History's Role in Intercultural Interaction

 Effective intercultural communication demands that we strive to understand and respect each other’s culture.  In addition to the unique traditions, religion, customs and values that contribute to a person’s culture, family and country history are also play an important role.  To fully grasp history’s importance in intercultural communications, the following questions and answers provide insight and perspective about the role of history in intercultural communications, relevant cultural topics’ impact on history, and the
varying aspects of history’s influence on culture.

            Why would it be important to examine the role of history in Intercultural Communication?   Effective intercultural communication relies on understanding the culture of the person and what influences his/her behaviors, beliefs, and perspective.  “When people from differing cultural backgrounds encounter one another, these differences can form hidden barriers to communication” (Martin & Nakayama, 2011, p. 67). History is an important element of culture, and therefore has an impact on a person’s viewpoint regarding any issue—global, local or workplace defined.

            It is important to note that not all history influencing intercultural communication is nationality-based, but can be political, intellectual, social, and family based (Martin & Nakayama, 2011, p. 68).  Conversation between two co-workers—one from Germany and the other from Mexico, for instance, regarding celebrating Christmas, would include what family traditions he/she observes, and also the history and meaning behind the Christmas celebration that encompass both family and country. A co-worker’s question asked by the other, “Why do you and your family celebrate Christmas that way?” will then be better understood and appreciated by understanding the country and family history that impacts his/her answer and the personal meaning behind it.


            What are hidden histories and how might hidden histories affect intercultural interactions?  Hidden histories refers to an element, fact, or detail of history that is either missing, being hid or avoided on purpose.  Some families may conceal a part of their ancestry, thinking the truth is best kept secret, such as interracial marriages or an ethnic lineage.  Nations try to forget painful events by downplaying its historical significance, such as the United States’ colonization and westward expansion that eliminated millions of indigenous North American people and their culture. 
           
             Hidden histories are not all concealed due to shame, fear, or ignorance.  History relies on the human element to be recorded and retold.  For whatever reason, some elements of history have been lost or forgotten.  Some histories may seem hidden, only to be miraculously revealed through discovery and modern technology that hundreds of years ago would not have been possible.  DNA testing, for example, “has helped many realize that they are likely descendants of Marranos (Sephardic Jews) who fled the Inquisition over 400 years ago” (Martin & Nakayama, 2011, p. 70).  Whether these modern-day discoveries lead families or nations to a bitter or better identity, the important aspect is that the once-hidden history is now known for future generations. 
   
            Compare and contrast family histories with national histories.  “National history gives us a shared notion of who we are and solidifies our sense of nationhood” (Martin & Nakayama, 2011, p. 71).  National history reflects chronological events and important men and women who have greatly impacted the cultural identity of a nation. While both national and family history represent important people and events of a group, family history is more specific and involves particulars that would not collectively be important to a nation as a whole.  Family histories often include ethnic or religious historical events, giving a deeper sense of belonging, and clarity to traditions and beliefs. 
            How national and family histories are documented, retold, recorded, and passed on for future generations is very similar.  For isn’t history simply the telling of stories comprised of important people, places and events from the past? National historians may meticulously collect and record information for scholarly journals, text books, or for museum collections. Family historians may collect photos, memorabilia, and document births, marriages and deaths in the family Bible. Both different, yet each history equally important, and intertwined to the other.


            How is the history of gays and lesbians relevant to intercultural communication?  As a whole, society is becoming more liberal and more accepting of gays and lesbians. As the culture of North American society continues to follow the same cultural continuum, changes in equal rights, employment and insurance policies, and state’s legal progresses rely heavily on important GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender) histories. “How we think and what we know about the past contribute to building and maintaining communities and cultural identities” (Martin & Nakayama, 2011, p. 78).  Effective ommunication in the workplace is crucial. Considered as one of most likely places to encounter cultural and gender diversity, the need to understand, repect, and work peacefully with co-workers who are GLBT derives from being knowledgeable about all that influences their gender culture, which includes GLBT history.
           
             Our identities are so closely tied to our histories (Martin & Nakayama, 2011, p. 79), with GLBT identities being no exception.  To enable better communication practices in the workplace, managers must “help workers understand the experiences of, and challenges faced by, GLBT employees as opportunities clearly exist to enhance capacity in an attempt to foster a supportive work climate and a truly diverse workplace” (Buddel, 2011, p. 142). By taking into account these histories, we are then able to “focus on our ethical obligation to recognize the pain of historically excluded minority and underrepresented groups” (Buddel, 2011, p. 143), which will pave the way for improved communication and respect of all cultures, all histories, and all genders.

            How can we negotiate histories in interactions?  Intercultural interactions helps us learn about and respect the cultural identity of another person(s).  Because history is so much a part of who we are—our culture, gender, ethnicity, nationality and religious identities, coming to a mutually respected “history diversity” common ground is paramount.  No two versions of history are alike, just as no two people are alike. Narratives and how our history is accurately or inaccurately recorded adds complexity to how we interpret, then react, and interact with others. “The desire to tell a story about the past is motivated by some inadequacy of understanding, some question, either in oneself or in others” (Levisohn, 2010, p. 12).  

              A Native American’s version of American history will certainly be different from a person whose ancestors were white colonists. Two very different people with two very different accounts of the same period of history could create an atmosphere of distrust and indifference. “Dealing with the past is not easy, but it is even more problematic simply to ignore it, because ignoring the past erases other cultural identities by pretending that we are all the same” (Martin & Nakayama, 2011, p. 83).   The key is to balance the past and the present in a way that allows us “not to wallow in our wrongdoing, but to understand and to learn, that we might not wreak harm again” (Martin & Nakayama, 2011, p. 71).   

            In intercultural communication, every person brings something different and unique—views and opinions that have been shaped and molded by his/her own culture and history.  When we take the opportunity to learn about other cultures and their people’s histories, we can engage in meaningful, respectful communication and develop mutually beneficial relationships.  “Historical narratives inevitably evolve over time; every generation brings new questions, perspectives and insights to bear on the telling of stories about the past” (Levisohn, 2010, p. 17).  Telling our own stories—sharing our own history narrative, is important in intercultural interaction, but more so in furthering that interaction into meaningful intercultural relationships.

References:

Buddel, N. (2011). Queering the Workplace. Journal Of Gay & Lesbian Social Services, 23(1), 131-     

             146. doi:10.1080/10538720.2010.530176

Levisohn, J.A. (2010). Negotiating Historical Narratives: An Epistemology of History for History Education. Journal Of Philosophy Of Education, 44(1), 1-21. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9752.2010.00737.x

Martin, J., & Nakayama, T. (2011). Experiencing intercultural communication: An 

            introduction. (4 ed.). New York, NY: The McGraw-Hill Companies.