Cultural Identity In Cross-Cultural Communication

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Cultural identity plays a very vital role in cross cultural communication, people from a particular culture communicate with partners and employees from many different cultures and in this situation every individual strives to keep their cultural and individual identity. According to Gardiner and Kosmitzki, identity is defined as “a person 's self-definition as a separate and distinct individual, including behaviours, beliefs, and attitudes” (Gardiner & Kosmitzki, 2008, p. 154). Also, Ting-Toomey defines identity as a "reflective self-conception or self-image that we each derive from our family, gender, cultural, ethnic, and individual socialization process"( Ting-Toomey, 2005). Both definitions bring out the generalisation of cultural identity …show more content…

It is for this reason that Pinney, suggested that, identity build up is the most fundamental objective of a person 's adolescence, and "those who fail to achieve a secure identity are faced with identity confusion, a lack of clarity about who they are and what their role is in life” (Pinney, 1993). This brings out the fact that identity builds up and understanding is an inevitable and unexplainable. An understanding of identity an important aspect of crosses cultural communication, because it will help provide a guideline for communication interaction with others who have different cultural identity (Samorava , Porter, & McDaniel, 2009, p. …show more content…

One of the ways of establishing cultural identity is through communication. Molden states that "it is through communication that we are able to express and (hence make known) our similarities and dissimilarities to others"( Molden, 1998). Communication which is used to establish cultural identity can take various forms viz; conversation, dance, ceremonies, and social activities ( Buckley & Kenney, 1995). Cultural identity can also be established through some cultural rites in various cultures which increase the individual’s awareness about who they are (Gardiner & Kosmitzki, 2008, p. 71). Cultural identities are signalled by the involvement in commemorative events in the a particular environment, during these events established cultural identities have an opportunity to rekindle their cultural identities, as well as unite with members of their community (Samorava , Porter, & McDaniel, 2009, p. 166). Employee’s identities are very complex and they are greatly shaped by culture, and establishing cultural identity is very important giving the various ways of doing it, one of the most important being language, accent, and how names are called, reflecting who the person is, and where they come from