Personal Response on Chapter 4 (Communication) of International Organizational Behavior by Anne Francesco and Barry Gold

The Communication Process

The communication is a process of sending a message from the sender to the receiver. This message should be hitch free without noise in the communication process. From my experience on communication, I believe that communication is effective when the receiver of the information is able to decode or understand the message sent by the sender. If the receiver did not understand the thoughts or ideas sent from the sender then there is no communication or noise. In addition to the feedback sent from the receiver to the sender demonstrating that the message is understood or received; the receiver should also clarify the message received to ensure that both the sender and the recipient are on the same page otherwise there would be a barrier to an effective communication.

Cross-cultural communication

It is true that noise develops due to differences in language (language barrier), values, attitudes, and other factors. I also believe that noise occurs due to accent. Some people misconstrues that every one with an accent do not understand English, but I educate them that everyone does has an accent regardless of cultural heritage or country of origin. Having recognized this communication barrier, I realized that the best approach is to speak gradually or slowly to make sure that my audience understands my message.

Language Usage

It is observed and established that Americans (USA) and British speaks different version of English Language. The author gave examples of spoken English in both versions. Nigeria is a British colony like US, and English is our official language. Nigeria is a heterogeneous society with over 250 ethnic tribes and dialects, but we speak English as a common and official language. School instructions and lessons are delivered in English Language (British or Queens English); the media adopts British English officially, and American English un-officially. Examples of difference in written American and British English are: depicted in the table below:

British American

Colour Color

Cheque Check

Socialise Socialize

Favour Favor

Metre Meter

Verbal Communication Styles

I agree to the fact that countries that speak the same language have similar cultures.There are 17 countries in West Africa; some are classified as Anglo-phone (English speaking like Nigeria, Ghana, Gambia, and Liberia) and others as Francophone which means French speaking countries and this includes: Togo, Benin, Guinea, Cote- d’Ivoire, Senegal etc. In Nigeria, Togo, and Benin; there is a tribe called Yoruba which are found in all these three countries and speaks the same language apart from the official languages (English and French), and they have similar cultures. In the same vein, Hausa tribes can be found in countries like Nigeria, Niger, Ghana, and Cote d’Ivoire and they all speak the same Hausa language.

Indirect and Elaborate Styles

Nigeria could be classified as high-context culture; they use an indirect and elaborate verbal communication styles. The speaker not only chooses certain words to hide his feelings, but chooses words like idioms, adages, or proverbs that are sometimes difficult to be understood by youths except the elders. For instance, in Yoruba tribe of western Nigeria, if a teenager or young person is speaking to an elder, and decides to use certain words (proverbs), he has to seek elders’ permission before using the word. Examples of such words are:

1. "The downfall of a man is not the end of his life". The exact meaning is never loose hope or don’t give up.
2. "The dog that will get lost will not listen to the whistle of the hunter". It means being adamant or unyielding despite advice or guidance.
3. "Charity begins at home" This means that home training is good.
4. "Water has no enemy". This stress the importance and uses of water in human life that everyone use water for different purposes.
5. "Rub stomach together". This means that one should share ideas.
6. "More power to your elbow". Is something that you say to praise someone and to say that you hope they continue to have success; this is also an American idiom.

In my conversation with some of my American friends, I try as much as possible to explain certain expression that I feel they might not understand if used connotatively.

Personal Versus Contextual Style

North American English speakers use the personal style, addressing each other informally and directly. In Nigeria, people are addressed by their last name in any formal setting.However, some institutions like Banks and other private organizations now uses first name to address fellow colleagues especially if their CEO is American trained.

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