Different Language and Customs Create Barriers in International Communication

A. Language

Language is the expression of thought, with the translation of notions into words being the act of understanding. Understanding the language is very important in communication. Without understanding the language, we cannot communicate to the other people who we want to communicate.

B. Language Creates Barriers in International Communication

There are two types of language, verbal language and non verbal language or body language. What creates barriers in communication is usually non verbal language.

When you have communication difficulties, you may think it is because of spoken or written language. However, many mis-understandings happen because of non-verbal communication, or body language.

EYE CONTACT

In the United States or other Western countries, during a conversation, the speaker looks briefly into the listener's eyes, briefly away, and then back at the listener's eyes. The listener should look at the speaker's eyes constantly. If you do not look into the eyes of your conversation partner, he will think you are not listening, or that you are not trustworthy.

But in some other countries like Indonesia, looking at the speaker’s eyes is not a polite way. Especially for Javanese. If we look at briefly into the speaker’s eyes, it means that we are impolite.

TOUCHING

            Touching people often makes Western people uncomfortable. Men are especially nervous when touched by another man. Women who are good friends may walk arm-in-arm, but only rarely. If men walk arm-in-arm in the United States maybe people would think that they are a couple of gays.

            It would be different in Arab or places in the Middle East and Asia. Men hold hands, hug, cheek kiss like its nothing. It is common there. It was just a display of affection. They hug and kiss cheeks and its not considered abnormal or homosexual behavior at all. It can seem strange to other cultures.

SPACE

In America, you do not have to touch people to make them nervous. People expect others to be at least an arm's length away from them. If you get closer than this, people will move away from you; they do not dislike you; you are "in their space."Also, you will hear people say, "Excuse me," although they have not actually touched anyone. No matter where you are, give people plenty of space.

Remember, these are generalizations. Some people will be uncomfortable if you do not touch them during a conversation. The hard part is figuring out who wants what. 

We communicate with the other people in the world with language. Of course, in communication we need language. Language can create barriers in international communication because we do not speak the same language. We have to learn the language they speak if we want co communicate with the people who do not speak our language.

In communication, all that we need are understanding the language and understanding the context.