I do not find my self communicating with people from cultures different than mine any differently except when I meet someone from a different country. Then I find myself listening more attentively when I am communicating with them. Many times I am trying to grasp what they are saying. There are many cultures in my family through many means. I am use to talking with people from different cultures.
Of course I talk to my friends differently than I talk to my children or adults older than myself. I think I speak with them adequately but not equally. I have friends from all different walks of life. I communicate with them as to where they are at. The conversation with each will probably take different turns but the initial conversations will be the same. I believe I am not here to judge but to try and understand each other through communication.
Deborah,
ReplyDeleteYou make a great point that when communicating with someone from a different culture you are "trying to grasp what they are saying". I did not realize it but a lot of times when I talk to someone from a different country who has a thick accent it takes longer to process what they are saying. First, I have to focus first on understanding the words, then I can think about exactly what they said. This could come off as rude because it does take me longer to reply. I never thought of thought. That was a good perception.
Jennie Ingram
Deborah,
ReplyDeleteI like your comment about communicating with them as to where they are at. It's true that each interaction can follow different directions according to how we are assessing the reactions of the people we are communicating with.