Intercultural Communication PDF

Intercultural communication: the ability to behave and interact effectively and appropriately and effectively across cultures Culture: is a system of shared values, beliefs, and norms that guide what is considered appropriate behavior among identifiable groups of people Culture shock: psychologica...

Intercultural communication: the ability to behave and interact effectively and appropriately and effectively across cultures Culture: is a system of shared values, beliefs, and norms that guide what is considered appropriate behavior among identifiable groups of people Culture shock: psychological disorientation or discomfort due to a lack of familiarity when engaging in a new cultural situation. Co-culture: a nondominant cultural group comprised of a smaller number of people who hold common values beliefs, attitudes, and customs that differ from those of a dominant culture Short term: values rewards of the here and now Long term: Values personal rights, freedoms and responsibilities, privacy Collectivist: value community, collaboration shared interest, harmony, the public good, and avoiding embarrassment Code-switching: Altering of one's linguistic and nonverbal patterns to conform to the dominant culture Ethnocentrism: the belief that one's won culture is superior to others Ethnocentrism Behavior: Judging a person's accent mocking cultural attire, and juding another cultures diet. Language is the system of symbols used by people to communicate Language is arbitrary Language is abstract Language changes over time Denotation: explicit meaning found in the dictionary Connotation: implicit meaning associated with a word Semantic meaning is meaning that is derived from the words themselves and how they are arranged into sentences 1. Use specific language 2. Use concrete language 3. Use familiar language 4. Use descriptive details and examples 5. Demonstrate linguistic sensitivity & use inclusive language Sociolinguistics Varies according to the norms of a particular culture or co-culture Idioms: expressions whose meanings are different from the literal meanings associated with the words used in them. "The test was a piece of cake". Ways to improve sociolinguistic understanding 1. Develop intercultural competence 2. Mindfulness 3. Respect and adapt to the sociolinguistic practices of others NONVERBAL MESSAGES: Cues we send with our body, voice, space, time and appearance to communicate Semiotics: use of signs and symbols to convey meaning Emblems: Gestures that substitute entirely for words (finger over mouth) Illustrators: Clarify the verbal message (This high) Adaptors: unconscious responses to physical or psychological needs (Scratching an itch) Chronemics: How we interpret the use of time Proxemics: Know the use of space The six characteristics: 1. Pitch 2. Volume 3. Rate 4. Quality 5. Intonation 6. Vocalized pauses Interpreting Non verbal messages 1. They can mean different things to different people 2. Consider each message in context 3. Pay attention to multiple nonverbal messages being sent and their relationship to the verbal message 4. Use perception checking Perception checking- describes the nonverbal message and asks for clarification Group communication: all verbal and nonverbal communication shared amongst group members Types of groups are: 1. Protective groups: Decisions made by family\'s authoritative figure 2. Consensual Families: All members discuss issues, but the authority figure makes the decision 3. Pluralistic families: Family makes decisions together 4. Laissez faire families: Each member makes their own decisions 5. Social group 6. Support group 7. Interest group 8. Services Group 9. Workgroup Workgroups 1. Heterogenous group: composed of individuals that have diverse knowledge and perspectives 2. Homogenous group: composed of individuals that share similar knowledge and perspective Groupthink: deterioration of mental efficiency, reality testing, moral judgment that results from in-group pressure to conform. Virtual groups: asynchronous virtual groups Group development 1. Forming: Orientation, assessing skills and talents 2. Storming: Conflict and power play because members want their ideas heard 3. Norming: Cohesion, collaboration and motivation 4. Performing: harmony and productivity 5. Adjourning: Celebrating goal accomplishment 6. Transforming: Changing the goal Conflict in groups 1. Pseudo Conflict: actually, agrees on the subject but disagrees due to poor communication 2. Issue-related group conflict: When two or more members disagree on member goals, ideas, or opinions about a topic and are incompatible 3. Personality-related group conflict: When 2 or more group members become defensive and feel attacked. 4. Culture and conflict: When people from different cultures have differing values, beliefs, practices, or social norms that lead to tensions and misunderstandings. 5. Virtual groups and conflict: disagreement or dispute amongst members during a remote group meeting. Six characteristics of healthy groups 1. Have ethical goals 2. Interdependent 3. Cohesive 4. Develop and abide by productive norms 5. Accountable 6. Synergistic Synergy: a multiplying force of a working group that results in a combined effort greater than the sum of its parts. An example is winning a championship. Group leadership: Task roles- Help the group acquire, process, or apply information -information and opinion givers, seekers, and analyzers Maintenance roles: help the group develop and maintain cohesion Supporters Interpreters Harmonizers Mediators Tension relievers Procedural roles: Logistic coordinators Expediters Gatekeepers Records Group leaders before a meeting do the following: 1.Prepare and distribute an agenda 2\. Decide who should attend the meeting 3\. Manage meeting logistics 4\. Speak with each participant before the meeting Problem Solving: 1. Problem definition 2. Question of fact determines what is true 3. Question of value: Judges whether something is moral, good or just 4. Question of policy: Asked to determine the course of action that should be taken or what rules should be adopted to solve a problem Communicating group solutions 1. Written formats - Deliverables: products of work that are provided to someone else - Written brief: A short document that describes the problem, background process decision, and rational - Comprehension report: Provides a detailed review of the process - Executive summary: one-page synopsis of comprehensive support - Oral brief: Summary of written brief - Oral report: detailed review of groups problems- solving methods - Panel discussion: Structured problem-solving discussion held by a group in front of an audience - Symposium: a set of prepared oral reports delivered sequentially by group members before gathering people who are interested in the work of the group