Say Anything to Anyone, Anywhere: 5 Keys To Successful Cross-Cultural Communication

Chapter 25

Area-Specific Cultural Clues, Do’s, and Taboos

For Successful Multicultural Navigation

As previously discussed in the book, numerous countries and cultures often have shared characteristics that are based on the origin of their mother tongue languages, environment, climate, and ethnic background, among other things. This chapter highlights 21 of the most important area- and language-specific characteristics or traits that various countries and cultures have in common.

Although not all of the cultural clues necessarily apply to every country in a given area or region, they are generally the case for the majority. That being said, keep in mind there are as many differences between the individual countries and cultures as there are commonalities.

For the purpose of simplification, the following cultural clues are organized into six categories that reflect material previously discussed in Chapter 12. The clues start with the cultures with less melody in their languages—those cultures that tend to communicate with a strong emphasis on the words that people use (what is said). They progressively continue to end with the cultures with more melody in their languages, those that tend to communicate by emphasizing the tonality and body language that people use (how it is said).

The Germanic, Scandinavian, and Nordic Cultures

1. These cultures have firm handshakes (one or two pumps are appropriate) when arriving and departing. It is appropriate to shake hands with every person ...