British linguist Richard D. Lewis charted communication patterns as well as leadership styles and cultural identities in his book, "When Cultures Collide," now in a 2005 third edition.

Key points. Non-verbal communication varies across cultures and can trigger misunderstandings. Context, an important factor in cross-cultural communication, influences the meaning of words and cues.

British linguist Richard D. Lewis charted communication patterns as well as leadership styles and cultural identities in his When Cultures Collide, now in a 2005 third edition.

Just as in face-to-face communication, cultural nuances can deeply impact direct and indirect communication, formality, interpretive styles, language preferences and decision-making.

Different Communication Styles The way people communicate varies widely between, and even within, cultures. One aspect of communication style is language usage.

Overcoming cultural communication differences helps you succeed. A common set of beliefs and outlooks form culture. In turn, culture is the context by which people operate.

Related Terms: Alien Employees; Communication Systems; Globalization Business is not conducted in an identical fashion from culture to culture.

The Impact of Cultural Diversity on Business Communication. The art of business communication has evolved as globalization has set disparate businesses cultures of the world on a collision course.