Intercultural
Communication
Chapter 1
Topics:
• Introduction
• Definitions
• Reasons to Study Language and Intercultural
Communication
• Characteristics of an Ethical Intercultural Communicator
Introduction:
Cultural diversity refers to the
variety of cultural or ethnic
groups within a society. It
emphasises the importance of
recognising and respecting
differences in race, ethnicity,
language, religion, and customs.
Definitions of Intercultural
Communication
• Rogers and Steinfatt (1999),
communication specialists, define
intercultural communication
simply as ‘the exchange of
information between individuals
who are unalike culturally’
Definitions of Intercultural
Communication
• Müller-Jacquier (2004), an applied linguist,
intercultural communication denotes ‘a
peculiar communication situation: the varied
language and discourse strategies people
from different cultural backgrounds use in
direct, face-to-face situations’.
Definitions of Intercultural Communication
• Zhu Hua (2011), an applied linguist, intercultural
communication refers to a situation where people from
different cultural backgrounds come into contact with each
other; or a subject of study that is concerned with interactions
among people of different cultural and ethnic groups and
comparative studies of communication patterns across
cultures.
Definitions of Intercultural Communication
• Samovar, Porter and McDaniel (2010) , speech
communication specialists, ‘Intercultural
communication involves interaction between
people whose cultural perceptions and symbol
systems are distinct enough to alter the
communication event’
Definitions of Intercultural Communication
• Jandt (2007), a speech communication scholar, intercultural
communication ‘generally refers to face-to-face interactions
among people of diverse cultures’. In a later edition, intercultural
communication refers ‘not only to the communication between
individuals of diverse cultural identities but also to the
communication between diverse groups’
Definitions of Intercultural Communication
• Jack and Phipps (2005), applied linguists, intercultural
communication to be ‘a participatory set of actions in the world’, that
is, ‘dialogical and material exchanges between members of cultural
groupings’. Acknowledge the interpersonal, dynamic nature of
intercultural dialogue and interaction. Cultural membership is ‘marked
variously by race, ethnicity, nationality, language, class, age and
gender’.
Definitions of Intercultural Communication
Rona Halualani, Adrian Holliday, Dreama Moon, Thomas Nakayama
and Kathryn Sorrells, among others, critical intercultural communication
scholars or interculturalists,
advocate a broader, more flexible conceptualization of culture than is evident
in depictions of ‘culture as nation’, whereby nations or communities are viewed
as homogeneous and the diversity within groups is largely ignored.
Definitions of Intercultural Communication
• Lustig & Koester (2010), Interpersonal
communication is ‘a form of communication that
involves a small number of individuals who are
interacting exclusively with one another and who
therefore have the ability both to adapt their messages
specifically for those others and to obtain immediate
interpretations from them’
The difference between
cross-cultural and
intercultural communication
The difference between cross-cultural and intercultural
communication
General definition:
• Cross-cultural communication generally refers to the comparison of
communication behaviors and patterns in two or more cultures.
• Intercultural communication involves interaction between people from
different cultural backgrounds (Gudykunst 2003)
The difference between cross-cultural and intercultural
communication
Research Differences:
• Cross-cultural • Intercultural communication research involves
communication research an investigation of interpersonal interaction
typically compares and between individuals (or groups) from diverse
contrasts native discourse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. The form of
and communication this intercultural contact varies.
behaviors (or styles) in • Intercultural communication studies may focus
different cultures. on the verbal or nonverbal behavior, attitudes
or perceptions of people from different cultural
and linguistic backgrounds interacting with
each other (e.g. face-to-face, online, through
written discourse).
Reason to Study
Language and
Intercultural
Communication
Reason to Study Language and Intercultural
Communication
1.Globalization
Inda and Rosaldo (2006), social scientists, globalization refers to spatial-
temporal processes, operating on a global scale that rapidly cuts across national
boundaries, drawing more and more of the world into webs in interconnection,
integrating and stretching cultures and communities across space and time, and
compressing our spatial temporal horizons.
Reason to Study Language and Intercultural
Communication
2. Internationalization
Kälvermark and van der Wende (1997: 19) define internalization as
‘any systematic sustained effort aimed at making higher education
more responsive to the requirements and challenges related to the
globalization of societies, economy and labor markets’
Internationalization at home (IaH)
Refers to ‘the embedding of international/ intercultural perspectives into local educational settings’
(Turner & Robson 2008: 15) to raise the global awareness, cultural understanding and intercultural
competence of faculty and students.
Reason to Study Language and Intercultural
Communication
3. Education Abroad
Refers to education outside their home countries.
Reason to Study Language and Intercultural
Communication
4. Advances in Transportation and Communication
Technologies
Recent developments in transportation and communication technologies now
link the far corners of the globe, dramatically altering the world in which we
live. By diminishing the physical barriers of time and distance, advances in
both domains are greatly increasing the exchange of people, commodities,
information and ideas.
Reason to Study Language and Intercultural
Communication
5. Changing
Demographics
Human migration entails physical movement by people from
one place to another, sometimes over long distances.
Immigration
Refers to moving from one’s home country to reside in another, is
providing more possibilities for intercultural interaction in many parts of
the world.
Reason to Study Language and Intercultural
Communication
6. Conflict and Peace
Global warming (the rising of the temperature in the earth’s atmosphere
and oceans), the dramatic increase in the earth’s population (already
exceeding seven billion), globalizing forces, the global economic crisis,
migration and fierce competition for limited natural resources are all
contributing to increased contact, stress and conflict between culturally
diverse people.
Reason to Study Language and Intercultural
Communication
6. Conflict and Peace
Intercultural conflict is defined by Ting-Toomey (2012: 279) as ‘the
perceived or actual incompatibility of cultural values, situational
norms, goals, face orientations, scarce resources, styles/ processes,
and/or outcomes in a face-to-face (or mediated) context’. Divergent
behaviors (e.g. unfamiliar communication styles, different expressions
of politeness) can make intercultural negotiations more stressful and
even more complicated when a second language is involved.
Reason to Study Language and Intercultural
Communication
7. Ethics
The word ‘ethics’ stems from the Greek ‘ethos’, which refers to the
character and sentiment of the community.
Ethics may be defined as principles of conduct that help govern the
behavior of individuals and groups, that is, they provide direction
for how we live our life (Blackburn 2009; Johannesen et al. 2008).
Reason to Study Language and Intercultural
Communication
8. Personal Growth and
Responsibility
Rothman (2008: 15–16)
states:
A commitment to intercultural competence is not only a commitment to
learning more about other cultures and to the development of culturally
appropriate communication skills. It also involves the commitment to
personal awareness, to personal growth, to understanding, and to
unlearning (as possible) any biases, stereotypes, or prejudices . . . the
complete elimination of all biases within ourselves will remain an elusive,
though always worthwhile, goal to pursue.
Characteristics of
an Ethical
Intercultural
Communicator
Characteristics of an Ethical Intercultural
Communicator
An individual who is an ethical intercultural communicator:
1.Regards people as equal, even when their beliefs or values
differ;
2.Actively seeks out and interacts with persons of diverse
backgrounds (e.g. ethnic, religious, gender, linguistic,
physically disabled, etc.);
Characteristics of an Ethical Intercultural
Communicator
3.Listens attentively and refrains from making snap, negative
judgments about the behaviours of people from a different cultural or
linguistic background;
4.Patiently asks questions to confirm the intended meaning;
5.Recognizes that misunderstandings may arise due to
linguistic and/or cultural differences;
Characteristics of an Ethical Intercultural
Communicator
6.Seeks and provides (verbal and nonverbal) feedback to ensure
that messages were received as intended;
7.Makes a genuine effort to learn about the language and
cultural practices of people who have been socialized in
different cultural backgrounds;
Characteristics of an Ethical Intercultural
Communicator
8.Works from the perspective that the behaviour of people
from other cultural backgrounds is apt to be rational when
understood in its situational and cultural context;
9.Values intercultural cooperation and peaceful
conflict mediation/resolution;
Characteristics of an Ethical Intercultural
Communicator
10.Recognizes diversity within cultural groups and
acknowledges that no individual can serve as a
representative of an entire community or culture;
11.Seeks to include all voices in intercultural
interactions;
12.Treats people of other cultures with respect and
dignity.
Thank you!
Presenters:
• Bermejo, Quezyl Jane
• Alferez, Mhars
• Lusica, Vea Mariel
• Coma, Julieta