Kota Funakawa
Professor Mark CHRISTIANSON
ARW Section AI
17 September 2007
Professor Mark CHRISTIANSON
ARW Section AI
17 September 2007
“Beyond Barna: What’s the Seventh Stumbling Block?”
Summary
Barna claims intercultural communication inherently has six stumbling blocks. They cause our irritations and misunderstanding. First, “Assumption of Similarities” causes the misunderstanding that there is the universal method of communication, however, there is nothing (Barna 61). Next, “Language Difference” is caused by people persisting with one meaning or different usage of language (66, 67). Third, “Nonverbal Misinterpretation” is caused by not knowing much about other cultural body movement usually among the people have same culture, so this is hard to understand for foreigners (67). In addition, the fourth, “Preconceptions and Stereotypes” causes one-sided misunderstanding. At first they seem to decrease our fear for the unknown in the world, however, they are sometimes wrong and just assumptions because of overgeneralizing (68). Moreover to assess other culture is fifth one, “Tendency to Evaluation”. People can’t accept other culture because of natural assuming their own culture is the most natural (68). Finally, “High Anxiety” is a kind of stress caused by intercultural encounters. As the result, people feel culture shock or physiological reactions (70). In the end, Barna suggests the solution to be conscious of these blocks is required as the first step to avoid and everyone can and should prepare for them.
Discussion
In addition to Barna’s six blocks, the 7th stumbling block in intercultural communication is abandonment. The reason why it is stumbling block is when people talk with foreigners, people seem to abandon to talk because of some reasons such as language difference or culture shock. In fact, however, they just give because of no reason as a result people feel irritations. There are two examples. First, when many Japanese people are spoken to by foreigners, they can’t communicate nonetheless they have a minimum standard of English ability which taught by compulsory education. They unconsciously assume that they can’t communicate because of language difference to escape from the reality they gave up. In other words, many Japanese desire to communicate however they jump to a conclusion that they can’t speak fluently so they can’t. This is typical example of abandonment. Secondly, if they could communicate with foreigners, they would feel cultural difference. When it is felt, they begin to think that they won’t understand each other so they give up. In my experience, I met the teacher who has lived half of life abroad. His behavior made me irritate then I gave up communicating. To tell the truth, I’m not irritated with not only his behavior but also my abandonment and really desire to make good relationship with him. Therefore I asked for advices. All of my advisers said “Keep trying to communicate, and then it’ll be all right.” So far, I have been trying to communicate without abandonment and believing I can make good relationship. Finally, the way to avoid the abandonment is to make an effort to understand. This is most important because the feeling of abandonment naturally comes from inside of you so to keep trying prevents it from occurring.
Discussion
In addition to Barna’s six blocks, the 7th stumbling block in intercultural communication is abandonment. The reason why it is stumbling block is when people talk with foreigners, people seem to abandon to talk because of some reasons such as language difference or culture shock. In fact, however, they just give because of no reason as a result people feel irritations. There are two examples. First, when many Japanese people are spoken to by foreigners, they can’t communicate nonetheless they have a minimum standard of English ability which taught by compulsory education. They unconsciously assume that they can’t communicate because of language difference to escape from the reality they gave up. In other words, many Japanese desire to communicate however they jump to a conclusion that they can’t speak fluently so they can’t. This is typical example of abandonment. Secondly, if they could communicate with foreigners, they would feel cultural difference. When it is felt, they begin to think that they won’t understand each other so they give up. In my experience, I met the teacher who has lived half of life abroad. His behavior made me irritate then I gave up communicating. To tell the truth, I’m not irritated with not only his behavior but also my abandonment and really desire to make good relationship with him. Therefore I asked for advices. All of my advisers said “Keep trying to communicate, and then it’ll be all right.” So far, I have been trying to communicate without abandonment and believing I can make good relationship. Finally, the way to avoid the abandonment is to make an effort to understand. This is most important because the feeling of abandonment naturally comes from inside of you so to keep trying prevents it from occurring.
Works Cited
Barna, LaRay M. “Stumbling Blocks inIntercultual Communication”
Intercultural Communication A Reader. Ed. Larry A Samaovar and Rochard E Porter. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publising Company, 1994. (In The ELP Reader, 2007, 59-76)
Barna, LaRay M. “Stumbling Blocks inIntercultual Communication”
Intercultural Communication A Reader. Ed. Larry A Samaovar and Rochard E Porter. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publising Company, 1994. (In The ELP Reader, 2007, 59-76)
