NATIONAL FEATURES OF COMMUNICATION
When communicating with foreign colleagues, what should you pay attention to first?
The most important thing is to properly perform the following actions:
Pronunciation of people’s names
Eating habits
Clothing
Conversation
Also, pay attention to gestures and signals in different cultures!
For example:
In Japan, the gesture used to beckon someone may resemble the Russian gesture for greeting, but its meaning can differ.
Showing the “5” sign with fingers in many European countries signifies “victory” or sometimes the number 2.
Are crossing legs considered polite everywhere?
In the United States, this is generally acceptable.
In Japan, it is considered extremely impolite.
Is stretching out legs polite?
In Russia, this is permissible in friendly situations.
In Japan, it is completely unacceptable.
Gestures to avoid in Arab countries:
Showing the soles of your feet toward someone or raising a finger upward is considered rude.
Gestures of your foreign colleague can have very different meanings depending on the country. For example:
If a German raises their eyebrows during a conversation, it usually indicates admiration for a particular idea or person.
The same gesture in England expresses doubt or disbelief.
Gestures misunderstood by Arabs:
Waving a hand to say goodbye may be interpreted as beckoning someone.
Gestures misunderstood by Japanese:
The American “OK” gesture may be interpreted in Japan as “Give me a coin.”
Rubbing the tip of the middle finger on the eyebrow may indicate deception.
Gestures misunderstood in Bulgaria:
In Western Europe, touching the mustache signifies irritation or impatience, e.g., “You bored me while I was listening to you.”
Is it appropriate to shake hands with Japanese people?
Japanese culture emphasizes non-contact. A Japanese person will only shake hands if they completely lose control over their behavior or have ill intentions.
In Japanese etiquette, bowing while looking downward is much more common than handshakes.
Maintaining eye contact should follow Japanese communication norms.
