Verified Document

Communication There Is Only So Far Google Essay

Communication There is only so far Google Translate can take a person hoping to achieve social harmony across cultures. Language barriers are enhanced, and exacerbated, by the differences in non-verbal communication across cultures. Whether for business or personal interactions, non-verbal communications characterize a culture's values and social norms. This is why places like Sweden feel completely different from places like Saudi Arabia; and places are dramatically different in terms of how the society is structured, who is in power, and what norms govern behavior. Understanding the complex facets of cross-cultural communication can greatly enhance a travel experience, or a business interaction.

Of the innumerable sociological and anthropological frameworks used to understand and explain cross-cultural differences in communication, Geert Hofstede's cultural dimensions are among the most useful and well used. Power distance, individualism vs. collectivism, masculinity vs. femininity, uncertainty avoidance, long-term...

short-term orientation, and indulgence vs. restraint are important and salient axes for analyzing culture. Additionally, issues like attitudes towards conflict, decision-making styles, and approaches to knowing become important when addressing cross-cultural differences in communication (DuPraw & Axner, 1997). Common sense issues such as having respect, withholding judgment, and being patient remain of the utmost importance.
In a travel article about Stockholm, Alford (2012) relates tales that reveal the unique communication styles of Sweden. These styles can be conceptualized in terms of Hoftstede's cultural dimensions. For example, Swedish society has quite a low power distance; its culture is not hierarchical and is self-defined as being "socialist" in spirit (Alford, 2012, p. 2). Moreover, as Alford (2012) points out, most people in Stockholm also have a cabin in the woods or on an island -- highlighting the relatively flat social structure that has a low distance between haves and have-nots (p. 2). The power…

Sources used in this document:
In a travel article about Stockholm, Alford (2012) relates tales that reveal the unique communication styles of Sweden. These styles can be conceptualized in terms of Hoftstede's cultural dimensions. For example, Swedish society has quite a low power distance; its culture is not hierarchical and is self-defined as being "socialist" in spirit (Alford, 2012, p. 2). Moreover, as Alford (2012) points out, most people in Stockholm also have a cabin in the woods or on an island -- highlighting the relatively flat social structure that has a low distance between haves and have-nots (p. 2). The power distance factor in Sweden can be readily compared to more hierarchical societies, such as India, in which the haves and the have-nots are separated by wide and usually insurmountable chasms. Even the United States has a higher power distance factor than does Sweden, as many Americans are fundamentally opposed to social institutions and structures that generate equality such as free higher education for all citizens, and free healthcare funded by taxpayer dollars. As American onlooker Alford (2012) describes it, " New parents get 480 days of parental leave?! Everyone I talk to seems to have a summer house on an island?!" (p. 2).

As Allwood (1999) points out, Sweden shares many communication traits in common with other Nordic countries like Finland. However, there are a few culture-specific variables that should be taken into account to better understand non-verbal communication patterns. One is specific to social gatherings in which alcohol is involved. Allwood (1999) notes that in Sweden, it is customary for each guest to bring and drink his or her own alcoholic beverages rather than expect the host to provide it. Moreover, the guests will not start drinking until a communal toast has been proposed (Allwood, 1999). This is somewhat similar to the Jamaican custom of not starting to eat at a party until the host makes an invitation to do so; which is ironic given the informal nature of Jamaican communication styles in general ("Jamaica: Language, Culture, Customs, and Etiquette," n.d.). Swedes appreciate informality, but do not appreciate superficiality in terms of conversation topics and styles ("Sweden: Conversation," 2009).

Allwood (1999) also notes that Swedish teaching styles are noticeably different from those in other cultures including other Nordic cultures. There is less authoritarian teaching styles in
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Google's Project Oxygen
Words: 3171 Length: 10 Document Type: Case Study

Google's Project Oxygen: Do Managers Matter? Today Google is irrefutably one of the most buoyant, stimulating and hence possibly most sought-after corporations in the world. The organization is rated as one of the best on account of its performance as an enormously coveted employer and all of this emanates from the carefully developed and assiduously followed 'Google culture'. In addition, the corporate culture is linked to elevating and inspiring the thinking

Googles Research and Development Division
Words: 3204 Length: 10 Document Type: Essay

Google Technologies in Research and Development Google is currently spending billions on research and development in order to stay competitive in the tech industry. This paper will discuss five technologies that Google is currently working on. These are: 1) the Self-Driving Automobile, 2) Project Wing (a drone delivery project), 3) Smart Contact Lenses, 4) Project Loon (which aims to provide Internet service via balloon), and 5) Google Nest—aka Home Automation and

Google's Promotional Mix and Advertising
Words: 952 Length: 3 Document Type: Term Paper

Marketing Communication Process Google Inc. Google Inc. is an U.S. based multinational public corporation that operates primarily in the internet search function, cloud computing, as well as a range of different advertising solutions. The company is large and extremely multifaceted. Google develops a large number of services and products that are part of a larger suite of Google products. These products are offered for free to the end users and Google primarily

Google Technologies
Words: 2066 Length: 8 Document Type: Essay

Google Technologies Google Blimp Google has a vast array of different types of technologies under development. One of the more interesting projects is Google Blimp. In rural communities, such as in the ones in many parts of Africa, there is often a lack of physical communication infrastructure. Because of this lack of infrastructure, it makes creative solutions of delivering internet to millions of people possible. Google is intending to build huge wireless

Google's Dilemma in Organization
Words: 1377 Length: 4 Document Type: Case Study

Google's Dilemma In China: Google is the largest search engine across the globe, which has significantly transformed the use of the Internet as an information source. The influence of Google in Internet use as information source is evident in the fact that by June 2010, it accounted for more than 70% of total Internet searches in America. In addition to its success and profitability in the global market, Google is renowned

Google Introduction and Description of the Company
Words: 6398 Length: 22 Document Type: Essay

Google Introduction and Description of the Company Organizational Structure Industry Analysis Value Proposition Financial Performance Figure 1.1 Revenue and Net Income Growth TOWS Strategies BCG Matrix Leadership Alliances Measures Google is a highly successful Internet company that makes most of its money through online advertising. It has been able to achieve this success through a combination of leadership and culture. The company's many strengths are in general aligned with the opportunities that exist in the marketplace. As a result, Google has the

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now