Intercultural Communication

Intercultural Communication

• Ability to interact effectively across cultures
• Culture: system of shared values, beliefs, and norms guiding behavior
• Culture shock: disorientation from unfamiliar cultural situations
• Co-culture: smaller groups within a dominant culture with different values
• Short-term values: rewards of the present
• Long-term values: personal rights, freedoms, and responsibilities
• Collectivist cultures: prioritize community and collaboration
• Code-switching: adapting language and nonverbal communication to the dominant culture
• Ethnocentrism: belief that one's own culture is superior
• Ethnocentrism behavior: judging other cultures based on one's own standards
• Language: system of symbols for communication
• Arbitrary language: meaning of symbols is not inherently linked to their form
• Abstract language: language represents concepts and ideas rather than concrete objects
• Language changes over time
• Denotation: dictionary definition of a word
• Connotation: implied meaning associated with a word
• Semantic meaning: derived from words themselves and their arrangement in sentences
• Sociolinguistics: study of language in social contexts

Improving Sociolinguistic Understanding

• Intercultural competence development
• Mindfulness
• Adapting to sociolinguistic practices
• Nonverbal communication cues: body language, voice, space, time, appearance
  • Semiotics: use of signs and symbols
  • Emblems: non-verbal cues that substitute for words
  • Illustrators: clarify verbal messages
  • Adaptors: unconscious responses to physical or psychological needs
  • Chronemics: interpretation of time use
  • Proxemics: use of space
• Interpreting nonverbal messages: consider context, multiple messages, relationship to verbal communication, perception checking
• Group Communication: all verbal and nonverbal communication shared amongst group members
• Types of groups (examples): protective, consensual, pluralistic, laissez-faire, social, support, interest, service, work groups
• Heterogenous group: diverse knowledge and perspectives
• Homogenous group: shared knowledge and perspectives

Group Development and Conflict

• Groupthink: deterioration of mental efficiency in groups due to pressure to conform
• Virtual groups: asynchronous online groups
• Group development stages: forming, storming, norming, performing, adjourning, transforming
• Conflict in groups:
  • Pseudo-conflict: disagreement over communication, not substance
  • Issue-related conflict: disagreements on member goals
  • Personality-related conflict: defensiveness and disagreements
  • Culture and conflict: differences in values, beliefs, or social norms causing conflict
• Virtual groups and conflict: disagreements during remote group meetings
• Six characteristics of healthy groups: ethical, interdependent, cohesive, productive norms, accountable, synergistic
• Group leadership task roles: information gathering, processing, and application. Maintenance roles: build cohesion

Communicating Group Solutions

• Question of fact: determining truth
• Question of value: judging morality or worth
• Question of policy: deciding course of action
• Deliverables: products of group work
• Written brief: concise summary of problems, background, and rationale
• Comprehension reports: detailed reviews of processes
• Oral brief and oral reports: summaries of written work, or detailed reviews of group problems
• Panel discussion/symposium: structured group discussions for wider audiences

Test your knowledge on intercultural communication principles, including culture, values, ethnocentrism, and the dynamics of co-cultures. This quiz will challenge your understanding of how effective interaction occurs across diverse cultures and the implications of communication styles. Explore various concepts that influence our interactions in a globalized world.