Language and Culture
Knowing and understanding the culture of the audience with whom you’re communicating
is essential to effective communication. Culture, is essentially a set of shared values that a
group of people holds. Such values affect how one thinks and acts, and can determine the
way they judge others. Cultures can render the behaviors of others as strange or wrong.
This should definitely be taken into consideration when communicating with a different
culture.
When it comes to communication, in some cultures words have very literal meanings. In
other cultures the meaning of words can be determined by using the events surroundings
them such as how the word is used in context. According to Scott McLean’s “Business
Communication for Success”, “the context of the communication interaction involves the
setting, scene, and expectations of the individuals involved.” (McLean, 2010, p. 10)
One can ensure proper transmission of a message and accurate understanding by their
audience by first making it a point to know who the audience is and understand what they
need and expect to gain from the message. The message should then be adapted
accordingly, which would greatly enhance successful communication. When putting
together a message before presentation, it can be helpful to break it down into 5 parts-
attention statement, introduction, body, conclusion, and residual message. (McLean, 2010,
p. 25) Taking this more structured approach to creating a message can not only help the
presenter to stay on task, but can also help the audience to follow along more easily. The
audience is central to the communication process. People communicate unceasingly. Our
