Cross-cultural communication patterns: Korean and American Communication

Rebecca S. Merkin

doi:10.36923/jicc.v9i2.481

Open Access Article

Rebecca S. Merkin ⁽¹⁾

(1) Baruch College. New York, USA , United States

https://doi.org/10.36923/jicc.v9i2.481

Issue
Vol. 9 No. 2 (2009)

Submitted
August 19, 2007

Published
June 30, 2009

Keywords:

cultural differences, verbal behavior, direct and indirect communication, verbal aggression, nonverbal immediacy, communication apprehension

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Abstract

he most recent extant studies on Korean communication were carried out in the 1990’s. Thus, the purpose of this study is to test and thereby update research on Korean in contrast to American communication practices. Students in Korea and the US filled out questionnaires testing their direct, indirect, immediate, verbally aggressive and communicatively apprehensive communication. This study quantitatively tested the impact of culture on direct, indirect communication as well as verbal aggressiveness and communication apprehensiveness. Results showed that Koreans use less direct and more indirect communication than US Americans and that Koreans were also more communicatively apprehensive and less nonverbally immediate than their US American counterparts. Tests on culture and verbal aggressiveness were not significant.

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Authors

Rebecca S. Merkin

Baruch College. New York, USA

Author Biography

Rebecca S. Merkin, Baruch College. New York, USA

Rebecca Merkin has a Ph.D. in Communication from Kent State University. She is presently an assistant professor in communication at Baruch College - CUNY. Dr. Merkin's current research interests intercultural communication, sexual harassment in the workplace, and social interaction processes such as impression management and facework communication.

Merkin, R. S. (2009). Cross-cultural communication patterns: Korean and American Communication. Journal of Intercultural Communication, 9(2), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.36923/jicc.v9i2.481

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