of Subtler Cultural Communications

Summary                                                                      (part three; conclusion. Parts of the larger work have been reworked. If there is an interest in viewing the final work in whole please comment with your e-mail.)

   IT in Cross-Cultural Communication
   IT and its own relationship to cross-cultural communications is an interesting one. It is doubtful that we would have had as much discussion about cross-cultural communications had it not been for the Internet; and the bountiful expressions that have followed in its wake.
   That said, where we currently stand includes the ability to speak to your computer and have it transcribed, the ability to video conference across the entire planet free, and a significant number of free sites for translation. This is creating an ever-ripening paradigm for a borderless global citizenry.
   One cannot help but wonder if bothering to learn another language might not become passé; insofar as the possibilities for fluid, automatic translation as people of disparate languages communicate with each other seems not far off. Indeed, the entertainment industry, through games and movies, are equally pushing the virtual presence itself (as we see increasing breakthroughs in 3-D and holography). It would not be surprising, therefore, in perhaps a decade (more or less) to literally stand with a colleague (never before met, of an entirely different culture and language) collaborating in virtual space, as if sharing real space and speaking the same language.
   However, the cross-cultural implications remain to be seen. Hearken back to the presumed joke at the beginning of this document: four businesspersons from Japan, Nigeria, France, and India walk into a bar; but now make it a collaborative meeting. The degree to which the individual players are open and have been cross-acculturated may well be the degree to which they can successfully interact. From a business perspective, perhaps that is all we ask of them.
   Still, that will not be all that they ask of themselves. More and more the inequities of the world (as just one example) will find a more conducive and fluid conversation. Is it not entirely possible for a tangent to occur where, at a critical juncture, perhaps the Indian (whose entire village is in desperate and immediate need, due to mudslide, monsoon, etc.) or the Nigerian (who may have had a few children recently kidnapped) might not hold the entire project hostage (Staff, 2010)(Purefoy, 2010)?
   We may find, increasingly, that integrating ourselves into the global culture, becoming more sensitive to each other’s ways of life, may not only be wise from a communication perspective on the superficial layer, but also ingratiate ourselves to each other by exposing the degree of our authenticity at deeper levels. By the way, this too is good business.

References

Davis, F. (2009). Frankisms. Unpublished manuscript.

Executive Planet. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.executiveplanet.com/index.php?title=Main_Page

Hofstede, G. (2009). Geert Hofstede™ Cultural Dimensions. Retrieved from http://www.geert-hofstede.com/

Inglehart , R. (2009). [charts] [World Values Surveys]. Retrieved from http://www.worldvaluessurvey.org/wvs/articles/folder_published/article_base_54

Kwintessential Ltd. (n.d.). France - French Culture, Customs and Etiquette; India - Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquette; Nigeria - Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquette - Japan - Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquette. Retrieved September 25, 2010, from http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/france-country-profile.html; http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/india-country-profile.html; http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/nigeria.html; http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/japan-country-profiles.html

Nigeria Culture, facts about Nigeria, customs, business and social ethics.. (). Retrieved September 25, 2010, from http://www.business-travel-nigeria.com/nigeria-culture.html

Purefoy, C. (2010, September 28, 2010). Nigerian president intensifies search for kidnapped children. Cable News Network. Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/09/28/nigeria.kidnap/index.html?eref=rss_world&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_world+%28RSS%3A+World%29&utm_content=My+Yahoo

Staff (2010, 55 minutes ago [9:50am 09.29.10]). Negotiations to free children after Nigerian hijack. AFP (Associated Free Press). Retrieved from http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gMccc86LLn6kzkjsswdZAI_o4HSw?docId=CNG.5fd9d9aca2e24cbdb73350eb1197d306.8d1