How Poor Intercultural Communication Affects International Commerce and Foreign Policy free essay sample

The meaning arrived at or the knowledge and accepted truth toward an issue is more or less the consensus of a group. When two cultures are in proximity to each other although their cultures may be different they still may have power or influence over the decisions, practices and beliefs of the each other. In this example, I will use the national issue in France involving a majority of the French people objecting to Turkey being allowed to join into the European Union. The French, who share a particular national identity and history, have shared their different views as Frenchmen and Europeans why Turkeys acceptance into the European Union is not acceptable. Turkey, the nation in between Europe and Asia is seen as an important economic and political ally by many European nations with Turkey having access to many of the passageways toward Asia and Russia for trade and the most important oil and gas pipelines. We will write a custom essay sample on How Poor Intercultural Communication Affects International Commerce and Foreign Policy or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The Turks were deeply disappointed when they received the news from France that they were unwanted. France’s influence was powerful among the other G8 member nations and its leadership within the European Union was highly valued. Many important French allies like Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Belgium considered the French people’s position because their own population was so heavily influenced by the public opinion of the French people. Many of the leaders within Turkey â€Å"were extremely offended and took it as a form of discrimination and disrespect against them as Turks† stating that the â€Å"French were Bullies†. This caused the Turks, who had settled long before within France, to have major clashes against far right French nationalists that resulted in violence. To worsen the situation that was quickly becoming a cultural battle and causing serious economic downturn; Turkey became unbending when the French needed to get resources through their energy and logistics companies which were accessing the Turks pipelines, shipping systems and water passageways that accessed Asia, the Middle East and Russia. The French leadership groups needed to clarify their position fast. They requested agreement and negotiation talks with Turkish leaders in order to save face and gain access to the international routes within Turkey. In the end, they managed to negotiate mutually respectful economic and political agreements where the Turks were encouraged to use display-advertising campaigns in an effort to change the French and Western European opinion about their acceptability in the European Union. Turkey also had to agree to fulfill several economic, financial and political standards in order to be accepted into the European Union by a specific deadline. Although government diplomats are supposed to be trained and knowledgeable about the culture and the history of the nations and the people they are representing in order to avoid the mistakes of miscommunication, sometimes over-sensitivity in regards to a particular cultural community or social group can lead to unconscious discriminative judgments and overly patriotic heroisms. Defining Intercultural Communication Intercultural communication is defined by, Witness Essential, â€Å"as the understanding of how people from different countries and cultures behave, communicate and perceive the world around them. This can also include cultural differences such as age, race and gender. † The study of intercultural communication is of great importance in the progression of our society as a planet to become a connected group of people and is researched by several industries of study including but not limited to anthropology, cultural studies, and linguistics, psychology and communications studies. Being able to understand how people from different cultures and religions communicate, interact, and perceive the environment around them allows for the formation of important guidelines and practices which help combat and avoid anxiety and uncertainty in government, business, and personal intercultural relationships for the purpose of efficient negotiations and merges different cultures into more tolerant cohesive existence. It is imperative that these same principles are utilized when communicating to cultural groups other than our own because people from different cultures encode and decode messages and meaning differently. Because of this, what is acceptable to one is not necessarily acceptable by the other especially if they base their practices on their own judgments and ideas and communicate disregarding the judgments and ideas of any other culture. Ignorance can lead to devastating and damaging assumptions in terms of building intercultural relationships when one enters communication using the same old ethnocentric approach. It is a lot like the Nazis viewing the world according to their standards and beliefs without regards to the rights and beliefs of any other group. It is also the same as extreme radicals imposing religious beliefs on those who have different religious preferences than their own and attempting to get them to conform to those beliefs even though it is against the other cultures personal beliefs. What is true for you based on your own history and experience is not necessarily true to those who come from different cultures with different intercultural viewpoints but those differences should still be respected. We may find that we actually have very similar ideas and that our cultural truths resemble that of another if we actually took the time to learn and appreciate one another’s differences. An example of this is that in our country â€Å"Mothers are loved and respected. † This is most likely true in all nations and cultures but probably â€Å"varies in the details of their traditions by how they are appreciated and respected by their family members and from their cultural groups. (Intercultural Communication Journal, August 2009) Resolving Cross Cultural Barriers: Key points and Theories Because important decisions in business, politics, education, health, and culture these days usually effect citizens of more than one nation, the question of whether communication between people of different nations is effective and whether all parties emerge with the same understanding is of crucial importance. (Intercultural Communication Journal, August 2009) According to E. Griffin – McGraw-Hill, â€Å"the elements of competent cross cultural communication include knowledge; information that would enable parties to interact efficiently and effectively, motivation; a display of positive empathy toward the culture that the other party belongs to, and skills; the necessary learned behavior, like knowledge of the other cultures history or language, that would allow for an efficient decoding and encoding of meaning between said parties despite their cultural gaps. † â€Å"When language skills between parties are unequal,† C. L. Bovee recommends, â€Å"avoidance of using slang and idioms; choosing words that will convey only the most specific denotative meaning, listening carefully and if in doubt, asking for confirmation of understanding, (especially if local accents and pronunciation are a problem); recognizing that accenting and intonation can cause meaning to vary significantly; respecting the local communication formalities and styles, and watching out for any changes in body language; investigating the other cultures perception of your culture by reading literature about your culture through their eyes before entering into communication with them.

Free Essays on A Mother

Economic Status and the Maternal Figures in No Matter What and â€Å"A Mother† From as early as the days of ancient Rome and Greece your economic status and place in society determined what kind of life you and in turn, your family would lead. It also determined the expectedness of the offspring of the family. In â€Å"A Mother† by James Joyce and No Matter What by Mary Saracino both of the matriarchal figures are on different spectrums of economic status. Mrs. Kearny in â€Å"A Mother† does not have to worry about where the grocery money is going to come from as Marie does in No Matter What. â€Å"I need grocery money. Don’t be cheap this time.† (Page 94) Economic stress can lead to many things in a person’s life. Economic stability has a lot to do with the happiness and comfort ability of ones life. Mrs. Kearny came from an economically comfortable background and therefore entered into a marriage with which she would again be economically comfortable. â€Å"She had been educated in a high-class convent where she l earned French and music.† (Page 139) Marie Giov! anni came from a poor economic background and consequently married into another poor economic family. In my essay, I will compare the lives of Mrs. Kearny and Marie Giovanni and the effects that their economic status has on their lives. When one does not have the extra worry of money to think about, life can almost seem a little easier. Financial issues in a family can lead to major problems, especially between husband and wife. Financial issues are actually one of the leading causes of divorce. In No Matter What, Marie is very unsatisfied with her economic status in life. Marie always dreamed of being something more than she became. â€Å"Mama says her life isn’t what she wanted it be.† (Page 74) Besides other problems Marie might have with her husband, Paulie, she feels that life with her lover, Patrick, will take her out of the economic poverty th... Free Essays on A Mother Free Essays on A Mother Economic Status and the Maternal Figures in No Matter What and â€Å"A Mother† From as early as the days of ancient Rome and Greece your economic status and place in society determined what kind of life you and in turn, your family would lead. It also determined the expectedness of the offspring of the family. In â€Å"A Mother† by James Joyce and No Matter What by Mary Saracino both of the matriarchal figures are on different spectrums of economic status. Mrs. Kearny in â€Å"A Mother† does not have to worry about where the grocery money is going to come from as Marie does in No Matter What. â€Å"I need grocery money. Don’t be cheap this time.† (Page 94) Economic stress can lead to many things in a person’s life. Economic stability has a lot to do with the happiness and comfort ability of ones life. Mrs. Kearny came from an economically comfortable background and therefore entered into a marriage with which she would again be economically comfortable. â€Å"She had been educated in a high-class convent where she l earned French and music.† (Page 139) Marie Giov! anni came from a poor economic background and consequently married into another poor economic family. In my essay, I will compare the lives of Mrs. Kearny and Marie Giovanni and the effects that their economic status has on their lives. When one does not have the extra worry of money to think about, life can almost seem a little easier. Financial issues in a family can lead to major problems, especially between husband and wife. Financial issues are actually one of the leading causes of divorce. In No Matter What, Marie is very unsatisfied with her economic status in life. Marie always dreamed of being something more than she became. â€Å"Mama says her life isn’t what she wanted it be.† (Page 74) Besides other problems Marie might have with her husband, Paulie, she feels that life with her lover, Patrick, will take her out of the economic poverty th...

The Individual and Society Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Individual and Society - Essay Example The individual has violated a type of social norm referred to as injunctive norm. Injunctive norms commonly refer to what is approved or disapproved by the culture, and they encourage behavior through the informal social sanctions. In other words, injunctive refer to the perceptions of what it is supposed to be done (De Cremer, Murnighan and Van Dick 69). For example, the individual has violated of what it is perceived to be done, not to litter the environment. The society in general, requires that the environment is kept clean and the incidences of littering are considered to be against the social norms. Thus, the individual has violated the social norms that require the environment to be kept clean. In USA, there are several organizations and interest groups that have taken the initiative of keeping the environment clean through methods such as litter prevention. Keep America Beautiful, Inc. (par. 6) asserts that littering is a personal choice. In other words, it is an individual behavior to choose to litter on the ground. 83 percent of the litter is disposed properly meaning that most people hold the notion that littering in the wrong places is not good. Thus, litter prevention is a social norm that is accepted by most people living in the USA. It will not be proper for an individual to litter in the wrong places in USA. As stated earlier, choosing to litter (that is, to litter on the ground) is an individual behavior. According to Keep America Beautiful, Inc. (par. 6), 81 percent of individuals litter intentionally; through methods such as flinging, dropping or flicking. It further states that individuals tend to litter in environments already littered. Some of the individuals believe that litter prevention is not their responsibility. These people lack sense of ownership for beaches, walkways, parks and other public places. They believe that someone will pick

Research Proposal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Research Proposal - Essay Example Pursuance of green sources of energy led Nevada and other neighbouring state to establish Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) regulation, which mandated the increase production of energy from renewable sources. For the state of Nevada, the RPS regulation required all energy producers to gradually increase the production of energy from renewable sources to 25% by the year 2025 out of which 6% must come from solar energy sources by the year 2016 (NECD, 2011). The strong emphasis on the use of solar energy is representative of the fact that Nevada is one of the best places in the United States where solar energy can be used. The purpose of this study is to establish the potential of Nevada's solar energy and its suitability as a source of energy for fulfilling current and future energy needs of Nevada in comparison with other alternative sources of energy. Statement of the Problem As the state of Nevada have been actively pursuing the strategy of using more renewable resources then conve ntional ones, research has been done measuring the total potential of each renewable resource in the state of Nevada. ... This research will also include a comparative study of suitability of other renewable resource and how they compare with solar energy. The purpose of the Study The primary purpose of this project is to find out if solar energy resource in Nevada State is sufficient enough to be utilized for energy needs of Nevada. This project will also demonstrate the utility of GIS in carrying out such suitability study. The research will make use of data, maps and images of Nevada available from MapCruzin website as well as other resources. Buffer Analysis will be utilized through ArcGIS software in establishing the suitability of solar energy. Literature Review Nevada is considered one of the most versatile states in the US when it comes to renewable energy. It has excellent a wide range of excellent sites which could be developed for all four renewable resources. At the moment a significant amount of state's energy is generated through renewable resources. This is due to the Renewable Portfolio Standard regulation passed in 2001, according to which 15% of the state's electricity is required to be produced through renewable resources by 2013 which would then eventually rise to 25% by 2025. Among the widely available renewable energy sources that have already been utilized for electricity production are Wind, Solar, Geothermal as well as hydropower (Energy Atlas, 2011). Geothermal Geothermal energy industry is also one of the more mature ones in Nevada, as the state is the second largest user of geothermal energy for electricity production in the US while a total power production of 550 megawatt and an untapped potential of a further 1000 megawatts make it number one in utilization of geothermal energy per capita. Nevada

Capital accumulation, Essay Example for Free

Capital accumulation, Essay Name two types of market failure. Explain why each may cause market outcomes to be inefficient. Externalities and Market Power. Externalaties are byproducts of a product. Exteranlities can lead to a failure because buyers and sellers do not consider the side effects, which can lead to imbalance in equilibrium based on a societal standpoint. Market Power occurs when there is a single buyer and seller (or small group of them) with the ability to control market prices. This can lead to failure because it keeps prices and quantity away from the equilibrium of supply and demand. 2. What happens to consumer and producer surplus when the sale of a good is taxed? How does the change in consumer and producer surplus compare to the tax revenue? When a product is taxed both consumer and producer surplus drop. This change in surplus is gained in tax revenue, but producers earn less and consumers get less for their value. 3. How do the elasticities of supply and demand affect the deadweight loss of a tax? Why does this effect occur? The elasticities of supply and demand affect deadweight loss in that when: supply/demand is elastic, then the deadweight loss is high. If the supply/demand is inelastic, then the deadweight loss is small. This occurs because taxes change the behavior of buyers/sellers. If tax increases price of buyers, they consume less. If tax reduces profit of producers, then they produce less. 4. What does the domestic price that prevails without international trade tell us about a nation’s comparative advantage? If the domestic price is low, then it says that county can produce that product cheaply, and has a comparative advantage. If it is high, then that country is at a disadvantage compared to other countries. What is the difference between the unilateral and multilateral approaches to achieving free trade? Give an example of each. Unilateral approach is when the country reduces trade restrictions on its own. ‘Isolandia’ removes tariffs on imports. Multilateral approach is when a country reduces it trade restrictions while other countries do the same (through bargaining) ‘Isolandia’ removes tariffs on imports if ‘Seclusia’ also removes theirs. 6. Why do economists use real GDP rather than nominal GDP to gauge economic well-being? Define the GDP deflator. Nominal GDP is GDP (goods and services produced, and their prices) calculated at current prices. Real GDP is GDP calculated at constant prices(goods ands and services produced). We use Real GDP because it reflects changes in production vice changes in prices. The GDP Deflator allows calculating only the prices of goods and services. 7. What is the CPI? Which do you think has a greater effect on the consumer price index: a 10 percent increase in the price of chicken, or a 10 percent increase in the price of caviar? Why? Consumer Price Index, is a measure of the overall cost of goods and services bought by a typical consumer. A 10% increase in chicken will have a greater affect on the CPI because more people typically by chicken than those who buy caviar. 8. Describe the three factors that make the consumer price index an imperfect measure of the cost of living. Then explain how the GDP deflator differs from the CPI. Substition Bias: Consumers substitute towards goods that cost less Introduction of new goods: A new product is introduced allowing more choices. This reduces cost of maintaining same level of economic well being. Unmeasured quality change – if a goods quality goes down, but remains at same price – then the dollar is worth less than previously. If the quality goes up, and price remains the same, then the dollar is worth more than previously. GDP deflator accounts for goods produced domestically, while CPI accounts for all goods purchased. GDP Deflator also accounts for all currently produced goods, while CPI accounts for a fixed set of goods, that may not include new goods or include goods that no longer exist. 9. List and describe the determinants of productivity. Physical Capital: Quality of tools the worker has – better quality, the more production. Human Capital: Knowledge and Skills – education, experience and training. Better training = better efficiency. Natural Resources: Resources made available for input into production. Either renewable or non-renawable. Access to resources reduces costs of importing them – but is not necessary. Technical Knowledge:Refers to societies understanding of how the world works. (Human capital refers to recources expended to transmit this understanding to its workers) 10. Explain how a higher savings rate can lead to a higher standard of living. What might deter a policymaker from trying to raise the rate of saving? Saving now and consuming less now, allows for investments and ability to consume more in the future. Diminishing returns are what might deter a policy maker raising rate of savings. At a low capital, an extra increase in capital increases production. But as you continue to invest capital, the growth of production is at a lesser amount. It continues until a point in where a large increase in capital only gives a minor increase in production.

Hard To Be Yourself :: Self Image Appearance Essays

Hard To Be Yourself How many times have we heard the saying "Don't judge by appearance?" And how many times have we been thoroughly disappointed by appealing images of things and people? The answer is quite simple: countless. And yet how many times do we catch ourselves staring in the mirror? And how many hours do we spend thinking about our image? The answer is once again very simple: countless. The real question which arises is "Why?" Why do we care so much about how everyone else perceives us? And why do we always worry about our appearance? Why is it so important for us to show the world what we possess and how much we can afford, when in reality we know that appearances can be misleading? The answers to these questions are not simple at all. In fact, there are so many viewpoints on this rather controversial issue that it is sometimes impossible to agree on one answer. It really depends on who is asking and who is being asked. In order to look deeper into these questions, some important aspects of life need to be taken into account. Take the media, for example. Doesn't it always show the most beautiful people in the world and the newest trends in fashion? Of course it does, that's its sole purpose. Everyone is curious about the magic makeup Cameron Diaz is wearing and about the most recent clothes designed by Versace. And we must not get behind with news on Nicholas Cage's new cars or Jennifer Lopez's mansion. We get so involved in the lives and images of others that we start to fantasize about looking like them and behaving like them. Think of all the young girls today who would give anything to live the life of Britney Spears. And let's not forget about the boys who want to be strong and able to fight like The Rock. The media manipulates us and forces us to create goals of looking fabulous and possessing expensive things. It is so influential that we sometimes can't control these ideas and desires. That, in turn, leads to all those hours spent thinking which dress would impress the guys and what kind of car would attract more women. We start to believe that looks are all that matter, and whoever has an impressive appearance is set for life. Well, isn't this true?

5 Stages of Grief Hamlet Essay

Following the death of Prince Hamlet’s father, the former King of Denmark, not only do those related by blood to the great Dane experience the five stages of grief as laid out by Kubler-Ross, but the whole kingdom does as well. It is clear through many examples from the text that the kingdom as a unit experiences the grief of losing their king and others throughout the play both as one dysfunctional family and individually. The individuals in this dysfunctional family include: Hamlet, Gertrude, Claudius, Polonius, Laertes, and Ophelia. A major tenet of the ‘Five Stages’ theory which is vital to understanding its practical use is that one is not required to go through the five stages in order, nor is one required to go through all five stages. This is especially important because as a single family, the Danes do not go through all five stages together, instead, however, they go through the five stages individually, and will be addressed in the order stated by Kubler-Ross while identifying parts of the play where these stages were reached with no regard to chronological order. (Kubler-Ross) Denial is the first stage of Kubler-Ross’ grief map. Denial is a reaction in which a person, attempting to avoid the truth of the situation, develops a false reality or simply ignores the reality at hand. This is likely the most common stage, as denial affects those dealing with all magnitudes of trauma, large and small. (Santrock, 56) Though Hamlet does not go through the stage of denial, it is evident starting in act one, scene two, that the royal family is very much in denial of how much they should be affected by the loss of their king. This is seen through the royal ‘we’ that Queen Gertrude uses to display her and her new husband’s feelings to Hamlet while covering up their sadness with royal duties. â€Å"QUEEN GERTRUDE Why seems it so particular with thee? HAMLET Seems, madam! nay it is; I know not ‘seems.’ ‘Tis not alone my inky cloak, good mother, Nor customary suits of solemn black, Nor windy suspiration of forced breath, No, nor the fruitful river in the eye, Nor the dejected ‘havior of the visage, Together with all forms, moods, shapes of grief, That can denote me truly: these indeed seem, For they are actions that a man might play: But I have that within which passeth show; These but the trappings and the suits of woe.† (Shakespeare, 1.2.2) The Royal family, in this scene, had only just recently lost their king before Claudius and Gertrude married and started their work as regents once again. The biggest implication of their being in the stage of denial is their preoccupation with Fortinbras’ perceived anger rather than Hamlet’s actual sadness. They are too in denial about their son’s and perhaps their own guilt and trauma that they do not help or address the grief at all. Gertrude is a perfect example of denial because of her lying to herself and telling herself that everything is perfect and back to normal when it is clearly not. Ophelia also goes through denial on a smaller scale in the first act, as her trauma is losing her love, Hamlet, because of her father’s orders. This denial only grows when she loses her father and he is not given the proper burial rites or respect. She then feels what Hamlet thinks he felt, yet says and does nothing until her suicide because she was very likely in denial about her ability to help at all. Anger is the second phase of Kubler-Ross’ five stages which is characterized by loss of judgment and simple rage at either the event which they are grieving, others, and/or themselves. Anger is often associated with madness as it impedes the objective observation skills and, like insanity, can cloud the mind with anything but the truth. (Santrock, 57) The angriest character in all of Hamlet the title character himself, Hamlet. Hamlet’s anger is especially clear in his rash dealings with his family, which, he is supposed to be bonding with over this shared grief, his visions of his father as a ghost, and his violent outbursts against the denizens of his kingdom. When he enters his mother’s chambers in act three, scene four, he shows many signs of madness and anger, including visions of violence inciting figures, lashing out against his mother, and the murder of Polonius behind the veil. â€Å"HAMLET How is it with you, lady? QUEEN GERTRUDE Alas, how is’t with you, That you do bend your eye on vacancy And with the incorporal air do hold discourse? Forth at your eyes your spirits wildly peep; And, as the sleeping soldiers in the alarm, Your bedded hair, like life in excrements, Starts up, and stands on end. O gentle son, Upon the heat and flame of thy distemper Sprinkle cool patience. Whereon do you look?† (Shakespeare, 3.4.18) Bargaining and Depression are slightly similar stages of grieving that as seen in Hamlet, can happen at the same time. Bargaining is characterized by an attempt at negotiating with fate, while depression understands the imminence of death. This being said, there is no reason why Hamlet could not have been experiencing both of these stages at once. In fact, Hamlet seems to have drifted in and out of these stages in between going through anger and acceptance. (Santrock 58, 59) In act one, scene two, Hamlet demonstrates bargaining and depression by almost asking the all-powerful to take his life away completely, because he is too saddened and maddened by all of this outrageous behavior that he would rather die. â€Å"HAMLET O, that this too too solid flesh would melt Thaw and resolve itself into a dew! Or that the Everlasting had not fix’d His canon ‘gainst self-slaughter! O God! God! How weary, stale, flat and unprofitable, Seem to me all the uses of this world! Fie on’t! ah fie! ’tis an unweeded garden, That grows to seed; things rank and gross in nature Possess it merely.† (Shakespeare, 1.2.6) Again in act three, scene one, Hamlet makes another speech that implies his fickle, suicidal-bargaining tendencies. In this speech he talks about his self-loathing due to his cowardice and he wishes that it could all be over, like a sleep, a quiet end. â€Å"HAMLET To be, or not to be: that is the question: Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, And by opposing end them?† (Shakespeare, 3.1.1) Hamlet is not the only character to go through bargaining and depression, though. Ophelia also, in her singing and solemn visits to her father’s â€Å"burial site†, clearly shows signs of depression. She acts on these depressed thoughts by taking the bargain of suicide; if she cannot be happy in this world, she should take herself out of it to avoid the pain, and she does. Acceptance is the bittersweet end to grieving in which individuals come to terms with the fate they are handed, whether it be death, loss, or a reminder of their mortality. (Santrock, 60) The final scene before Fortinbras arrives to Elsinore, it is almost as if each character is asking for forgiveness through their passing through the stage of acceptance. Every action, the voluntary drinking of the cup that Claudius does, Laertes’ last words to Hamlet, Gertrude’s voluntary drinking of the cup so Hamlet would live a bit longer, they all seemed to be actions of final absolution. Kubler-Ross’ five stages of grief are plentiful in Shakespeare’s dramas, especially Hamlet, simply because of the massive amounts of tragedies that occur within Hamlet that warrant grieving. The grieving process in Hamlet is easily visible because of the steps laid out by Kubler-Ross and how they match almost exactly with the feelings and actions of not only Hamlet, but the whole kingdom, including: Gertrude, Claudius, Laertes, Polonius, and Ophelia. Works Cited â€Å"The Kà ¼bler-Ross Grief Cycle.† The Kà ¼bler-Ross Grief Cycle. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Mar. 2014. Santrock, John W. Kubler-Ross P. 57,58,59,60. A Topical Approach to Life-span Development. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2002. N. pag. Print. Shakespeare, William, and Harold Jenkins. â€Å"Act One, Scene Two, Act Three, Scene One, Act Three, Scene Three.† Hamlet. London: Methuen, 1982. N. pag. Print.