Intercultural communication is a product of the direct communication by means of lan-guage or non-verbal expressions between people from two or more different cultures. However, the concept of intercultural communication does not only include verbal lan-guage, but also body language and emotions. In contrast to just face-to-face communi-cation, a broader term defines intercultural communication as the level of mediatized in-tercultural communication, such as in radio, television, movies, internet and literature. In order to further concentrate on the term intercultural communication and resulting prob-lems one first has to understand how people communicate. Therefore, a model of com-munication will be presented and the sub-division of verbal and non-verbal communication further elaborated.
Language is a communication method that makes everything easy to communicate with others. The language barrier is the biggest challenge and hurdle of most people whom their English is a second language. Growing up in a family with parents that only speak another language could be viewed very similarly to a double-edged sword. This challenge with society forces people to learn the English language. Although there a lot of difficulties with the second language, eventually the transition between both languages would become easier by time and more practice. Starting to be able to comprehend the English language is the best way overcomes this barrier. Although these challenges were not easy to overcome, persistence, dedication and hard work would facilitate everything. Despite the fact that language is considered the biggest barrier, culture comes as a second harder barrier in means of communication. Effective communication with people of different cultures is especially challenging. Culture on the other hand, provides people with ways of thinking, seeing and hearing and, then understands the things around. Thus, the same word can mean different things to people from different cultures, even when they talk the same language. Stella Ting-Toomey describes how culture involves with cultural understanding where ach culture has its own rules about proper behavior which affect verbal and nonverbal communication. How close the people stand to each
Intercultural communication: A discourse approach attempts to explain the discourse approach and points to the authors ' distinction between cross-cultural communication and intercultural communication. The chapter underlines the authors ' approach and theory to intercultural communication. It covers several explanations and the distinction between cross-cultural communication and intercultural communication. The chapter discusses the many varieties of culture that exist. It also clarifies that intercultural communication can occur in conversations not necessarily when two people are from different countries.
Intercultural communication is commonly explained as an interaction between people of 'different cultures whether defined in terms of racial, ethnic or socioeconomic differences.' Human communication consists of verbal and nonverbal messages (language and gestures) which are shaped by gender, social class or culture. Thus, what perimeters define the intercultural exchange and what primary messages do we need or try to convey?
This essay focuses on the communication accommodation theory along side the concept of discourse and social structure, and the power effects of labels. In intercultural communication, language facilitates understanding and although is an imperative role, at times, it can be a barrier. To assist this understanding, the communication accommodation theory focuses of the view that individuals adjust their verbal communication (p. 56). In intercultural communication, the partner’s ability to understand is done through strategies of convergence or divergence. This signals their attitudes towards each other because people adjust communication behavior based on the perception that an individual has of the conversation partner’s communicative behavior. Intercultural encounters are likely to entail more of an adjustment than communicating with an individual of a similar culture. Repetition of the message and perhaps animated gestures are more common in these interactions to make up for misunderstood verbal communication.
The topic we have discussed on this subject that I found most interesting is Intercultural communication. The topic shows us a better understanding what culture is and how to navigate between different cultures. The importance of understanding diversity in cultures is not only essential when negotiating with business partners from different cultures or when going on vacation. Furthermore, everyone is immigrants like us (most of the students) are, expatriates or even people living in their country of birth has to deal with many different cultures on the daily basis. We meet people from diverse cultural backgrounds when we are shopping, at school, at work, when we go to a night out and so on. The study of intercultural communication gives us the tools to manage the cultural differences and to become more sensitive in intercultural meetings and/or situations.
The purpose of the survey is to bring awareness to the need for an understanding of intercultural communication. Everything that happens within a school, and in particular in the classroom, involves communication. Communication is the act of sharing information. On occasion, communication involves the use of oral or written verbal symbols. Sometimes, communication involves various types of non-verbal symbols, including gestures and facial expressions..
Cross-cultural communication is the process of exchanging meaningful and unambiguous information across cultural boundaries, in a way that preserves mutual respect and minimizes antagonism, that is, it looks at how people from differing cultural backgrounds endeavour to communicate. The study of cross-cultural communication was originally found within businesses and the government both seeking to expand globally. Communication is interactive, so an important influence on its effectiveness is our relationship with others. All communication is cultural -- it draws on ways we have learned to speak and give nonverbal messages. We do not always
To me interpersonal communication describes the exchange of verbal and nonverbal messages between two different people. Joseph DeVito states that “interpersonal communication is inevitable, irreversible, and unrepeatable” due to these things effective communication is a necessary skill for us to function in our day to day lives (p. 20). Therefore, I have created a theory for interpersonal communication that goes as follows; To experience effective communication you must understand: your culture, the other person’s culture, and how to listen effectively. By knowing these three things you can consistently avoid misunderstandings and promote understanding in your interpersonal and intercultural relationships.
In today’s interview, I learned how natives of their own state may perceive intercultural communication being no different domestically than internationally in terms of social exchange. Based on the interview with Dr. Lloyd Williams, he believes that a person’s host culture may be preferred over their home culture. A person who has lived 90% or the majority of their life in their home state, may view their sense of belonging from a negative aspect. Being privileged, well-educated, versatile in language, and/or multi-cultural may not be sufficient enough, even when it pertains to receiving equal treatment in today’s society. While raising the question, if a person’s treated differently as a native rather than being a transplant or tourist regardless of a person’s success, cultural relations, or privilege. A native’s ethnicity, international experiences, and unjust treatment may create an emotional disconnect in their own home state based on not receiving cultural respect as being a person’s outlook from one’s own worldview perspective.
Intercultural communication competence refers to the ability of an individual to adapt and communicate appropriately and effectively across a wide array of cultural contexts. That is to say, for an individual to be considered an intercultural communicator they must understand other’s cultures as well as they understand their own, and apply this understanding to communication (Chen 1-2). With the increasing diversity at the workplace, school and other social settings, it has become increasingly important to learn how to communicate with people from a diverse array of cultures. More importantly, adapting to a more effective intercultural communication competence model provides us with learning opportunities occasioned by the interaction with people from other backgrounds. The intercultural communication competence model comes with some key components including tolerance for uncertainty, self-knowledge, and motivation. The greatest and most important of these aspects is motivation. An individual must be willing to foster relationships with people from a different cultural background. If an individual lacks the willingness to promote intercultural relationships, then other aspects of the intercultural communication model become moot.
This quote is is one of many famous and intriguing sayings of Peter Drucker who is known as the Father of Management. He showed his appreciation for the importance of understanding communication without any words or also known as nonverbal communication. In fact, nonverbal communication is a characteristic and indispensable element in any culture and not stopping there, nonverbal communication also demonstrates its influence on intercultural communication.
This text is a good reference point. This text is used to understanding communication within culture. This source also gave a better understanding
You know that feeling of home whether it’s with family members or even your loved ones? I don’t think that home is something that is automatically there, I believe that it is something that’s created. I learned that lesson through the eyes of one of my older friends who came from India with his brother when he was 16 in order to make a living. My friend Vikas, told me everything he had to do and the struggles he conquered in order to make his own successful business here in the U.S. Some things he told be reminded me of interpersonal communication, intercultural communication, and intracultural communication. He had to have a lot of communication with his friend who also happened to be from India and some new friends and colleagues he met through his journey. Of course there was homesickness and the occasional depression, but that didn’t stop him from creating his now successful business.
Previous researchers have found that for a person to achieve better and more effective communication competence, it is necessary to develop skills that allow an appropriate participation in specific situations. The ability to listen, ask questions, and express concepts or ideas effectively is an important part of communication competence. Intercultural communication presents an unexplored and challenging field that needs to be understood for a better development in communication. (Dillon and McKenzie, 1998). The variables of listening depend on the different perceptions that a person obtains through their cultural background. Furthermore, culture often affects the structure of consciousness in the act of listening. When a person seeks to