IndexIntroductionImpact of culture on communication styleUse of the pronoun in communicationSilence and collectivism in communicationConclusionWorks citedIntroductionCommunication is a term that has numerous definitions. According to the Cambridge Dictionary “communication is also the exchange of information and the expression of feelings which can lead to understanding”. It is widely known that culture has enormous effects on a large group of related people. Therefore, it is clear that culture can also influence people's communication style, people in the same culture have, to some extent, the same way of interacting with others. In this article I will analyze how I communicate with different types of people, who have different relationships with me, and in different contexts: formal and informal to understand the effect of culture on communication style. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Impact of Culture on Communication Style I am Vietnamese and have lived here for 21 years; therefore, my communication style is mainly influenced by Vietnamese culture. However, I have also been slightly influenced by Western culture since my major in college is English and I have interacted and learned a lot about it. This means that my communication style will have some differences from the common Vietnamese way. In this article I will highlight some main characteristics of my way of communicating with others, as well as how my style is different from that of other Vietnamese. There are dozens of ways to classify cultural variations. The two most famous classification systems are those of Hall and Hofstede. First, based on Hall's taxonomies, Vietnam is a high-context culture. The characteristics of a high-context culture are “converted and implicit; internalized messages, a lot of nonverbal coding, reserved reaction, distinct ingroup and outgroup, strong interpersonal bonds, high commitment, open and flexible time”. Typically, Vietnamese prefer face-to-face conversation as they can see listeners' emotions, nonverbal codes and easily understand implicit messages. I prefer to talk in person with my friends and parents. When we see each other, it seems easier to express feelings and ideas, compared to other channels such as text messages or the telephone. My parents and I often have face-to-face conversations online via FaceTime or Messenger while I go to Hanoi for college and they stay in my hometown. Despite the geographical distance, I would like to see my parents again to know that they are healthy and it is more comfortable for me to explain my story to them. However, talking in person is not my preferred communication channel in the workplace. When I communicate with my colleagues, who I only meet in my part-time job, we often use email and SMS to keep in touch. I think this is more convenient for all of us because we don't have much time to talk to each other at work, which is the only place we have the chance to meet. I work part-time as a teaching assistant at an English center, so most of my working time is in one particular class. Our work requires us to be very strict with the times, there is no room to do any more work. I have to spend the entire lesson time observing students and noticing their strengths and weaknesses. During the break I have to check the students' homework or prepare handouts for the teachers. I don't have much time left to chat with the other teacher's assistants. Use of pronouns in communication One aspectnotable about Vietnamese culture is the high power distance, based on Hofstede's taxonomy. People need to be very careful when talking to older or higher class people. For example, I often nod or wave to greet my friends without saying a word. However, in Vietnam, where power distance is high, a silent greeting like that can make people feel disrespected, especially in the family or in a formal setting like the workplace. My parents often tell me to greet my elders loud and clear instead of bowing to them. In my center I also avoid greeting my colleagues because I fear they will think I don't respect them, even though they are my age. Another way that long distance affects Vietnamese communication is our pronoun system. People are expected to use the correct pronoun for each person, incorrect usage can make the listener feel disrespected. When I was on my first day at work, I decided to consider all my colleagues older than me, to avoid dissatisfaction. However, I have found that most of my colleagues are my age or younger than me. This problem is more complex and important in the family. I am expected to know all my relatives and their relationship to my parents, so I cannot use the pronoun “bác” for all relatives. I once used the pronoun incorrectly and I can see that both my parents and relative were uncomfortable. However, I don't feel angry or upset if someone addresses me with an inappropriate pronoun, which, I believe, is somewhat influenced by my English level. According to Lustig and Koester, in the book “Interculturalcompetence: Interpersonal Communication across Culture”, in Vietnam, an Asian country, the “value of silence” is appreciated, which means that people feel comfortable with silence. During a conversation, I am often the listener, I always prefer to remain silent in any context and often use non-verbal communication. Silence and collectivism in communication Based on Hofstede's cultural taxonomy, Vietnam is a cultured collectivist country. Therefore, people tend to prefer the group's decision or often depend on their group. In communication, this problem manifests itself when people tend to follow what many think is right and avoid discussions. I have been through many situations where I decided to agree with others even if I didn't agree. I remember that in my first part-time job as a teacher I strongly disagreed with the working hours. The work was not assigned to me as I expected, I often have to ask teachers if they need an assistant in class to be able to complete the expected amount of hours. However, I didn't have the courage to ask for the system change because I was new there and everyone else seemed to feel comfortable since that system helps them earn more extra money and be able to work with their favorite teachers. If I had raised my voice, I could have been isolated from my colleagues. Avoidance of discussions also appears in an informal situation such as a family one. In my family I often avoid arguing with my parents. When I'm angry at my parents, I often try to stay silent and calm down until I can think of a solution to our problem. My favorite topic of conversation often changes when I'm in different groups. When I talk to my parents, our main topic will be my study process at school. At my workplace, an English center, my colleagues and I often discuss topics regarding students, their learning process, and how to help them acquire knowledge better.:.