Arabian protocol & etiquette within cross-cultural communication environment

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Arabian protocol & etiquette within cross-cultural communication environment

Poble Dmytro

Assistant Professor, Department of International Relations, Odesa I. I. Mechnikov National University

One of the most specific features of the modern world is the high intensity of communication processes thanks to electronic devices that involve representatives of different cultures in this process. The founder of the theory of cross-cultural communication, Edward T. Hall, defines three important dimensions of culture that affect interpersonal relations and communication--these are temporal, spatial, and contextual components. In his book «Beyond Culture», Hall singles out the context as one of the fundamental characteristics of cultural societies, defines it in some sense as «one of the ways of looking at things» and considers a number of external factors that can affect the communication process (tone of speech, gestures, the actual distance of interlocutors, time, weather, social norms, geographical location, etc.). He proposed dividing all cultures into high-contextual and low- contextual ones. Arab scientists, in their turn, believe that the concepts of culture and communication possess more components of commonality and integration than separation and disagreement. Usually, the revolution in information technologies during the last three decades has filled the related industry with new instrumental and digital possibilities and, to a lesser extent, with conceptual and symbolic elements. The Moroccan researcher Yahya Al-Yahyawi in the article «The Comprehensiveness of Communication and the Specificity of Culture» comparing the concepts of culture and communication believes that «the access of local and national cultures to the large networks does not add «global dimensions» to them and the ability to affect directly other cultures, but it contributes to debating and cognitive perspectives and provides significant opportunities for mutual acquaintance and dissemination of views for a perspective».

Therefore, the components of protocol and etiquette play an important role in intercultural (cross-cultural) communication. According to former Iraqi Ambassador Wagbi Karghuli, the origin of the concept of protocol, which in Arabic means «toll» or «fee» refers to the eras of the Umayyads, the Abba- sids, and the times of Andalusia as «a summary of the rules and procedures for the reception of kings, emirs, and persons occupying a prominent posi- tion».

The protocol is always associated with such a concept as etiquette, which Arab scholars consider an art. In Egypt, it is believed that the art of etiquette is a magic key that conquers the hearts of individuals and individual cultures of all peoples around the world. According to the opinion of the Egyptian scientist Muhammad Abdul-Ghani Gilyal in the Handbook of Protocol Management and the Art of Etiquette, «the mastery of the culture of communication prepares individuals for the ability to communicate with others, contributes to society in its daily relations, and solemn events at the regional and international levels.»

The Arabs come from ancient tribes who lived in the Middle East and North Africa. It was the Arabs who began to separate from other Semitic tribes around the first millennium BC when prosperous places and kingdoms arose in the south of Arabia (the Sabaean Kingdom, etc.) and the northern regions were inhabited by Bedouin nomads who spoke the Arabic language and considered their descent from the son of the Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim)- Ishmael (Ishmael) or a descendant of Noah (Noah)-Joktan.

The main components of etiquette for the Arabs were the moral and ethical norms of Islam and the so-called «Bedouin Code of Honor» -- «Mudawanat Ash-Sharaf al-badawiyah» because the inhabitants of the desert used this code long before the apperance of Islam. «This code envisages such important traits as courage and decency, bravery, generosity, the ability to love, eloquence, and devotion to the word».

The Arabs are characterized by friendliness and hospitality. The Arabs are less introverted than Europeans. They will like to visit, receive guests, and have long conversations. Hospitality is considered one of the main features of Arab countries. Miserliness is considered a disgrace. According to tradition, the door of the house is always open, even for foreigners; the Bedouins are ready to slaughter the last camel to feed the guest.

intercultural communication arab european

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