Intercultural communication, more than words

Language is vital when communicating but it is just one of layers of culture an values.

Each language has in its DNA the core values and expectations of a society.

On a hierarchal society it is common to have different words to address people according to their position in the scale of hierarchy. In countries like Japan it is also relevant to consider in which position is the speaker or even its gender.

In Romania, hierarchy is also related to status, and when addressing someone it is important to consider not only the term which you are addressing them with, ‘Doamna’, ‘Domnul’, or if possible include the university degree, but also to consider the context.

In high context cultures, the message is as important as the context. Even when using the respectful terms from above it is also relevant to consider where are you, who else is in the room and why you are addressing this person.

In Romania, there is a difference when you say things in public, in person, by email or in private, even if what has been discussed is the same, the actions and reactions will be different according to the layers of context.