Biology Forums - Study Force

What cultural variables create noise in cross-cultural communication? Use the steps in the communication process to explain methods of controlling cultural noise.

Cultural variables can affect the communication process by influencing a person's perceptions. These variables include attitudes, social organization, thought patterns, roles, language (spoken or written), nonverbal communication (including kinesic behavior, proxemics, paralanguage, and object language), and time. Noise can occur at any stage of the communication process: message encoding, the medium, decoding, or feedback. Noise can be reduced at encoding by being sensitive to the cultural differences of the receiver and incorporating knowledge of their culture into the message–this includes minimizing the use of idioms or regional expressions that are difficult to translate. Noise can be reduced by selecting the correct medium for the message. Most important messages should be delivered face to face whenever possible to facilitate the important nonverbal communication process. Decoding requires the receiver to consider the sender's culture as well as his or her own culture in translating the message. Finally, feedback is critical to assure the communication sent was the one received. However, the same noise that enters the original communication process can also influence the feedback.

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