India is a symbol of unity in diversity where people following different cultures and religions live together. It has been a land of hope for many who came from different parts of the world and became its part and parcel. In the course of time, every culture has maintained its identity and protected its interests and uniqueness. The Indian image of unity in diversity has been consistent for years because of the bonding that exists between people of different religions, castes, creed, color, attire, etc., that makes them live in unity, solidarity and firm conviction of oneness. English language, with its own predetermined constraints, has helped Indians to understand one another much better to face the challenges of the 21st century. When it comes to language teaching and learning, the language patterns of Indian languages pose a hindrance for learning English. In fact, none can get rid of one’s past, especially the language. The influence of one’s mother tongue becomes an obstacle in the process of adopting any foreign language. The cultural diversity in India and all over the world is quite substantial and detrimental to the process of successful cross-cultural communication. So it is necessary to train the present and future generations to understand the different cultures of various countries so that communication becomes an exciting experience and leads to better understanding and cooperation.

Greek philosopher, Aristotle stated that man is a social animal because he cannot live in the absence of other human beings; in isolation he cannot even become a human being (Crocker, 1970). Human beings love to be in the company of others. The sense of isolation and alienation troubles them, so they prefer to be in the community of human beings. In this context, Rousseau gave a new interpretation; he thinks that living together is a ‘social contract’. Man cannot live alone, if at all he lives alone; he is either a god or a demon. Man is basically a social animal by nature and temperament. This basic instinct makes him to live in cooperation with others (Biju, 2005). For generations, human beings have been living in groups, communities and societies; while living together, they communicate among themselves for various reasons irrespective of all the physical and language barriers. Ever since the formation of various communities and societies belonging to various continents, countries and regions, language barriers have created demand for interpreters who understand the target languages required for establishing cross-cultural communication. The interpreters know the cultural, social, ethical and moral values of different people and successfully establish communication among the people belonging to different cultures and languages.

Soft Skills Journal, Importance, Cross-Cultural, Communication.