"We should never denigrate any other culture but rather help people to understand the relationship between their own culture and the dominant culture. When you understand another culture or language, it does not mean that you have to lose your own culture"

Edward T. Hall emphasizes the importance of respect and sensitivity when engaging with cultures other than one’s own. He rejects the notion of looking down upon or criticizing other cultural traditions, values, and behaviors. Instead, he promotes the idea of fostering understanding, suggesting that individuals should be encouraged to explore the connections and differences between their cultural background and that of the dominant group in society. By highlighting these relationships, Hall implies that cultural interaction should be a process of learning, not of judgment or forced assimilation.

Understanding another culture goes beyond simple tolerance; it involves an effort to comprehend how and why people act, think, and communicate as they do. Hall asserts that acquiring this understanding is not a process that requires sacrificing one’s own cultural identity. Cultural knowledge and linguistic skill are seen as expanding horizons, granting greater depth and empathy, but not as a threat to one’s original background. Maintaining one’s cultural heritage can coexist with learning about, adapting to, and appreciating new or different cultures.

The quote challenges the fear of cultural loss or dilution that may arise when people are encouraged to engage with a dominant culture, assuring that personal or group identity does not have to be compromised in the process. It advocates for a model of multicultural coexistence based on mutual enrichment, where cross-cultural understanding leads to improved relations, communication, and integration, but not at the expense of diversity.

Hall’s approach calls for both self-awareness and openness, urging individuals to recognize and value their own cultural roots while reaching out to understand dominant or majority cultures. This approach cultivates respect and inclusiveness, fostering societies that are both cohesive and richly diverse, where cultural differences are viewed as assets rather than liabilities.