Playing the Game of Communication

By Shelly Wallace, Associate Director,
XU Intercultural Communication Group

Just as various sports have their own respective rules and strategies, so do the communication styles of different cultures. Drawing from this metaphor, Susan Steinbach of the University of California breaks communication styles into three basic categories: basketball, bowling and rugby. The characteristics of these three games represent common speaking styles you are most likely to come across (and practice) internationally. As our world becomes ever more global, developing understanding and familiarity with these three speaking styles is invaluable to your cross-cultural communications.

"Basketball" is the style most frequently used in Britain, Canada, Australia and the United States, in which the speaker gives cues by "dribbling," or setting up key phrases that invite an immediate response from the listener. Speaking turns are short with each party "taking the ball" to make their point, and then expecting the listener to then take the ball back to make theirs. Hesitations and pauses indicate an opportunity for the listener to take the speaking role - in which case, interruption is not seen as rude, but rather a way to keep the "game" moving forward.

In Japan, Northern China, Korea and Thailand, however, most favor what linguist Deborah Tannen refers to as a "high considerate" speaking style - in this case, described as the "bowling style."

In the bowling style, speaking turns are much longer and based on the hierarchical position of individuals involved; the person with more authority speaks first, and the younger person (or one with less seniority) does not speak until spoken to and waits for an appropriate pause to speak. In this style, interrupting or speaking out of turn is seen as considerably rude and likely to negatively impact the communications.

This is in sharp contrast to the "rugby" style of speaking, often practiced in Russia, Greece, southern Europe, and African and Latino cultures. The rugby communication style is spirited and spontaneous, with many voices being heard simultaneously. Rather than pause while listening to the speaker, others in the conversation respond immediately, finishing that person's sentences for them and even taking the topic into other areas. In this style, active involvement is key, and interruptions are just par for the course.

With such varying styles of speaking across cultures, it is easy to see how two people accustomed to different communication styles might misunderstand each other, even when all other elements of the conversation are favorable. Conversely, it is also clear how simply understanding the speaking style of another person can inform you of how to best approach the conversation, and how to better interpret cues and customs that may differ from your own, such as how to treat turn-taking and interruptions.

Being aware of these elements will give you a considerable advantage when communicating with people from other cultures, reduce misunderstandings, and help you to create a true rapport with your listeners. In the game of communication, knowing the rules and strategies is crucial to making your point. Start by knowing which game to play!