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Understanding Language And Intercultural Communication

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There are about 7,100 languages spoken around the world today. Language is the use of symbols to create meaning and a way to communicate for and with the people within a community. There are many ways in which the language that is shared between people can affect intercultural communication, one of which is improper translation, or the inability to translate at all. It’s very common for misunderstandings to occur even among people who speak the same language, so it’s to be expected that people who come from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds often face a lot of barriers when trying to communicate. While it can be easy to blame the other person for the communication issue, it’s very important to remember that native speakers (of whatever language they are using to communicate) realize that it’s most likely their own manner of speaking that is creating this barrier. The problem with language barriers is that they are inconvenient and they literally prohibit or hinder effective intercultural communication. They place a lot of strain on even ordinary, casual conversations, forcing the speakers to constantly ask for clarification, consistently check for understanding, and avoid common phrases. The good thing about language barriers is that they force the people involved to become creative with their means of language; language barriers force people to be more conscious about what they’re saying and how it might impact the other person, they allow people to explore

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