Intercultural Communication
1. Intercultural communication is important
It provides insight into the nature of communication
Learning about other cultures is necessary
Learning about other cultures increases one's understanding of one's own cultural characteristics
2. Culture is a way of life developed and shared by a group of people and passed down from
generation to generation.
 Culture can be defined in terms of racial, ethnic or socioeconomic differences → it is made up of many complex
elements including religious and political systems, customs, and language as well as tools, clothing,
buildings, and works of art.
Intercultural communication occurs between members of different cultures.
 Not all members of a culture share all of its elements. (we may choose one or more of a variety of characteristics to identify a
group of people as having a common culture (Natives of İstanbul, İzmir and Elazığ are different national cultures)
 Culture is learned
A. Culture is not biological
B. One's culture is determined by one's social environment, not nationality or race
Distinctions among cultures
A. There are three approaches to studying culture
1- The Social Science Approach
2- The Interpretive Approach 3- The Critical Approach
1. Social scientific approach treats culture as something that can be measured, compared, and contrasted
2. The interpretive approach emphasizes the subjective nature of culture.
3. The critical approach is similar to the interpretive approach, but places more emphasis on contexts and power
SOME DIMENSIONS OF CULTURAL DIFFERENCE
Exchange occurs as a result of technology, travel, and immigration
1. Technology allows global communication
2. International travel is common
3. Immigration is an important issue.
Many people are also members of co-cultures:
(1) A co-culture is a culture within a culture
(2) It has common characteristics similar to those held by cultures
(3) Co-cultures include groups based on ethnicity, sexual orientation, and disability status
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There are five dimensions on which cultures vary:
→ individualistic/collectivistic,
→high/low context,
→ masculinity/femininity,
→ uncertainty avoidance
→ power distance,
I. Individualistic/collectivistic cultures
 Individualisim means the tendency of people in a given culture to value “individual identity
over group identity, individual rights over group rights and individual achievements over group
concerns”.
 Collectivism has been defined as the tendency of people in a given culture to value “group identity over
individual identity, group obligations over individual rights, and group concerns over individual desires”.
2. High/low context cultures
high context cultures:
(1) Are better at reading nonverbals and assume others are also able to do so.
(2) Speak less and listen more (3) Are indirect and less explicit
low context cultures:
1) Stress explicit communication
(2) Emphasize verbal messages
 Context has been linked to individualism/collectivism
(1) High context related to collectivistic
(2) Low context related to individualistic
3. Power distance
Defined as “the degree to which people accept authority and hierarchical organization as a natural part of their culture”
(1) High power distance means that some people are expected to have more power than others.
a) Communication style is more authoritarian
(b) High power distance cultures include: France, India, and Mexico
(2) Low power distance means that equality is emphasized and assumed.
(a) Low power distance cultures include:
Israel, Ireland, and Australia
(b) Power associated with roles is limited to that context
(c) People are willing to question those in power.
4. Masculinity/Femininity
This dimension attempts to draw a parallel with gender.
a. "Masculine" cultures value: work, strength, competition and assertiveness
b. "Feminine" cultures value affection, compassion, nurturance, and interpersonal relationships
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5. Uncertainty avoidance
Uncertainty avoidance is a measure of the extent to which members of a culture attempt to avoid uncertainty or
ambiguity about others
 High avoidance cultures (such as Belgium, Greece, and Spain) prefer a lot of information about others in
order to be comfortable.
→ They dislike ambiguity → They like rules/ability to predict behaviors
 Low avoidance cultures (such a Canada, Jamaica, and the -U.S.) are more open.
→ Change and diversity is welcomed
→ Difference is "curious" (as opposed to "dangerous")
OBSTACLES TO INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
→ Developments in the technology is much more faster than the improvements in our abilities
to communicate effectively with people who have different languages, different beliefs and
values, and different expectations of relationships.
Sarbaugh says → for communication to occur, there must be:
1.Shared code systems → Shared verbal code system- Shared nonverbal code system
2. Shared beliefs and behaviors between communicators which lead to shared assumptions and interpretations of
behaviors
3. A level of knowing the beliefs and behaviors of others as different and tolerating the difference
VERBAL MESSAGES
Verbal messages are often changed in the translation
1. Literal translations miss the culture-based linguistic styles
2. Conventions and style vary greatly from language to language
NONVERBAL MESSAGES
Nonverbal message systems vary from culture to culture
►Vocal cues also vary culturally
►Display of emotion also varies culturally
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RELATIONSHIPS: NORMS AND ROLES
1) Relationship norms vary culturally
►Norms or rules of appropriate behavior are cultural (Hispanics lower their eyes as a sign of respect)
T,
►Two important variables distinguish how members of a given culture view interpersonal and family
conflicts: Assumptions about expressivity and privacy.
Openness is discouraged in many cultures
High-context cultures discourage expressivity
There is great variation in norms for dependenceand independence
2) Roles (sets of norms applied to particular groups) vary culturally
Variations are seen in interracial marriages
Such relationships seem to be based on valued similarities
BELIEFS AND VALUES VARY CULTURALLY
One's own culture's values often are erroneously considered absolute and universal.
Protonorms are presuppositions that form core values:
a. Truth-telling
b. Respect for others' dignity
"innocent”
c. Belief that no harm should be done to the
BARRIERS TO INTERCULTURAL UNDERSTANDING
Languages are more than grammar and vocabulary; cultures are more than lists of norms and rules; proximity does
not equal understanding.
Some of the processes that cloud our perception and make strangers out of human beings:
ETHNOCENTRISM
Ethnocentrism is the tendency to judge the values, customs, behaviors, or other aspects of another culture in terms of
one’s own culture.
 Literally “ethnocentrim refers to putting one’s “nation” at the center.
 Travelers high in ethnocentrism feel more anxiety
Every social group teaches ethnocentrism  it is not always negative: “forms the basis for
patriotism and the willingness to sacrifice for one’s central group”.
STEREOTYPING
Stereotyping is a generalization based on limited experience. We tend to impose stereotypes on groups pf people,
which limits our communication with groups.
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 Research show that television helps create many stereotypes (Arab men are portrayed as terrorists,
sheikhs, and Bedouin) nomads; Arab women are rarely portrayed and then as belly dancers and members of
harems.
 Stereotypical portrayals can contribute to interracial and interethnic conflicts
 Study showed that people in urban areas base fears on communication processes and ethnic stereotypes
GROUP POLARIZATION
Group polarization is a phenomenon that occurs when people move to more extreme positions.
 Internet is a source of cultural information as it creates relationships between people of many cultures and cocultures.
 It can also be a source of misinformation and negaitve stereotyping.
 Hate sites run by extremist groups are rampant
 These contribute to bigotry and perhaps violence
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