader's interest

1. Selection of precise, concrete, and

clear words

Clarity is achieved through a balance

between precise words and familiar words

2. Constructing effective sentences and

paragraphs

Length: short sentences are preferred

Unity: In a sentence unity matters which

 Coherence
Coherence in sentence means that words should be
correctly placed or arranged so that ideas clearly reflect
the intended meaning

Courteous:
Courtesy includes being conscious not only of the viewpoint of others but also of their emotions.
It is politeness, and "please and thank you" are introduced.
Correctness:

Correctness is the proper use of grammar, spelling, and punctuations.

1. Using right level of language

There is different level of

languages which may be formal,
informal, and substandard
 2. Checking accuracy of figures, facts, and words

 Verifying statistical data

 Avoiding guessing of laws that have an impact on
sender or receiver
 Determine whether a fact have changed over a time.

NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION
“Nonverbal communication is the process of sending and receiving messages without using
words, either spoken or written.”

IMPORTANCE OF NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION

Non-verbal communication cues-the way we listen, look, move, and react—tell the person
you’re communicating with whether or not we care, if you’re being truthful, and how well you’re
listening. When our nonverbal signals match up with the words we’re saying, they increase trust,
clarity, and rapport. When they don’t, they can generate tension, mistrust, and confusion.
Five key roles played by non-verbal communication:
1. Repetition:
Repetition often strengthens the meaning of message that you are conveying verbally.
2. Contradiction:
Contradiction of the message we’re trying to convey will lead the listener to think that
you may not be telling the truth.
3. Substitution:
Substitution for the verbal message. For instance, facial expressions often convey a far
more vivid message than words can ever.
4. Complementing:
It may add to or complement the verbal message. For example, the impact of the message
will be increased if you pat an employee on the back in addition to praise his efforts as a
boss.
5. Accenting:
It may underline or accent the verbal message. Politicians conveys their agreement in the
parliament through pounding tables.

TYPES OF
NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION

1. Kinesics
2. Haptics
3. Physical Appearance
4. Paralanguage
5. Proxemics
6. Chronemics
7. Artifacts
8. Silence
9. Environment

KINESICS
Kinesics is the study of how we use body movements and facial expressions during
communication. We rely a great deal on kinesics to interpret and express meaning. Kinesics can
communicate liking, social status, and relational responsiveness. It includes the following:

 Facial Expressions
Facial expressions are responsible for a
huge proportion of nonverbal
communication. They are a primary
method of sharing emotions and
 feelings. The human face is extremely expressive, able to convey countless emotions
without saying a word. They are universal, unlike some forms of nonverbal
communication. The facial expressions for happiness, sadness, anger, surprise, fear, and
disgust are the same across cultures.

 Gestures
Gestures are part of our daily lives. We may
wave, point, beckon, or use your hands when
arguing or speaking animatedly, often
expressing ourselves with gestures without
thinking. However, the meaning of some
gestures can be very different across cultures.

 Body Language and Posture

Consider how our perceptions of people are affected by the way they sit, walk, stand, or
hold their head. The way we move and carry ourselves communicate a wealth of
information to the world. This type of nonverbal communication includes our posture,
bearing, stance, and the subtle movements you make.
  Eye Contact
Since the visual sense is
dominant for most people, eye
contact is an especially important
type of nonverbal
communication. The way we
look at someone can
communicate many things,
including interest, affection,
hostility, or attraction. Eye
contact is also important in
maintaining the flow of
conversation and for gauging the
other person’s interest and
response.

HAPTICS
Haptics is the study of touch. We use
touch to share feelings and relational meanings. Hugs, kisses, handshakes, or even playful
roughhousing demonstrate relational meanings and indicate relational closeness.
Women tend to use touch to convey care, concern, and nurturance.
Men, on the other hand, are more likely to use touch to assert power or control over others.

 CASE STUDY

“Amelia, an exchange student from Brazil recognized the differences in touch between
cultures when arriving in the United States. She was surprised when someone
hesitated to remove an eyelash from her face and apologized for touching her. In her
country, no one would hesitate to do this act. She realized how much more physical
touch is accepted and even expected in her culture. Cultural norms around touch and
gender constructs, and everyone can prevent and limit touching behaviours in ways
that are comfortable to them.”
 PHYSICAL APPEARANCE
Our choice of color, clothing, hairstyles, and other factors
affecting appearance are considered a means of nonverbal
communication. It can also alter physiological reactions,
judgments, and interpretations. Mostly, we make subtle
judgements quickly about someone based of his or her
appearance.

The more novel or obvious a factor is, the more likely we are to focus on it. If you
see a woman dressed in a tailored suit with her hair styled in a bright pink mohawk,
you are likely to pay more attention to her unusual hairstyle than her sensible
business attire.

PARALANGUAGE:
Paralanguage is the term we use to describe vocal qualities such as pitch, volume, inflection, rate
of speech, and rhythm. How we say words often expresses greater meaning than the actual words
themselves. Sarcasm and incongruence are two examples of this.

PROXEMICS
Proxemics is the study of how our use of
space influences the ways we relate with
others. It also demonstrates our relational
standing with those around us. We use space
to regulate our verbal communication and
communicate relational and social
meanings. There are four categories of space
we use to form and maintain relationships.

1. Intimate Space:
Intimate space consists of space that ranges from touch to 18 inches. We use it with those
whom we are close (family members, close friends, and intimate partners). It is also used
in the context for physical fighting and violence.
2. Personal Space:
Personal space ranges from 18 inches to 4 feet and is reserved for most conversations
with non-intimate others (friends and acquaintances).
3. Social Space:
Social space extends from 4 to 12 feet and is used for small group interactions such as
sitting around a dinner table with others or a group meeting.
4. Public Space:
Public space extends beyond twelve feet and is most often used in public speaking
situations.
 CHRONEMICS
Chronemics is the study of how people use time. It believed that
our use of time communicates a variety of meanings to those
around us. We perceive people differently when they are punctual
then those who is most frequently late. These differences are
probably based on their use of time.

In US, it’s important to be on time as people respond more positively to those who are
punctual. But in Middle East, time is used more loosely, and punctuality is not necessarily a
goal to achieve. “Indian Time” refers to the perception of time that is circular and flexible.
Activities will commence when everyone is present or ready, not according to the scheduled
time.

ARTIFACTS
 Objects and images are also tools that can be
used to communicate nonverbally. The physical
 objects that express one’s self and identity in short personality of a person are called
artifacts. It includes clothing, jewelry, tattoos etc. People often spend a great deal of
time developing a particular image and surrounding themselves with objects designed to
convey information about the things that are important to them.

Examples:
 On an online forum, you might select an avatar to represent your identity online and to
communicate information about who you are and the things you like.

 Uniforms can be used to transmit a tremendous amount of information about a person. A

police officer will wear a uniform, and a doctor will wear a white lab coat. At a mere
glance, these outfits tell people what a person does for a living.
 CASE STUDY

“Chinese culture because the color represents happiness and wealth. While black in
earlier years had not enjoyed popularity among Chinese, today that color, particularly
glossy and brilliant black, has turned out to be a color of luxury. White used to be the
color of sorrow in China; today, brides dress in white for their weddings. Yet the
traditional red might still be present in various shades in decorations, or even as an
additional wedding dress to be changed into later during the festivities.”

SILENCE
Lack of audible sounds or presence of sounds of
very low intensity is called silence. Silence
provides feedback informing both sender and
receiver about the clarity of an idea or its
significance in the overall interpersonal
communication.
Silence can be interpreted as:
 Indication of an agreement
 Anger
 Lack of interest
 Injured feelings
 Contempt
 Respect
  Thoughtfulness

Examples:
Various cultures consider silence as essential part of communication.
 In Buddhism, people think silence as blessing and consider that words contaminate
experiences.
 In Japanese culture, silence is linked to credibility.
 In America, people are not comfortable with silence in their conversations.
 In Pakistan, silence is considered as respect and sometimes also as an agreement.
ENVIRONMENT
The environmental elements that affect how people feel or act in short, the behavior of
communicator during interaction are called environmental factors. A number of environmental
factors play important role in communicating non-verbal messages to people.
Environmental factors include:
 Furniture
 Architectural Style
 Interior Designing
 Lightning Conditions
 Colors
 Temperature
 Music
 Noise
 Odor
Examples:
 The colors used in the pharmacy’s decor, the lightning and the use of space all have been
documented as important non-verbal communication factors.
 The environment of a classroom includes everything that are necessary for students like
lights, desks, chairs, white board etc.

 CASE STUDY
 “Feng Shui, which means wind and water, is the ancient Chinese art of living in
harmony with our environment. Feng Shui can be traced as far back as the Banjo
dwellings in 4000 BCE. The ideas behind Feng Shui state that how we use our
environment and organize our belongings affects the energy flow (chi) of people in
that space, and the person/people who created the environment. The inclusion or
exclusion, and placement, of various objects in our environments are used to create a
positive impact on others. The theory is to use the five elements of metal, wood,
water, fire, and earth to design a space. Feng Shui is applicable to cities, villages,
homes, and public spaces. The Temple of Heaven in Beijing, China is an example of
Feng Shui architecture. To keep harmony with the natural world, the Temple houses
the Hall of Annual Prayer which is comprised of four inner, 12 middle, and 12 outer
pillars representing the four seasons, 12 months, and 12 traditional Chinese hours..”

Barriers of Communication:

Physiological or biological barrier

Physiological barriers—one of numerous barriers within the subclass of intrapersonal
barrier are caused by the individual’s own personal discomfort such as sensory
dysfunctions. This may occur on the part of the receiver or the sender.

Physiological barriers often result from performance characteristics and limitations such
as low memory, poor concentration, mental dullness and dysfunction of the sensory
organs like eyes, ears, nose, etc.

For a person who is not able to speak, hear or see, certain alternative communication
options and methods should be adopted to make communication possible. For instance, in
a classroom, the same message (say, a PowerPoint presentation) delivered by the same
professor may be differently received by a student with poor eyesight and another with
good eyesight. However, this barrier can be overcome by providing suitable visual aids—
spectacles or contact lenses for example—to that student, or allowing them to sit closer to
the speaker.

Physiological barriers may result from any of the following conditions—vision

impairment, hearing impairment; speech disorders such as stammering, apraxia and
dysarthria, dyslexia, (a range of learning difficulties related to the written word); or
aphasia (a disorder that results from damage to portions of the brain that are responsible
for language).

Biological Barrier:

Biological barriers are factors that prevent species migration, interbreeding, or free
movement. What determines the barrier depends on the species and it's method of
movement. For some species biological barriers are physical like bodies of water,
mountains, or deserts.
Semantic and language barrier:
Semantic is the study of meaning, signs and symbols used for communication. The word
is derived from “sema”, a Greek word meaning signs. Semantic barriers to
communication are the symbolic obstacles that distorts the sent message in some other
way than intended, making the message difficult to understand.

Types of Semantic Barriers in Communication:

Denotative Barriers:
Direct meaning of any word which must be shared by two people to understand each
other is the denotative meaning. The barriers that arise due to the definition or meaning of
a word used differently by sender and receiver is denotative barriers of communication.
For example , the meaning of braces which is used to define the metallic structure to
adjust teeth in American English whereas it means a part of clothing in British
English.

Connotative Barriers:
The implied meaning of a word is known as Connotative meaning. Connotative barrier in
communication refers to the difference of meaning according to different abstract
situations, contexts, actions and feelings.

For example, the word astonish can be used to describe surprise as well as startle. The
words, when used by someone, can have any of the meaning. The context in which it is
used will only let the receiver know what the sender means. Another example is the word
god, which is used differently by people following different religions.
Typically, little communication occurs unless one or both parties learn a new language,
which requires an investment of much time and effort. People travelling abroad often
encounter a language barrier.0
The people who come to a new country at an adult age, when language learning is a
cumbersome process, can have particular difficulty "overcoming the language barrier".
Similar difficulties occur at multinational meetings, where interpreting services can be
costly, hard to obtain, and prone to error.
Examples of language barriers that prevent individuals from effective communication
include:
 Dialects - While two people may technically speak the same language, dialectal
differences can make communication between them difficult. Examples of dialectical
language barriers exist worldwide. Chinese.
 Language Disabilities - Language disabilities are physical impediments to
language. Physical language disabilities that cause language barriers include
stuttering, dysphonia or an articulation disorder and hearing loss.
 Use an interpreter whenever you give instructions or provide feedback to your
employees. There may be someone in your organization who speaks both languages
fluently enough to convey your message to your employees.
 Provide language classes for your employees on the basic language requirements
for your business. Teach them work words, phrases, warnings, and other critical
communication elements that are necessary for them to perform to your performance
standards. Teach the basics first.
 Use both telling and showing methods of training. Simplify your training
methods, particularly those that rely heavily on telling versus showing. Demonstrate
what you want and then have the employees perform the function as you observe their
performance. Re-demonstrate as often as needed until the employees can perform the
task successfully.
 Use visual methods of communication more than audio. Show more than tell.
Explain it with pictures as much as possible. Take a lesson from the airlines in how
they convey their safety instructions. Use pictures in your instruction manuals rather
than words.
 Use repetition. As with any new concept, most people don't learn something the
first time they hear it. Employees need to hear the same message over and over before
they fully grasp it. Don't expect people to learn anything after being told once. This is
true of all of your employees whether they have a language barrier or not.
 Never raise your voice or over-enunciate your words. Talk slower, not louder.
Speak clearly, not forcefully. People of a different language and culture can hear fine.
  Use simpler words with fewer syllables. Be aware of the complexities of your
words. Use more common words that convey your message in simpler terms. Again,
don't talk down; just use a less complex vocabulary.
 Learn the basics of your employee's language. If you want to communicate
effectively and build rapport with your employees you should consider learning a few
words and phrases in their language.
 Have the employee demonstrate their understanding. Don't assume the employee
understands; check for understanding. Ask the employee to demonstrate that they
know how to do what you have asked them to do.

Personal barrier:
The Personal Barriers relate to the factors that are personal to the sender and receiver
and act as a hindrance in the communication process.  These factors include the life
experiences, emotions, attitudes, behavior that hinders the ability of a person to
communicate.

1. Lack of Listening Skills: The efficiency of communication process gets disturbed

when the receiver listens only with ears but do not apply his mind. Often, the receiver
listens what he wants to listen and give no attention to other aspects of the information,
thereby acting as a hindrance to the effective communication.
2. Selective Attention: This problem arises when the person is impatient and put his
objective above all. He gives ears to only that part of the information which is helpful for
him and fulfills his objective and ignores all the other aspects.
3. Lack of knowledge: Also, the communication process suffers if the sender and
receiver have less knowledge about the subject matter.
4. Lack of vocabulary: Often, the communication problem arises when the sender
uses some words which are difficult for the receiver to comprehend correctly.
 In the organizational context, both the superiors and the subordinates have their personal
barriers that impede them to communicate effectively. These barriers are:

Barriers Related to the Superiors in the organization

1. Less faith in subordinates: Often, the superiors have a lack of confidence in the

subordinates and, therefore, doubt on their capacity to provide relevant information.
2. Fear of challenge of Authority: There is a fear in the minds of the superiors that
if they will not perform in line with their authority, they will be demoted to the lower
levels.

Barriers related to the subordinates in the organization

1. Lack of Incentives: Often, the subordinates give their suggestions and

recommendations with an objective to earn incentives. The incentives are given to the
subordinates to motivate them to give suggestions and to acknowledge their suggestions
as important for the success of the organization
2. Unwillingness to communicate with the Superiors: Often the subordinates do
not communicate with their superiors with an intention to conceal the information which
is of a negative nature and can have an adverse effect

Emotional barriers:

The key category of obstacles that can make successful communication hard are
emotional barriers. These barriers are the strongest and most difficult to break through.
Feelings and feelings are significant factors on our decision-making. Individual with
emotional barriers tends to be extremely reserved, cautious, and insecure.
Importance of Emotional Awareness:
1. Operate on trust.
 2. Have empathy

3. Consider your own feelings.

4. Consider your own feelings.

5. Recognize misunderstandings.

Socio-psychological barrier:
These are certain barriers that exist in the
mind of the person involved in the process of
communication. They can be the cause of
distorted communication. They are;
 1. Difference in perception
2. Difference in attitude
3. Emotion
4. Closed mind
5. Distrust
6. Cultural difference
7. Resistance to change

Case study: An empirical study was conducted among a nationwide representative

sample of Jews in Israel, within the context of the Middle Eastern conflict. The reported
study utilized a large scale survey, based on a nationwide representative sample of Israeli
Jews who were asked to respond to a questionnaire which included the model’s selected
variables. As hypothesized, the results showed a path leading from general worldviews
(e.g. General values, Right Wing Authoritarianism, Implicit theories about groups) to
openness to new information and readiness to compromise through the mediation of the
conflict-related societal beliefs (e.g. victimhood, delegitimization). These results indicate
that closure to new information that may shed new light on both the rival and the conflict
emerges as a crucial factor in the maintenance of society members’ non-compromising
views. The theoretical as well as the applied implications of the findings are discussed.
Oral Communication:
In oral communication spoken words are used.
Oral communication takes place in face to
face communication, group discussion,
telephone calls etc. This type of
communication is influenced by pitch,
volume, speed and clarity of speaking.
Example: Staff meetings, business meetings, personal meetings etc.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPhKhTI0Lss

VISUAL COMMUNICATION
Definition:
The transmission of information and ideas using visual ability of
people is called visual communication.
Information is transmitted in the form of symbols and imagery. Visual
communication offers a clarity which is not possible by words only.
Below are the types of visual communication:
 GIFs
 Animation
 Whiteboard Animation
 Screen Recording
 Images
 Eye contact
 Maps
 Logo’s and Monograms
 Facial Expressions
 Signals
 Posters

For Example:
 Different symbols and logos give different meanings which is the best
example of visual communication.
e.g. If the logo of McDonalds is displayed in front of us our mind
directly switches to the fast food and eating stuff like that, etc.
  Similarly, children are taught in their early ages by showing them
pictures of different things.
e.g. A child recognizes apple after seeing an apple image in his
books etc.
Visual Communication in Class Room:
https://youtu.be/a5odC5acaBQ
SOCIAL BARRIER
Definition:
The communication barrier that is based on differences and inequalities
among different people of society are called social barriers to
communication.
Includes many factors such as;
 Gender
 Age
 Race
 Educational level
 National or Cultural origin
 Violent and abusive situations
 Ability to read and write in a particular style and method
 Urban or Rural Residence
 Conflicts
 Socio-economic status, etc.
For Example:
 Gender-When men and women work together in a group, men tend
to be more assertive and well-confident. Women on the other hand
are more likely than men to express their emotions to reveal how they
feel about a situation.
 Age-Young and old people face difficulty in communication because
of their age difference and maturity level etc.
Social barrier among people’s communication:
 https://youtu.be/KsHlpGdUBVI
SOCIO-ECONOMIC BARRIERS:
• A term of social pressure in which people born in lower class prevent
to communicate with upper/elite class is called socio-economic
barrier of communication.
• Individuals may not communicate with each other due to the
difference in their social statuses.
For Example:
 People having higher ranks or posts may experience difficulty in
communicating with those having lower ranks and vice versa.
 People having bad economic conditions may not openly
communicate with those having good economic statuses.
CONCLUSION:
Referring to the first video selected for the project, the environmental
factors and silence are the non-verbal types of communication which best
explains the video. Environmental factors like presence of audience, highly
lit and well-managed stage for the guests gives a good impact to the
viewers and they develop interest towards the interview. Similarly silence of
audience in the program shows their excitement towards the story of
Rowan Atkinson.
The logo of Graham Norton show displayed on the screen (2:06) and the
facial expressions given by Rowan Atkinson are the examples of visual
communication. By seeing the logo, it is picturized in the mind that the
interview is being conducted in the Graham Norton show and facial
expressions of Rowan Atkinson clarifies the story in the minds of audience.
Referring to the second video in which a boy and a man are talking about
life, visual communication is also taking place side by side as the boy and
the man are seeing questions from the paper pieces they are holding in
their hands and reading them out then.
CROSS-CULTURAL BARRIER

Cross-cultural communication defined language and cultural misinterpretations.  It is based on

knowledge of many factors, such as the other culture's values, perceptions, manners, social
structure, and decision-making practices, and an understanding of how members of the group
communicate( verbally and non-verbally) in various  social contexts.
Six key barriers for cross-cultural
communication.
1. Ethnocentrism
2. Stereotyping
3. Psychological Barriers
4. Religion
5. Geographical Distance
6. Conflicting values
 ETHNOCENTRISM
Ethnocentrism is a belief in the
centrality of one’s own culture. It often
involves judging aspects of another
culture by the standards of one’s own. It
refers to the superiority feeling of the
members of a certain culture. We
perceive other’s behaviors as odd and
improper. It also creates an “us versus
them” mentality that can be detrimental.
The ethnocentrism people could not
understand each society has its
own culture and values. 

The Three stages in Ethnocentrism is:

 Denial:
Avoids new culture; isolated; denies the existence of new culture.
 Defense:
Negative stereotyping; superiority of one’s own culture.
 Minimization:
Hide cultural variations; universal truth or values based on one’s own assumptions.

STEREOTYPING
Stereotyping is the assumptions people make
about the characteristics of members of a
cultural or social group. Many stereotypes are
negative or even hostile and are a serious
barrier to workplace communication. Every
individual is unique, we can never predict a
person’s behavior based on his or her
nationality.

Example:
 If you make a joke about expecting your Latin American colleague to arrive late for a
meeting, you may damage your professional relationship.
  When we were moving to the UK, French friends told us, The British never invite you for
dinner which is a common social activity in France. We happen to have the loveliest
British neighbors who invite us for dinner often.

RELIGION:
Similar to ethnocentrism and stereotyping, religion also
disrupts communication as it creates a specific image
of people who follow other religions. People find it
difficult to talk to people who follow different
religions. Religious views influence how people think
about others. It creates differences in opinions.

Example:
 In Pakistan, the Christians have to speak up for their rights as the majority is of Islam and
the Christians are discriminated. There is also a lack of communication between these
religious groups.

LANGUAGE BARRIERS
The biggest issue dealing
with cross-cultural
communication is the
difficulty created by
language barriers.
Misunderstandings are
common among people who
speak the same language, so
it is not surprising that
people from different
cultural and linguistic
backgrounds face
communication barriers.
Anything from the mispronunciation of a word to a lack of specificity can lead to
misunderstandings.
Example:
Kim Tan, Korean Employee, worked for an organization where non-English native speakers felt
that their career progression opportunities were not the same as for English native speakers.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTANCE
Differences in time zones can be challenging as the
people don’t get the chance to interact and build
relationships with each other.

Five types of Distance can be observed:

 Distance of Disparagement:
This type of distance happens when two groups compete for the same resources. Such
situations lead to relationships that are very high in ethnocentrism and very low in
cultural relativism. It gives rise to frequent incidents of ethnophaulic (name-calling and
slurs in reference to other cultures).
 Distance of Avoidance:
It exists in an environment high in ethnocentrism and low in cultural relativism (opposite
of ethnocentrism-it assesses other’s cultural neutrally without any prejudice).
 Distance of Indifference:
It involves moderate levels of both ethnocentrism and cultural relativism associated with
an insensitivity to the concerns of others and the use of ethnically disparaging terms.
 Distance of Sensitivity:
It’s based on a low level of ethnocentrism and a high level of cultural pluralism. In this
situation, speech is used deliberately to reduce the social distance between cultural
groups.
 Distance of Equality:
It exists within an environment of a very low level of ethnocentrism and a very high level
of cultural pluralism. Speech at this distance avoids making judgments against others.
Example:
Elijah, Senior Manager at Sandbox, knew a highly talented woman who left a global senior
leadership role because she got tired of having frequent meetings in the night.

CONFLICTING VALUES
Cultural clashes happen when other people’s behavior compromises our own values. Often,
when you don’t understand or don’t agree with a behavior, it means that there are conflicting
values under the water line. There is no right or wrong way of doing things; it’s just a matter of
cultural norms. Common conflicting cultural values are:
 Task Oriented vs Relationship Oriented:
 In US, people view conversations as an opportunity to exchange information.
People get down to business quickly. 
 In Latin American countries, for instance, conversations are primarily an
opportunity to enhance the relationship.
Example:
Sara once worked for an American company where, in meetings, participants barely
introduced each other; we got down to work immediately. Being a Latin American, it
took her a while to get used to it.
 Direct vs Indirect Communication:
 In countries like Germany, it is a sign of professionalism to speak clearly and
leave no room for misinterpretation.
 In countries like Korea, people prefer to communicate indirectly. People approach
problems through vague references.
The danger here is that a person from a direct culture may come across as insensitive,
while the person from the indirect culture may appear imprecise.
 Open Subtle Disagreement:
 In countries like China, Cultures place a high value on “face” and group harmony
may be averse to confrontation.
 In other cultures, having a “good fight” is a sign of trust, like in the Netherlands.
People from different parts of the world also vary in the amount of emotion they
show during professional conversations.
Example:
Italians raise their voices, while the British are more composed.
 Informal vs Formal:
 In some countries, such as Australia, people are generally casual.
 People tend to be more formal in countries like Japan.
 To informal people, formality might be interpreted as the sign of stiffness, while
informality to formal people might be perceived as a lack of professionalism.
 Structured vs Flexible Scheduling:
All businesses follow timetables, but in some cultures, people strictly adhere to the
schedule, whereas in others, they treat it as a suggestion.
Example:
 In India, “five minutes” could mean half an hour, and “tomorrow” could mean the
next few days.
 In Brazil, People wouldn’t start a meeting exactly on time. It feels disrespectful
not to wait a bit for the late comers.
 In the UK, not starting the meeting on time might be considered disrespectful
towards those who made it to the meeting on time