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A Response to Linda Beamer

In a much-welcomed response to the call to assess the issue of commonalities of communication, Linda Beamer has made some excellent points that enrich the discussion of how to approach cross-cultural communication. I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate, as Beamer points out, that “communication is not culture free.” I concur wholeheartedly with Beamer that culture-free communication does not exist. Indeed to tout such a notion would be absurd. We have all been very conscious of the deeply embedded nature of culturally determined approaches to communication. It is part of the very fabric of culture and language itself. Culture will always determine expectations and patterns of communication (some interesting examples are cited by Beamer). Beamer’s example of Giandomenico Picco’s experience in Beirut is particularly suitable to this discussion. As Picco pointed out, communication was not a problem because he was able to navigate discussion to personal issues. What I am calling for is some attention to the dynamics that make communication possible and even successful when the actors have vastly different cultural backgrounds and goals. What made the interaction successful here when cross-cultural contexts are often so difficult? An explanation of the success factors of cross-cultural communication is what I believe we need. As Beamer accurately highlights, significant similarities can be easily identified between my Singaporean university students and the US students in the studies I referred to. Indeed, that is one of the factors that motivate my belief that significant convergence occurs even in culturally diverse contexts—the convergence of human interaction. This convergence of human interaction is just as useful for us to be aware of as is cultural difference. We need to look at the etic rather than attempt to navigate the emic. The trend toward the global obliges us to transcend difference that is so easy to spot once we have developed some sensitivity. Indeed, “communication is not culture free.” It cannot be. The new challenge is to see if we can transcend our endless differences and locate our similarities.