Intercultural CommunicationChina vs. Germany

Guest lecturer: Lina Gaigalaite

1Intercultural Communication

General informationChina• Biggest population in the

world• 4th biggest country in the

world• Rising economy• Ruled by a communist party• Buddhism, Daoism,

Confucianism

Germany• Biggest population in the EU

• Fits 27 times into China

• Strongest economy in the EU

• Democracy• Christianity

2Intercultural Communication

StereotypesChina• Small persons, tiny narrow

eyes, look all the same• Eat dogs, rice and drink tea

• Fake of products

• Always smiling

Germany• Blond hair, blue eyes,

Bavarian dress code

• Eat sausages, cabbage and drink beer

• High quality of products• No sense of humour, very

serious

3Intercultural Communication

ValuesChina• Collectivistic• Respect of family, state and

rules• Important to keep face

Germany• Individualistic• Respect of family, state and

rules• Important to keep face

4Intercultural Communication

China• Indirect eye contact

→ sign of good manners and gesture of respect

• Direct eye contact and staring is uncommon

Germany• Direct eye contact →

sign of attendance and self – confidence

• No eye contact shows disinterest and shyness

5Intercultural Communication

China• Nodding is a sign of

understanding• Shaking the head means

„yes“• Point with an open hand

• Stand closer together than in Germany, but never touch

• Take a bow for greetings or a soft handshake

• Use both hands when offering something

Germany• Nodding means „yes“

• Shaking the head means „no“

• Point with forefinger• Distance is about an arm

length• Strong handshake• Use only one hand when

offering something

6Intercultural Communication

Leadership and decision - making

China

• Flat hierarchy• Slow decision making by the

group → collectivistic

• Process - oriented

Germany

• Vertical hierarchy• Fast and methodical

decision making by the leader → individualistic

• Detail - oriented

7Intercultural Communication

Meetings and negotiationsChina• Appointments should be

made 2 – 3 weeks in advance

• Punctuality is important• Guests are generally

escorted to their seats and are seated in descending rank order

• Meetings should begin with a small talk or an introduction

Germany• Appointments should be

made 2 – 3 weeks in advance

• Punctuality is important• Guests wait to be told where

to sit• Small talk and relationship

building are not priorities

8Intercultural Communication

PresentationsChina• Never wear white , blue

and black clothes → colours of mourning

• Look at the business card if they get one

Germany• No colour restrictions

• If you get a business card, you don’t have to look at it

9Intercultural Communication

Gift givingChina• Always bring a gift• They commit to a return• Treatments build a

relationship • A gift has to be packed →

colours: red, pink or yellow• Kitschy gifts are better• No cut flowers, no watch, no

sharp objects

Germany• Not always bring a gift• They commit to a return• Gifts are more formal • No colour restrictions• Formal are better• Cut flowers, bottle of wine

10Intercultural Communication

11Intercultural Communication

Classifications of cultures

Edward T. Hall

• High context vs. low context cultures• Dimensions of time (monochronic - polychronic)• Relationship of man with nature and space

12Intercultural Communication

13Intercultural Communication

Geert Hofstede

Final conclusion• Cultures are very different• Intercultural communication is complicated

→ Be tolerant, inform yourself and mind the ambiguity

☺14Intercultural Communication