Read the following texts about Italian and Turkish Culture and solve the interactive quizzes below.

ITALIAN CULTURE

Italians are used to being crowded and working in close proximity to each other. This creates an atmosphere of teamwork approximating that of the Japanese. A Briton, Finn or German needs more space or “elbow room” to work effectively, and this shows itself in such matters as office layout and use of space both in factories and in administrative areas. Be prepared to “rub shoulders” with Italians.

The “distance of comfort” is greater for northerners than for Italians. The English like to keep a minimum of 4 feet (1.2 meters) between themselves and their interlocutor. Italians are quite comfortable at 31 inches (80 centimeters). If you retreat from such a position, they will think you are avoiding them or that you find their physical presence distasteful. […]

Italians have a different concept of time from that of northerners and Americans. They do not arrive for appointments on time. Punctuality in Milan means they are 20 minutes late, in Rome 30 minutes and in the south, 45 minutes. You will not be able to change this, except in a fixed-hours factory or office environment. You must therefore adapt. Be prepared to wait 15 to 45 minutes before your Italian counterpart appears or lets you into his or her office. Take a good book or magazine. Alternatively, you can deliberately show up half an hour late, but in fact few northerners are able to do this.

Source: When Cultures Collide: Leading Across Cultures / Richard D. Lewis

TURKISH CULTURE

Turkey is a large country with a low population density. There is generally a “distance of respect” of more than one meter between speakers. Having said that, Mediterranean Turks are somewhat tactile among friends (this is usually confined to one’s own sex). In many towns and villages, men dancing with men is a common spectacle. Foreigners are often invited to participate—don’t be shy! Things take time in Turkey and people turn up late for appointments. Istanbul—the largest urban sprawl in Europe—is not easy to move around in, and many delays originate from traffic problems.

The Turkish communication style derives from its three main roots: Islamic, Mediterranean and Eastern (Ottoman, Seljuk). The first two are sources of their liveliness—they are in the main both multi-active and dialogue-oriented. The third (Eastern) strand is, however, clearly visible—they are more reactive than any Europeans, except perhaps the Finns, and could also be classified as a listening culture, akin to several Central Asian republics as well as some Confucian societies. (reactive cultures let the other side speak first and slowly try to modify their reply or position to fit in with their interlocutor.)

In business circles their style is exploratory—they are very interested in all forms of change that lead to progress. They are polite and courteous (more than Westerners), but they wish to be seen as Western and modern. They show natural exasperation at being rejected by the West, but they are patient and persistent in trying to open and maintain acceptable communication channels.

Source: When Cultures Collide: Leading Across Cultures / Richard D. Lewis

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