The United States is a multicultural country where different people, regardless of their language, religion, or background, are still welcomed and supported by the majority. And despite an occasional hiccup from time to time, its cities continue to grow and embody a “melting pot mentality” of acceptance and appreciation.
And according to a recent report from U.S. News and World Report, the American melting pot is only getting bigger, with more than 70% of America’s largest cities more diverse than they were in 2010.
“The U.S. is becoming more racially and ethnically diverse, and those patterns tend to be magnified in cities.”
Mark Mather, a demographer, explains in a U.S. News & World Report
But despite cities working hard to meet everyone’s needs, there are still some challenges that need to be addressed, especially when it comes to cultural communication barriers.
And to remedy such barriers, it’s vital that communities — and those that plan them — consider the needs of ALL members, regardless of their language, cultural background, or immigration status.
What Are Cultural Communication Barriers?
Cultural communication barriers are the language and cultural differences that hinder cross-cultural interactions.
In most cases, communities employ bilingual city officials who are able to communicate effectively with all members. But sometimes, when a community has only a single bilingual employee or no bilingual employees at all, those nonverbal cues or behaviors don’t work, preventing residents from interacting successfully.
This causes many cities to struggle, especially when trying to meet the needs of immigrants with limited English language skills. In these instances, community members might refuse to interact with the city out of fear that they’ll have to use a language they don’t know.
That’s why our understanding of other cultures is not only vital for the health of the city, but vital for city planning. A city is much more effective if everyone understands the process, understands the regulations, and feels comfortable working with city officials.
How Do These Barriers Affect City Planning?
Cultural communication barriers make it challenging for all parties to interact effectively. This can result in less community input and a lower quality of services overall. For example, many cultures raise chickens and other farm animals at home. BUT, in the United States, there’s a big difference between a countryside location and a busy city. Needless to say, in most situations, the city probably isn’t suitable for farm animals (though some cities have proved this theory wrong!)
Suppose the city only has English signs warning the community that raising chickens and other farm animals aren’t allowed on residential properties. These actions are pointless unless community members understand the actual message. And even though this process can be initially difficult and time-consuming, it’s important to do the right thing — and the more that it’s implemented, the easier it becomes.
City planners must take steps to reduce cultural communication barriers and increase participation from all community members. Regular meetings are the best initial option and can help break down these fences between neighbors and planners and help build better relationships between city officials and community members.
What Steps Can City Planners Take To Reduce Cultural Communication Barriers?
There are several steps a city can take to build stronger community relations, and procedural changes can make all the difference when it comes to city planning.
- Use bilingual signage in key areas where community members come into contact with the city, such as public events.
- Use bilingual signs to explain specific actions or city regulations.
- Provide translation services for non-English speakers during both public meetings and official business hours.
Encourage cultural communication between officials and community members. As stated above, this can be done through regular neighborhood meetings, school events, or other opportunities where residents meet with officials.
What Can Community Members Do to Help Reduce Miscommunications?
Communication is a two-way street. Community members can help lessen the divide between cultures, language, and non-verbal communication. Here are a few ideas to bring you closer together.
- Request translation services where needed for meetings, signage, city notices, and city planning documents.
- Read any information available about their city’s planning process to understand better the issues being discussed.
- Meet with city officials to learn more about upcoming changes that affect them.
Remember that immigrants are proud to live in this country. They want their voices heard and actively work to make a difference in their communities — however, the perceived language barriers can be intimidating for them. Incorporate the above ideas to alleviate barriers and increase participation before, during, and after the city planning process.
The Importance Of Bilingual Officials In Cities
This area can’t be overstated. It is crucial that effective communication between the city planning team and community members is abundant. The more information that can be shared, the better outcome for all parties involved.
- Employ bilingual officials in critical positions such as police officers, customer service staff, and social workers.
- Form a partnership with local colleges and universities to provide bilingual programs, such as courses in cultural communication.
- Offer incentives for bilingual public employees, like higher pay or other benefits.
City planners should be aware of nonverbal cues and behaviors that can prevent residents from interacting successfully with each other. And even if they speak the same language or share common customs, non-verbal communication is just as important as spoken language. Here are a few tips for watching non-verbal cues.
- Body language
- Eye contact
- Facial expressions (tone of voice)
Take the time to listen. It’s easy to assume that people aren’t interested in your opinions if they are not speaking with you or looking at you. But the truth is that everyone deserves respect and consideration regardless of what they say or do not say.
Respecting the differences in people’s cultures, languages, religions, and customs are essential for effective communication. People are more likely to be receptive to your ideas when they have had a chance to explain their beliefs or approach to a specific topic first. This kind of civility leads to greater cooperation between community members and city officials.
Cultural communication barriers are common in growing ethnic communities that involve the immigrant population. However, everyone can play their part to ensure that effective communication is easy between all parties involved. City officials need to make sure they understand the needs and desires of their communities, and community members should make an effort to meet with city officials and learn all they can about the process. When barriers are removed, and everyone has an equal say in the decision-making process, cities will be better able to thrive as a whole.
Why It’s Important To Understand The Needs Of Different Cultures When Planning A City
Cities are growing and evolving every single day and city planners need to understand all cultures, languages, religions, and customs to meet their needs. If planners don’t have a basic understanding of how immigrant communities operate, it’s going to be extremely difficult to work towards a common goal. So just remember that:
- Ethnic communities can be sensitive about how they are represented in a city.
- Civic awareness is a crucial aspect of good citizenship and community participation.
- Cultural groups may have differing priorities.
While sometimes this process can be difficult, effective communication and knowledge of cultural communication are necessary to ensure that the city planning process is smooth, comprehensive, and beneficial for everyone involved.
When city planning departments are unable to meet the needs of non-English speaking residents, miscommunications will only lead to resentment and disassociation — but if all parties have a better understanding of one another, cooperation and civic engagement will undoubtedly increase. All citizens should have a say-so and recognize each other’s importance when making crucial decisions that affect their community.
In summary, cultural communication barriers are common in growing ethnic communities that involve the immigrant population. However, everyone has a part to play. City officials need to make sure they understand the needs and desires of their communities while community members should make an effort to meet with city officials and learn all they can about the process. When barriers are removed, and everyone has an equal say in the decision-making process, cities will be one step closer to success.