English for Business
Communication
1)Cultural Awareness
1.1) Introduction
3 dingen doen om doeltreffend te communiceren:
1) Have an understanding (= awareness)
2) Be flexible
3) Develop an international style
Deze 3 dingen leiden tot ‘cultural intelligence’.
Many ‘circles’: the complexity of cultural difference:
- Family Culture
- Generation
- Sexual Orientation
- Gender
- Team Culture
- …
“Cultural/national stereotypes are both descriptive and prescriptive in nature: they are perceivers’
shared beliefs about the characteristics of the target group and at the same time they also function
as social expectations.”
- Culturele/nationale stereotypen zijn zowel beschrijvend als voorschrijvend van aard: het zijn
gedeelde overtuigingen van waarnemers over de kenmerken van de doelgroep en
tegelijkertijd fungeren zij ook als sociale verwachtingen
1.2) Cultural differences – examples
Cultural biases can support myths or stereotypes:
- The Japanese seem to be very disciplined, but also indecisive.
- The Germans are known for their perfection and punctuality.
- The US is often equated with the ideal of a ‘free society’.
- The Dutch are very outspoken.
- Spanish people are always late and don’t work in the afternoon.
- …
1
,Cross-cultural understanding:
- Working with professionals from other countries
- Cultural misunderstandings
- Culture clash
- To cause/ avoid embarrassment
- Safe small talk topics
- Taboos
- CULTURAL AWARENESS
Taboo subjects:
- Humour in business relationships?
o Britain: jokes relieve tension
o Germany: flippant and unprofessional
- Women in business
Glass ceiling = glazen plafond
o Increasingly prominent role in business
o In UK: only 10% of company executives
o Only few reach the top
- Alcohol and business
o Some cultures: taboo
o Glass of wine or a beer with lunch?
o Outside meal times?
o Have a beet with colleagues after work?
- Coffee and tea
o Inextricably linked with business
o It cements relationships.
o China, Japan tea more popular
- Politics
- Leisure activities
- Private life
Other:
- Discussing business
- Greeting
- Gift giving etiquette
Als je naar het buitenland gaat, wil je misschien ook meer te weten komen over:
- The weather at the relevant time of the year
- Public holidays
- Conventions regarding working hours
2
, - Tourism
- Dress
- Boy language
- Language
- Different time zones
To relieve tension De spanning verlichten
Flippant Oneerbieding, spottend
Playwright Toneelschrijver
Executive Someone with a senior function in a company –
directeur, manager
Taboo (on/ against something) Taboe
Inextricably linked Onlosmakelijk verbonden
To cement Verbinden, make a relationship firm and strond.
Where… is/ are concerned Wat…betreft
To baffle Van zijn stuk brengen, in de war brengen
To revile Beschimpen, bespotten (opp. Revere)
To revere Bewonderen, ontzag hebben voor (opp. Revile)
Abroad In het buitenland
Leisure Ontspanning
(business) associates (zaken)partners
Be anathema to Een hekel hebben aan
(have a) liking for Houden van
(take an) aversion to Afkeer hebben van
Preference for Voorkeur voor
1.3) Do some Research
- It is a question of courtesy that one should be interested in one’s business partners and their
countries
- Tact and consideration are important
- Partnerships need to be built on trust and shared (= mutual) understanding
- Initial research can help one know more about potential partners and their country, so
avoiding embarrassment.
Je hoeft geen expert te zijn: de meeste mensen zullen tolerant zijn, zolang je maar blijk geeft
van goede wil en goede manieren.
You don’t have to be an expert, as long as you show:
- Tact
- Consideration
- Courtesy
- Trust
- Mutual understanding
- Goodwill
- Good manners
3
Communication
1)Cultural Awareness
1.1) Introduction
3 dingen doen om doeltreffend te communiceren:
1) Have an understanding (= awareness)
2) Be flexible
3) Develop an international style
Deze 3 dingen leiden tot ‘cultural intelligence’.
Many ‘circles’: the complexity of cultural difference:
- Family Culture
- Generation
- Sexual Orientation
- Gender
- Team Culture
- …
“Cultural/national stereotypes are both descriptive and prescriptive in nature: they are perceivers’
shared beliefs about the characteristics of the target group and at the same time they also function
as social expectations.”
- Culturele/nationale stereotypen zijn zowel beschrijvend als voorschrijvend van aard: het zijn
gedeelde overtuigingen van waarnemers over de kenmerken van de doelgroep en
tegelijkertijd fungeren zij ook als sociale verwachtingen
1.2) Cultural differences – examples
Cultural biases can support myths or stereotypes:
- The Japanese seem to be very disciplined, but also indecisive.
- The Germans are known for their perfection and punctuality.
- The US is often equated with the ideal of a ‘free society’.
- The Dutch are very outspoken.
- Spanish people are always late and don’t work in the afternoon.
- …
1
,Cross-cultural understanding:
- Working with professionals from other countries
- Cultural misunderstandings
- Culture clash
- To cause/ avoid embarrassment
- Safe small talk topics
- Taboos
- CULTURAL AWARENESS
Taboo subjects:
- Humour in business relationships?
o Britain: jokes relieve tension
o Germany: flippant and unprofessional
- Women in business
Glass ceiling = glazen plafond
o Increasingly prominent role in business
o In UK: only 10% of company executives
o Only few reach the top
- Alcohol and business
o Some cultures: taboo
o Glass of wine or a beer with lunch?
o Outside meal times?
o Have a beet with colleagues after work?
- Coffee and tea
o Inextricably linked with business
o It cements relationships.
o China, Japan tea more popular
- Politics
- Leisure activities
- Private life
Other:
- Discussing business
- Greeting
- Gift giving etiquette
Als je naar het buitenland gaat, wil je misschien ook meer te weten komen over:
- The weather at the relevant time of the year
- Public holidays
- Conventions regarding working hours
2
, - Tourism
- Dress
- Boy language
- Language
- Different time zones
To relieve tension De spanning verlichten
Flippant Oneerbieding, spottend
Playwright Toneelschrijver
Executive Someone with a senior function in a company –
directeur, manager
Taboo (on/ against something) Taboe
Inextricably linked Onlosmakelijk verbonden
To cement Verbinden, make a relationship firm and strond.
Where… is/ are concerned Wat…betreft
To baffle Van zijn stuk brengen, in de war brengen
To revile Beschimpen, bespotten (opp. Revere)
To revere Bewonderen, ontzag hebben voor (opp. Revile)
Abroad In het buitenland
Leisure Ontspanning
(business) associates (zaken)partners
Be anathema to Een hekel hebben aan
(have a) liking for Houden van
(take an) aversion to Afkeer hebben van
Preference for Voorkeur voor
1.3) Do some Research
- It is a question of courtesy that one should be interested in one’s business partners and their
countries
- Tact and consideration are important
- Partnerships need to be built on trust and shared (= mutual) understanding
- Initial research can help one know more about potential partners and their country, so
avoiding embarrassment.
Je hoeft geen expert te zijn: de meeste mensen zullen tolerant zijn, zolang je maar blijk geeft
van goede wil en goede manieren.
You don’t have to be an expert, as long as you show:
- Tact
- Consideration
- Courtesy
- Trust
- Mutual understanding
- Goodwill
- Good manners
3
