Learning Journal

Cross-cultural Communication and Negotiation 580

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Introduction
This learning journal will cover terms linked to cross-cultural situation and communication as well as discussing press articles related to culture, racism and casteism. Culture differs from one country to another; it helps to define a particular society with certain rules, values and norms. In other words, culture is what helps an individual to behave in the society. In todays era with the emerging of globalization there is what one call cross-culture. Cross-cultural practices, traits, barriers, communication and management exist within a globalised society. The interaction is vital to the dissemination of ideologies and traits amongst others. (Wampler 2009) This journal will analyse three news articles from both local and international press sources and eventually identify the cross-cultural implications that exists.

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Learning Journal What is the article about? The article pinpoints the different factors that may lead the United Arabs Emirates to lose some of its fundamental cultural factors like the Arabic language. This is because of the emergence of foreigners in the country mostly from the western culture. The article also mentions that U.S and UK universities are setting up in the country. Moreover, the younger generations are the one who are more likely to be affected by this cultural problem. The cross-cultural implications: Globalization has taken over, this is due to the coming up of new technologies, elimination of trade barriers and services like the Internet that has helped in interconnecting the world. However what one usually sees, can be classified as the front stage culture that is cultural information that one is willing to share with outsiders. Every culture has their front stage culture as well as their backstage one. In order to have a clearer view about what are the cross cultural implications that exist like in the case above, the Arab community, it is important to understand the Arab or as one would say the Muslim culture. About the Arab/Muslim culture. In the article it is mentioned that the Arabic language is the world third most spoken language after English and Hindi. It is important to stress out that the Arabs are a group of people in a particular society where family security, family harmony, parental guidance and authority amongst others are prior importance compared to the American culture. For example the American people are more inclined towards freedom, independence, self-reliance, equality and individualism.

The Muslim culture has a different way of viewing life based on religion. They have their own set of beliefs and values. Religion has a major influence in the Arab culture where it 4|Page

Learning Journal can be stated that religion is a lifestyle in itself and directly affects the individual at every level during his life including work and at home. Language: the fear of losing their mother tongue while knowing that its being taken over by other language Western languages like English. There is a high risk that the local population may forget or stop speaking Arabic.

Culture: it is likely to see that the Arab culture is slowly being over taken by other western cultures. The segment of the population that is more affected is the young generation that is the generation Y. Noting that the Muslim culture is very strict in terms of their way of living, dressing and even eating amongst others.

Communication barriers: communicating with other countries or foreigners normal in todays time. However due to the usage of foreign language and cultural demands that this requires, this may have a negative impact on the native culture and religion amongst others.

Local people especially youngsters may want to imitate and adopt the western culture and this would mean the extinction of the Muslim culture in the young generation.

In my point of view, there is not anything biased towards a particular cultural group. This is because as stated previously we are living in a globalised world where each and every 5|Page

Learning Journal culture is facing to some extent the problem of cross-culture implications. I would like to mention as example that years ago, Hollywood and Bollywood were working separately as two industries and nowadays those two film industries experience collaboration very frequently. This implies two cultures, two perceptions coming together while working. Yet, each foreign person from these industries adapts and successful collaborations stands as results. The Oscar awarded film; Slumdog Millionaire is a brilliant example. It can be further added that it is to the benefit of some but not all. Its all about peoples perceptions, what they are willing to see, to share, to show and not to show etc. Though with cross cultures there are many benefits, there are as well as cons as some countries or cultures feel like they are being exploited in terms of their lifestyle. Despite being exploited there are also cases where with cross cultures, people have found ways to fight against inequality between men and women. Learning and adapting to other cultures has some implications like culture shock. One needs to find the balance in order for things to work.

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What is the article about? The article is about caste system and politics in Mauritius. The caste systems which include Brahmins known as Maraz, kshatriyas known as Baboojee, Vaish, Rajput and Ravived 7|Page

Learning Journal have always influenced the politic field of the country. It further details the roles of each and every caste in a particularly Hindu society and how the influence of each caste and how they work together for a more prosperous society at large. However, taking note from the article mentions that there are certain criterias that are taken into consideration when there is any election or for the elected candidates like ethnic group. One might wonder if the modern political idea of majority rule under a universal suffrage actually created possibilities of caste conflict that hitherto never existed. Despite this say from the article, the government denies the fact that priorities are given to certain ethnic groups as what concerns the labour party of the country. This is one risk that may arise and may thus lead to cross-cultural implications.

About the Mauritian culture: Mauritius is a country known for its diversity of its population that co-habit in harmony together. There are several sub-cultures and religions that exist like Hindu, Christian, Muslim and Chinese amongst others. The Mauritian Culture as a whole is about living in harmony with others of other religion or culture. Moreover Mauritius is also known for its cuisine, hotels and beautiful sandy beaches. The celebration of different cultures or religious festivals is usually done in a fair and respectful way. The mother tongue of Mauritius is the Creole but also the numerous multi-ethnic groups that exist in Mauritius also have their ethnic language, examples are Hindi and Urdu.

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The cross-cultural implications: One of the first implications that may come across is conflict between the different castes in the Hindu society in Mauritius. Conflict with other cultures may arise because as mentioned previously, Mauritius is a country known equal living of the different ethnic groups that exist. If the population were to find that there is a unfairness in power and decision making given to a particular ethnic group that may result in cultural implications and issues among ethnic groups On the other hand, the opinion towards other cultures may be negative in regard to the politic or government of the country as it tends to be bias ever since the beginning.

Regarding this article it can be stated that there are certain biases towards a particular cultural or ethnic groups that exists in Mauritius. Caste and politics are those aspects in Mauritius that may together create cross-cultural implication. The government being a democratic entity, attention must be equal and paid to each and every ethnic group even those in minority in order to cater for the well being of the country as a whole. To avoid conflict that may arise in the long run there it is important to settle down an appropriate government hierarchy as well as giving every sub-culture the possibility to represent them in the political field while giving them power as well as listening to them.

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What is the article about? The article is about the chancellor of Germany and her goal into making the country a multicultural society where people, mostly the younger generations, get to live together in cultural diversity. There are several arguments concerning foreigners in the country mostly Muslim people. Some of the issues are the perception the local people have over the Muslim people. Moreover it is mentioned that Germany lacks around 400 thousand skilled workers. However the arguments focus more towards the fact that approximately 4million inhabitants of Germany are Muslims. Immigrants are also asked to learn German in order to be efficient at school level as well as on the job market which they do not seem to follow resulting into misunderstandings.

The German culture: Germany situated in Europe is a country that has a culture on its own as a whole and is well-known for the Berlin Wall. It has mostly 5 ethnics groups which include: German, Turkish, Italian, Greek, and Polish and a minority of refugees from former Yugoslavia. The main language of the country is German (Gordeeva 2009). It is important to note that Turkish people are more likely to be Muslims and they are the second majority groups that inhabit the country.

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Learning Journal The cross-cultural implications. As demonstrated in this article, locals do not approve of the idea of living together with foreigners and this may impact negatively especially on the Muslim community in the country. This may result in people brutalizing foreigners and denying their existence and place in the society. It is also mentioned that there is a decrease in the number of immigrants into the country; instead it has been noted that people are moving abroad. This may impact adversely on the whole country and convey that Germany is not a country where it is good to live and not welcoming to foreigners. Especially when the country really needs foreign skilled workers Immigrants are trying to imposing their native culture such as language; this is the right method and also not advised. They have to learn and embrace the German culture to ensure a proper integration. This will in help Germans into accepting them when they perceive them as less different than them.

In this article, the information provided is biased towards a particular cultural group here, the Muslim community in Germany. A country like Germany whose economy depends on foreign skilled workers needs to make ensure that there is no cultural tension in the country itself. Attitude towards foreigners or immigrants should be modified. However the problem is not one sided; immigrants also have showed reluctance in adopting Germany, as evidence shows poor integration results. Germans are very biased towards Muslims are they believe that they build too many mosque and also are not intelligent enough. To change such beliefs, both Germans and immigrants, not only Muslims should both make efforts. Immigrants need to accept the German culture so as not to be perceived as aliens and also opening up possibilities in terms of education and employability while Germans need to be more tolerant.

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Learning Journal References Amandolare, S. 2010. Arabics Uncertain Future Has Troubling Cultural Implications. http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/international/2010/mar/Arabic-s-UncertainFuture-has-Troubling-Cultural-Implications.html (Accessed September 28, 2010). Gordeeva, T. 2009. Structure of German Society. http://www.germanculture.com.ua/library/facts/bl_social_structure.htm (Accessed September 29, 2010). News on Sunday. 2010. Casteism, politics & economics. http://www.defimedia.info/articles/10507/1/Casteism-politics-ampeconomics/Page1.html (Accessed September 30, 2010). Tourism in Mauritius. 2009. Culture of Mauritius. http://www.tourisminmauritius.com/tourism-in-mauritius/culture-of-mauritius.html (Accessed October 4, 2010). Wampler, T. 2009. How to Define Cross- Culture. http://www.ehow.com/facts_s534154_define_cross_culture.html (Accessed October 2, 2010).

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