Table of ContentsIntroductionImpact of Culture on Communication StyleUse of Pronouns in CommunicationSilence and Collectivism in CommunicationConclusionWorks CitedIntroductionCommunication is a term that has many definitions. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, “Communication is also the exchange of information and the expression of feelings that can result in understanding.” It is well known that culture has enormous effects on a large group of people related to each other. Therefore, it is clear that culture can also affect people's communication style: people belonging to the same culture have the same way of interacting with others, to a certain extent. In this article I will analyze how I communicate with different types of people, who have different relationships with me, and in different contexts: formal and informal to understand the effect of culture on communication style. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”?Get an original essayImpact of culture on communication styleI am Vietnamese and have lived here for 21 years; therefore, my communication style is mainly influenced by Vietnamese culture. However, I was also slightly influenced by Western culture since my major at university is English, and I interacted and learned a lot about it. This means that my communication style will have some differences from the usual Vietnamese way. In this article, I will highlight some major characteristics of my way of communicating with others, as well as how my style is different from other Vietnamese styles. There are dozens of ways to classify cultural variations. The two best-known classification systems are those of Hall and Hofstede. First, according to Hall's taxonomies, Vietnam is a highly contextual culture. The characteristics of a high-context culture are “converted and implicit; internalized messages, lots of non-verbal coding, guarded responding, distinct in-group and out-group, strong interpersonal bonds, high engagement, open and flexible time.” Generally, Vietnamese people prefer face-to-face conversation because they can see listeners' emotions, non-verbal codes and easily understand implicit messages. I prefer to talk to my friends and parents in person. When we see the other, it seems easier to express our feelings and ideas, compared to other channels like text messages or the phone. My parents and I often have face-to-face conversations online through Facetime or Messenger when I go to Hanoi for college and they stay in my hometown. Despite the geographical distance, I would like to see my parents to know that they are healthy, and it is more convenient for me to explain my story to them. However, speaking in person is not my preferred communication channel in the workplace. When communicating with my colleagues, who I only meet through my part-time job, we often use email and text messages to stay in touch. I think it's more comfortable for all of us because we don't have much time to talk to each other at work, which is the only place we get a chance to meet. I work part-time as a teaching assistant in an English center, so most of my working time is spent in a private classroom. Our job requires us to be very strict with time, there is no room to do anything else. I have to pass everythingduring the course to observe the students and note their strengths and weaknesses. During recess, I have to check students' homework or prepare materials for teachers. I don't have much time left to chat with other teaching assistants.Use of pronouns in communicationA notable aspect of Vietnamese culture is the high power distance, based on Hofstede's taxonomy. People should be very careful when talking to people who are older or from a higher social class. For example, I often nod or wave my hand to greet my friends without a word. However, in Vietnam, where power distance is high, a silent greeting like that can make people feel disrespected, especially within the family or in a formal environment like the workplace. My parents often tell me to greet elderly people loudly instead of greeting them. At my center, I also avoid greeting my colleagues because I'm afraid they will think I don't respect them, even if they are my age. Our pronoun system is another way that high power distance influences Vietnamese communication. People are supposed to use the correct pronoun for each person, incorrect use can make the listener feel disrespectful. On my first day at work, I decided to consider all my colleagues older than me, to avoid any dissatisfaction. However, I have found that most of my colleagues are my age or younger than me. This issue is more complex and more important in the family. I'm supposed to know all my relatives and their relationships with my parents, so I can't use the pronoun "bac" for everyone in my family. I used the pronoun wrong once and I can see that my parents and the parent were uncomfortable. However, I don't feel angry or upset if someone addresses me with an inappropriate pronoun, which I think is somehow influenced by my English language. According to Lustig and Koester, in the book "Intercultural Competence: Interpersonal Communication Across Culture", in Vietnam, an Asian country, people appreciate the "value of silence", meaning they are comfortable with silence. When I have a conversation, I am often the one listening. I prefer to remain silent all the time in all contexts and often use nonverbal communication. Silence and collectivism in communicationAccording to Hofstede's cultural taxonomy, Vietnam is a country with a collectivist culture. Therefore, people tend to prefer the group's decision, or they often depend on their group. In communication, this problem manifests itself when people tend to follow what many think is right and avoid argument. I have experienced many situations where I decided to agree with others even if I disagreed. I remember during my first part-time job as a teacher, I strongly disagreed with the work schedule. Work has not been assigned to me as I expected, I often have to ask teachers if they need an assistant in the class so that I can complete the expected number of hours of work. However, I didn't have the courage to ask for a system change because I was new there and everyone seems to be comfortable with this system because this system helps them earn more extra money and allows them to work with their favorite teachers. If I had raised my voice, I could have been isolated from my colleagues. Avoidance of arguments also appears in an informal situation such as in the family. In my family, I often avoid arguing with my parents. :.