CULTURAL AND LANGUAGE OBSTACLES TO INFORMATION TRANSFER.

Abstract

Cultural and language barriers to communication involve semantics, perception, and linguistic. Kinesics and proxemics are also an inseparable part of the spoken language as a means of communication. Cultural and occupational mores complete the list of factors considered here which can bar transmission of information. These will be treated in order. Language and cultural obstacles to communication of scientific and technical information do exist. The more one departs from the precise universal language of mathematics, the more important the obstacles become on a relative basis. On an absolute basis, however, the effect is not too great. A need orientation is sufficient to overcome the barriers. There are obvious limitations in the broader application of these conclusions due to the international exposure and language ability of the populations sampled. Nevertheless, the broad general conclusion is that any effective transfer of information across cultures must begin with that for which the recipient feels ...