In the Middle East, the meaning of a communication is implicit and interwoven, and consequently much harder for Americans, accustomed to explicit and specific meanings, to understand.
Arabs are warm, emotional, and quick to explode: sounding off is regarded as a safety valve.4' In fact, the Arabic language aptly communicates the Arabic culture, one of emotional extremes. The language contains the means for
overexpression, many adjectives, words that allow for exaggeration, and metaphors to emphasize a position. What is said is often not as important as how it is said.42 Eloquence and flowery speech are admired for their own sake, regardless of the content. Loud speech is used for dramatic effect.
At the core of Middle Eastern culture are friendship, honor, religion, and traditional hospitality. Family, friends, and connections, very important on all levels in the Middle East, will take precedence over business transactions. Arabs do business with people, not companies, and they make commitments to people, not contracts. A phone call to the right person can help to get around seemingly insurmountable obstacles. An Arab expects loyalty from friends, and it is understood that giving and receiving favors is an inherent part of the relationship; no one says no to a request for a favor. A lack of follow through is assumed to be beyond the friend's control.
Because hospitality is a way of life and highly symbolic, a visitor must be careful not to reject it by declining refreshment or rushing into business discussions. Part of that hospitality is the elaborate system of greetings and the long period of getting acquainted, perhaps the entire first meeting. While the handshake may seem limp, the rest of the greeting is not. Kissing on the cheeks is common among men, as is handholding between male friends. However, any public display of intimacy between men and women is strictly forbidden by the Arab social code.
Women, in fact, play little or no role in business or entertainment; the Middle East is a male-dominated society, and it is impolite to inquire about women. Other, nonverbal taboos include showing the soles of one's feet and using the left (unclean) hand to eat or pass something. In discussions, a lack of respect is communicated by slouching in a seat or leaning against a wall.
The Arab society also values honor. Harris and Moran explain: Honor, social prestige, and a secure place in society are brought about when conformity is achieved. When one fails to conform, this is considered to be damning and leads to a degree of shame. Shame results not from just doing something wrong, but from having others find out about that wrongdoing. Establishing a climate of honesty and trust is part of the sense of honor; therefore, considerable tact is needed to avoid conveying any concern or doubt. Arabs tend to be quite introverted until a mutual trust is built, which takes a long time.
In their nonverbal communication, most Arab countries are high-contact cultures. Arabs stand and sit closer and touch people of the same sex more than westerners. They do not have the same concept of public and private space, or as Hall puts it: Not only is the sheer noise level much higher, but the piercing look of the eyes, the touch of the hands, and the mutual bathing in the warm moist breath during conversation represent stepped-up sensory inputs to a level which many Europeans find unbearably intense. On the other hand, the distance preferred by North Americans may leave an Arab suspicious of intentions because of the lack of olfactory contact.
The Muslim expression bukra insha Allah (tomorrow if Allah wills) explains much about the Arab culture and its approach to business transactions. A cultural clash typically occurs when an American tries to give an Arab a deadline. I am going to Damascus tomorrow morning and will have to have my car tonight,' is a sure way to get the mechanic to stop work, explains Hall, because to give another person a deadline in this part of the world is to be rude, pushy, and demanding. In such instances, the attitude toward time comr as loudly as words.
In verbal interactions, managers need to be aware of different patterns of Arab thought and communication. Compared to the direct, linear fashion of American communication, Arabs tend to meander: they start with social talk, discuss business for a while, loop round to social and general issues, then back to business, and so on. American impatience and insistence on sticking to the subject will cut off their loops, triggering confusion and dysfunction.
Exhibit 4-5 illustrates some of the sources of noise that are likely to interfere in the communication process between Americans and Arabs. For people doing business in the Middle East, the following are some useful guidelines for effective communication:
Be patient. Recognize the Arab attitude toward time and hospitality-take time to develop friendship and trust, as these are prerequisites for any social or business transactions.
Recognize that people and relationships matter more to Arabs than the
job, company, or contract-conduct business personally, not by correspondence or telephone.
Avoid expressing doubts or criticism when others are present-recognize the importance of honor and dignity to Arabs.
Adapt to the norms of body language, flowery speech, and circuitous verbal patterns in the Middle East, and don't be impatient to get to the
point.
Expect many interruptions in meetings, delays in schedules, and changes in plans.
Communicating with Arabs : Communication article from Comparative Management Catagory Communicating with Arabs
Communicating with Arabs Communication article from Communication Comparative Management.Free learning from data about Communicating with Arabs Communication Comparative Management Business Management,online business management,business management classes,online business management degrees