Unit 8 Intercultural Communication Lecture Notes PDF

UNIT 8: Intercultural Communication Bu 1523, Miss Amanda Paananen DEPTH STUDY- INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION The focus of this study is to understand how people in different social, cultural and environmental settings behave, communicate and perceive the world around them so that they can better under...

UNIT 8: Intercultural Communication Bu 1523, Miss Amanda Paananen DEPTH STUDY- INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION The focus of this study is to understand how people in different social, cultural and environmental settings behave, communicate and perceive the world around them so that they can better understand each other and their world. Content 1. The nature of communication 2. Theories relating to intercultural communication 3. Focus study- Looking in/Looking out: Exploring Intercultural Communication LEARNING INTENTION To develop an understanding of the depth study concepts in this topic and to understand the nature of communication Success criteria You should be able to explain and give an example of the concepts CONCEPTS Acculturation- is the cultural modification of an individual, group, or people by adapting to or borrowing traits from another culture- also : a merging of cultures as a result of prolonged contact Change- An alteration in the way people behave, or how their society is structured, can result from acculturation. Communication can help this be a positive process Continuity- The persistence or consistent existence of cultural elements in a society across time. Continuity can also be referred to as the maintenance of the traditions and social structures that bring stability to a society. Cultural diversity- Appears as a society becomes larger and more complex, immigrant groups join the dominant culture, and subcultures form within the society. Cultural diversity implies a two way sharing of ideas, customs and values among the various cultural groups that comprise the society. Cultural heritage- The shared understandings that give each society its distinctive way of life are passed on from generation to generation. Cultural heritage helps form a person’s identity. CONCEPTS continued Cultural relativism- Cultural relativism means that we understand that one culture cannot be judged by the standards of another. People’s behaviour can only be understood in terms of the values, beliefs and norms of their culture. Cultural transmission- Aspects of one group’s culture are often transmitted through the process of acculturation. Customs- Established ways of thinking and acting are represented in behaviour that is immediately noticeable when we come into contact with different societies. Stereotype- The pre-conceived view of the characteristics of a group held by individuals who are not members of that group. These views are usually negative, generalised and inflexible. They ignore differences that exist between the members of the stereotyped group. Values- The important understandings that form the basis of shared behaviour in a cultural group need to be understood for effective communication. For instance, does the society value financial success, or family relationships most? Activity- Mind Map What is communication? THE NATURE OF COMMUNICATION Communication is essential to the functioning of all societies and cultures. Communication requires two roles. The sender is the person who is trying to send information to another source. The message is sent through a variety of mediums known as either verbal or non-verbal communication. So the sender could either speak the information, or they could send it through the use of body language. The sender requires a receiver to receive the message through any one of the five senses. Therefore communication does not just simply include using words. We communicate through our facial expressions - a smile or frown, our body language - crossed arms, head down. How we perceive the messages being sent to us is informed by our cultural upbringing and social background. Just like when we try to speak to someone who does not speak the same language as us, we need to have an understanding of the conventions behind the actions in order to understand the message INFLUENCE OF CULTURE One must look at the cultural setting in which the message has occurred as well as any social overtones or emotional meanings attached to the message. Communication always takes place within a context. The context of communication is like the setting for the communication. Some cultures are regarded as low-context cultures and others are regarded as high-context cultures. The United States, Canada and Australia would be regarded as low-context cultures. What this means is that these cultures tend to put less emphasis on non-verbal communication and social hierarchies, which may influence social relationships and interactions and in turn the communication. Japan and India on the other hand can be identified as high-context cultures. In these countries, there is much more emphasis placed on non-verbal communication and implicit factors of the communication. HIGH AND LOW CONTEXT COMMUNICATION The following table summarises characteristics of high and low-context communication and implicit communication styles: Therefore culture plays an integral part in influencing how the sender encodes their message as well as influencing what medium they chose to send the message. Culture also plays a part in shaping the way the receiver decodes and understands the message. Encoding ENCODING VS DECODING The first step the sender is faced with involves the encoding process. In order to convey meaning, the sender must begin encoding, which means translating information into a message in the form of symbols that represent ideas or concepts. This process translates the ideas or concepts into the coded message that will be communicated. The symbols can take on numerous forms such as, languages, words, or gestures. Decoding After the appropriate channel or channels are selected, the message enters the decoding stage of the communication process. Once the message is received and examined, the stimulus is sent to the brain for interpreting, in order to assign some type of meaning to it. The receiver begins to interpret the symbols sent by the sender, translating the message to their own set of experiences in order to make the symbols meaningful. All interpretations by the receiver are influenced by their experiences, attitudes, knowledge, skills, perceptions, and culture. It is similar to the sender's relationship with encoding. ENCODING VS DECODING LEARNING INTENTION To understand the difference between verbal and non verbal communication VERBAL COMMUNICATION Verbal communication is simply the noise we make with our voice when communicating. Examples include talking, laughing and crying. Verbal communication is effective when the sender and receiver are calm and focused. Basic manners and etiquette also aid effective communication, but the most important factor in verbal communication is clarity of speech. NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION Non-verbal communication is communication that requires the interpretation of body language, gestures and eye contact. These signs and signals make up 75% of our daily communication interactions Body language has a clear context and varies between cultures- what is appropriate and acceptable in one culture can often be inappropriate in another. EXAMPLE -VERBAL/ NON VERBAL COMMUNICATION EXAMPLE, NON VERBAL COMMUNICATION ACROSS CULTURES LEARNING INTENTION To understand the role of communication in maintaining social relationships and social control THE ROLE OF COMMUNICATION IN MAINTAINING SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS AND SOCIAL CONTROL Social relationships are those relationships that we have with other persons in our micro and macro worlds. In our Micro world relationships with our family members are major influences on the socialisation and enculturation processes. The ability to communicate with our family members can often mean that the development of identity can occur within a positive environment. THE ROLE OF COMMUNICATION IN MAINTAINING SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS AND SOCIAL CONTROL Within the macro world it is easy to observe how communication is used to regulate social relationships and maintain social control. Social control refers to the mechanisms a society uses to get individuals to conform. The art of communication of power can help to understand how language can be used to influence others. For example, victory speeches, take-over announcements and persuasion tactics all help to maintain some sort of social control by someone over others. FORMAL AND INFORMAL CONTROL Formal controls tend to be those enforced by the state, usually through the creation of laws. For example, the police issuing fines for breaking Covid laws. Informal social control mechanisms can be less obvious and are based on shame, ridicule, and exclusion. For example, peer pressure and community pressure to conform to social norms. IS THIS AN EXAMPLE OF INFORMAL OR FORMAL CONTROL? CASE STUDY- SOCIAL CONTROL IN CHINA BLACK MIRROR COMMUNICATION RESPONSIBILITIES 1. You have the responsibility to treat others with respect. 2. You have the responsibility to listen to the opinions of others. 3. You have the responsibility to acknowledge and address the needs of others. 4. You have the responsibility to respect the limits and boundaries of theirs. EXAMPLE- COMMUNICATION RESPONSIBILITIES COMMUNICATION RIGHTS Communication represents an essential need and basic right. The ability to communicate, or the general right of communication, makes it possible to exchange ideas, thoughts and opinions. Communication enables us to be who we want to be and it strengthens human dignity. Thus, the protection of communication rights represents an essential part of human rights. The right to communicate includes the right to ‘‘freedom of opinion and expression’’ and rights and freedoms ‘‘without distinction of... language’’. EXAMPLE- COMMUNICATION RIGHTS- References Ontario Business Faculty and eCampus Ontario Program Managers (2018). Communication for Business Professionals (Can ed.) BC Open Collection. BC Campus. Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BYSA 4.0) https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/commbusprofcdn/ 29