German-American German-American

host-family projecthost-family project

American and German American and German Communication – Communication –

verbal and nonverbalverbal and nonverbal

by Alan Russellby Alan Russelland and

Carmen EllermannCarmen Ellermann

Communication – Communication – verbal and nonverbalverbal and nonverbal

Key FindingsKey Findings

Communication – Communication – verbal and nonverbalverbal and nonverbal

Communication – Communication – verbal and nonverbalverbal and nonverbal

DirectnessDirectness

Communication – Communication – verbal and nonverbalverbal and nonverbal

Americans think of themselves as Americans think of themselves as direct (and compared to many direct (and compared to many cultures they are), but Germans are cultures they are), but Germans are generally even more direct, leading generally even more direct, leading to perceptions of them as to perceptions of them as opinionated, blunt, and brusque opinionated, blunt, and brusque know-it-allsknow-it-alls

Communication – Communication – verbal and nonverbalverbal and nonverbal

Besides direct “yes” and “no” Besides direct “yes” and “no” responses to direct questions, responses to direct questions, Germans also use direct Germans also use direct contradictions and “must” and contradictions and “must” and “should” more frequently“should” more frequently

Communication – Communication – verbal and nonverbalverbal and nonverbal

Critical questionsCritical questions

Communication – Communication – verbal and nonverbalverbal and nonverbal

Intellectual criticism is central in Intellectual criticism is central in German speechGerman speech• Germans perceive Americans as being Germans perceive Americans as being

defensive about criticism of American defensive about criticism of American policy and culturepolicy and culture

• Americans perceive Germans as Americans perceive Germans as pessimisticpessimistic

Communication – Communication – verbal and nonverbalverbal and nonverbal

DiscussionsDiscussions

Communication – Communication – verbal and nonverbalverbal and nonverbal

Germans love to discuss just about Germans love to discuss just about anything, especially in the public arena. anything, especially in the public arena. From their perspective the way to solve a From their perspective the way to solve a problem is to totally understand itproblem is to totally understand it

Americans prefer a “Don’t tell me the Americans prefer a “Don’t tell me the problem, tell me the solution” approachproblem, tell me the solution” approach

German discussion is usually quite serious, German discussion is usually quite serious, whereas Americans often use humorwhereas Americans often use humor

Communication – Communication – verbal and nonverbalverbal and nonverbal

Conversation vs. Conversation vs. Unterhaltung/GemütlichkeitUnterhaltung/Gemütlichkeit

Communication – Communication – verbal and nonverbalverbal and nonverbal

Sitting around and talking for hours Sitting around and talking for hours is a way for Germans to get to test is a way for Germans to get to test their knowledge, become better their knowledge, become better informed, and get to know each informed, and get to know each otherother

Americans may sit in a living room Americans may sit in a living room with the TV or a video on which can with the TV or a video on which can seem a sign of poor education or seem a sign of poor education or outright ignorance to a Germanoutright ignorance to a German

Communication – Communication – verbal and nonverbalverbal and nonverbal

Long discussions can cause Long discussions can cause Americans to perceive Germans as Americans to perceive Germans as perfectionistic and tediousperfectionistic and tedious

American value creativity and American value creativity and imagination and tend to jump around imagination and tend to jump around in conversations, leading Germans to in conversations, leading Germans to view them as superficial and simpleview them as superficial and simple

Communication – Communication – verbal and nonverbalverbal and nonverbal

‘‘Complaining’Complaining’

Communication – Communication – verbal and nonverbalverbal and nonverbal

When two Americans meet they often use When two Americans meet they often use small talk as a way of trying to find what small talk as a way of trying to find what they have in common which can serve as they have in common which can serve as a basis for further conversation and a a basis for further conversation and a deepening of the relationshipdeepening of the relationship

This search for common ground is This search for common ground is important in a land of immigrants, a land important in a land of immigrants, a land with a loosely linked, diverse mass of with a loosely linked, diverse mass of peoplepeople

Communication – Communication – verbal and nonverbalverbal and nonverbal

German society is more ethnically German society is more ethnically homogeneous and well established, so homogeneous and well established, so there is less need to seek information there is less need to seek information about the other individual, so complaining about the other individual, so complaining has become a social ritual and a way to has become a social ritual and a way to establish a sense of commonality and establish a sense of commonality and social solidaritysocial solidarity

Through complaining together and about Through complaining together and about the same topics, the speakers are the same topics, the speakers are implicitly communicating that they belong implicitly communicating that they belong to the same group and thus share a to the same group and thus share a common view and common interestscommon view and common interests

Communication – Communication – verbal and nonverbalverbal and nonverbal

Nonverbal communicationNonverbal communication

Vocal qualityVocal quality

Germans are more willing to use their tone of voice Germans are more willing to use their tone of voice to express negative emotions (anger, frustration, to express negative emotions (anger, frustration, etc.), whereas Americans use their tone of voice etc.), whereas Americans use their tone of voice to express happier, positive feelingsto express happier, positive feelings

Silence/pauses are longer in German speech. Silence/pauses are longer in German speech. Germans view this as being thoughtful, but Germans view this as being thoughtful, but Americans are not as comfortable with thisAmericans are not as comfortable with this

Communication – Communication – verbal and nonverbalverbal and nonverbal

Nonverbal communicationNonverbal communication

DistanceDistance

Germans have a smaller personal Space bubble Germans have a smaller personal Space bubble than Americans. This manifests itself in such than Americans. This manifests itself in such ways as:ways as:- Passing by someone without acknowledging them Passing by someone without acknowledging them

(which Americans see as being rude)(which Americans see as being rude)- Sharing a restaurant table with strangersSharing a restaurant table with strangers

Communication – Communication – verbal and nonverbalverbal and nonverbal

Nonverbal communicationNonverbal communicationFacial expression and eye contactFacial expression and eye contact

While both Germans and Americans value direct While both Germans and Americans value direct eye contact, Americans do not maintain the eye eye contact, Americans do not maintain the eye contact for as long. The German views the contact for as long. The German views the American as being untrustworthy, whereas the American as being untrustworthy, whereas the American views the German as being too intenseAmerican views the German as being too intense

American smiles are an indication of politeness, but American smiles are an indication of politeness, but German smiles are a sign of real affectionGerman smiles are a sign of real affection

American communicationAmerican communication

- Americans do not like:Americans do not like:

- Interruptions (speaking-replying-speaking)Interruptions (speaking-replying-speaking)- Extensive descriptions and allusions to history or books (Extensive descriptions and allusions to history or books (

impatience)impatience)

- Topics (not to be discussed unless you know the people Topics (not to be discussed unless you know the people well):well):

money, how much one earnsmoney, how much one earnsfamilyfamilyreligionreligion

Communication – Communication – verbal and nonverbalverbal and nonverbal

Americans like:Americans like:

- Communication as a search for information, Communication as a search for information, asking questions is very common and meant in a asking questions is very common and meant in a polite way (asking person is interested)polite way (asking person is interested)““There are no stupid questions!”, asking is There are no stupid questions!”, asking is importantimportant

- Direct answers (Direct answers (“No”) is done without “No”) is done without embarrassment b/c it is only an informationembarrassment b/c it is only an information

- Think that time is limited and tasks must be Think that time is limited and tasks must be accomplished, language favors direct, clear accomplished, language favors direct, clear communication (simple and factual sentences)communication (simple and factual sentences)

Communication – Communication – verbal and nonverbalverbal and nonverbal

- Rely less on people inferring meaning from other Rely less on people inferring meaning from other information (such as status of speaker or the information (such as status of speaker or the surroundings)surroundings)

- !Americans expect everyone to communicate in a !Americans expect everyone to communicate in a similar way ?!similar way ?!

- Do not expect subtle clues and indirect message Do not expect subtle clues and indirect message and therefore are not accustomed to themand therefore are not accustomed to them

- Respect in conversations (expect to be treated Respect in conversations (expect to be treated the same)the same)

Communication – Communication – verbal and nonverbalverbal and nonverbal

Good topics to be discussed:Good topics to be discussed: The weatherThe weather One’s commuting experience/ carsOne’s commuting experience/ cars Classes and jobsClasses and jobs SportsSports Music/moviesMusic/movies Fashion, shopping and clothesFashion, shopping and clothes

Communication – Communication – verbal and nonverbalverbal and nonverbal

Communication – Communication – verbal and nonverbalverbal and nonverbal

Interaction:Interaction:- An American principle: equality guides interaction An American principle: equality guides interaction

among individuals and informs how businesses, among individuals and informs how businesses, organisations, and officials treat peopleorganisations, and officials treat people

- Style of interaction is informal, more casualStyle of interaction is informal, more casual students address each other by first namestudents address each other by first nameAuthorities address each other with formal titleAuthorities address each other with formal titleDifference to Germany: university students can Difference to Germany: university students can

address professors wíth first name, very informal address professors wíth first name, very informal (unthinkable in Germany)(unthinkable in Germany)

How this fits How this fits into the into the

orientation orientation frameworkframework

Communication – Communication – verbal and nonverbalverbal and nonverbal

Communication – Communication – verbal and nonverbalverbal and nonverbal

Since communication is going to be a Since communication is going to be a key skill in resolving issues in ALL the key skill in resolving issues in ALL the other areas, having a common basis other areas, having a common basis for communication between the host for communication between the host family and the hosted student is family and the hosted student is absolutely imperativeabsolutely imperative

Communication – Communication – verbal and nonverbalverbal and nonverbal

For the student, some generalizations For the student, some generalizations about communication differences should about communication differences should be introduced during the Pre-Departure be introduced during the Pre-Departure Orientation (when there are students Orientation (when there are students going to many different countries present)going to many different countries present)

At the gateway orientation (which is At the gateway orientation (which is country specific), it can be discussed in country specific), it can be discussed in further detailfurther detail

Specific examples and further details Specific examples and further details should be part of the arrival and post-should be part of the arrival and post-arrival orientationsarrival orientations

Communication – Communication – verbal and nonverbalverbal and nonverbal

For the host family, these topics For the host family, these topics should also be discussed as early in should also be discussed as early in the hosting cycle as is practical.the hosting cycle as is practical.

Important Important LearningsLearnings

Communication – Communication – verbal and nonverbalverbal and nonverbal

Communication – Communication – verbal and nonverbalverbal and nonverbal

Differences in communication Differences in communication style/practices – both verbal and non-style/practices – both verbal and non-verbal – can be real roadblocks to verbal – can be real roadblocks to understanding and can impede the understanding and can impede the integration of the hosted student into the integration of the hosted student into the culture. It can also impact the acceptance culture. It can also impact the acceptance of the student by his/her host familyof the student by his/her host family

Being flexible may not be sufficient, it is Being flexible may not be sufficient, it is also important to have some knowledge of also important to have some knowledge of the differences in communication the differences in communication style/practices.style/practices.

Final ThoughtsFinal Thoughts

Communication – Communication – verbal and nonverbalverbal and nonverbal

Communication – Communication – verbal and nonverbalverbal and nonverbal

An American speaker at a conference An American speaker at a conference was fielding questions following his was fielding questions following his presentation. A series of penetrating presentation. A series of penetrating questions came from several questions came from several Germans present. They became Germans present. They became increasingly intent as the American increasingly intent as the American became less sure of himself. He became less sure of himself. He looked more and more like bait for looked more and more like bait for some very hungry sharks.some very hungry sharks.

Communication – Communication – verbal and nonverbalverbal and nonverbal

A German friend offered a different A German friend offered a different perspective. He thought the presentation perspective. He thought the presentation had been good but that there had been had been good but that there had been some gaps. When asked about the loss of some gaps. When asked about the loss of face for the presenter, he said people were face for the presenter, he said people were socially obligated to get to the truth, but socially obligated to get to the truth, but not necessarily to save face. From his not necessarily to save face. From his perspective, those questions signaled perspective, those questions signaled interest, not rejection.interest, not rejection.