Se Habla Mental Telepathy…the New Universal Language?

Remember as a kid trying to read your friends’ minds at a slumber party?  For my 10th birthday, it came in between “Truth or Dare” and the Séance. Now flash forward to the future (past “Men Who Stare at Goats“), where new technology potentially could erase communication barriers caused by traditional language differences. The program,…

Details

Hugs and Handshakes and US Business Culture Norms

It’s funny that after presenting a workshop on communication styles, I’m obsessing about my communication style.  I think it’s because I’m more aware now that I’m an “emotive-intuitive” communicator (I speak passionately about things I believe in and like to throw out big ideas as they come to me) and the “norm” for the business…

Details

Dillon’s Multicultural Ad Pick: Why it helps to know the local customs

Thanks to Intercultural Talk contributer Dillon, age 8, who is learning to recognize great multicultural advertising.  “I chose it because it showed that in English culture it’s polite to finish everything, but in Chinese culture they think you want more if you finish everything,” said Dillon. Look at the fun (depending on your perspective) that ensues when…

Details

Cross Cultural Communications in Music: Jazz and Classical Unite at Chamber Music America

(If you’re my client reading this please skip to the second paragraph) When Carolyn and I first arrived at Chamber Music America’s 32nd annual conference in New York City this past weekend, as “Jazz People” people there representing the Hyde Park Jazz Festival, we thought “what are we doing here?” At the outset people self-identified…

Details

Noting When and How we Reference Race, and the Assumptions behind the Absence

Hey you racist, why did you mention only Serena Williams race in last week’s post about the Mother Nature/Tampax ad? Luckily that comment didn’t come in, but as I was riding the train (or the “L” as we call it in Chicago) downtown yesterday, I realized I did mention Serena’s race, but not “Mother Nature’s”. …

Details