Ethics

The difference in cross cultural communication between Japanese and Australians, can lead to
misunderstanding, when what is being said, is understood differently. This difference in
perception stems from the fact that dissimilar cultures have differences in everything from the
way they think, their families, religion ,etc. In reality they are just two concepts, but quite
different in ways. Therefore knowledge of culture helps interaction, as two things can mean two
things to different people.

People cant avoid communicating and the spoken language, is the easiest to learn, but among
other cultural things, something that can lead to misinterpretation. For example when a Japanese
person is spoken to and he says  Hai repeatedly, the dictionary meaning to an Australian would
be Yes.  However, in Japan this is only an acknowledgment to say that what has been said is
heard and means I hear  or  I see . This obvious difference can often lead to
misunderstanding. As language has so many variables and meanings, the need to learn cultural
differences is so important in communication.

Another big difference centres around high and low context cultures. Australia can be said to be
amongst the low culture countries where something said is  what is meant.  In Japan where high
context culture  is followed what is said is often more than what is meant. A meaning can be read
into the words, and  what has been said is not what is meant. An outsider may not clearly
understand this.