Foundations of Intercultural Communication

1. Why study Intercultural Communications?
Focus: introduces Intercultural Communication as a field

a. Important interrelated terms

• Intercultural relations
• International, multicultural and cross-cultural communication
• Inter-ethnic and inter-racial communication

b. Components of Intercultural Communication

• Knowledge
• Skills
• Attitudes

c.  Advantages of intercultural competence

• Personal
• Social
• Professional

2. What do we mean by communication?
Focus: defines the concept of communication in general and examines the influence of context on communication

a. Defining communication

• The process of perception (selection, organization, and interpretation)
• Models of the communication process (linear, circular and transactional models)
• Intercultural Communication principles

b. Understanding communication and context in Intercultural Communication

• Confirming and disconfirming communication
• Communication climate

c. Examining communication and the self

• Cultural identity development and communication
• Notions of the self; self-construal in Intercultural Communication

3. What do we mean by Intercultural Communication?
Focus: defines the concept of Intercultural communication in relation to communication in general and examines taxonomies that explain aspects of the intercultural experience.

1. Defining Intercultural Communication
2. Models describing Intercultural Communication
   • Continuum and developmental models
3. Taxonomies for understanding Intercultural Communication such as
   • Kluckhohn and Strodtbeck’s values orientations
   • Hall’s high and low context
   • Triandis’ individualism and collectivism
   • Hofstede’s cultural patterns
   • Bond’s Confucian cultural patterns

4.  What factors influence the Intercultural Communication process?
Focus: introduces the major cultural, social, and psychological factors that are commonly identified as influencing Intercultural Communication

a.  Cultural factors

• Values, norms, and rules
• World view

b.  Social factors

• Group memberships
• Role attributions

c.  Psychological factors

• Categorization
• Expectations
• Attributions

d.  Obstacles to Intercultural Communication

• Uncertainty reduction theory
• Attribution theory
• Ethnocentrism, discrimination, racism and prejudice

5.  How does verbal communication differ from culture to culture?
Focus: introduces the idea that conventions of language use and communication and relational style vary across cultures

a.  Verbal codes

• Rule systems in verbal language
• The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis

b.  Translation, interpretation and additional language use

• Challenges of equivalence
• Influences of mother tongue culture on additional language use

c.  Communication styles

• Persuasive styles
• Organizational preferences
• Structure of conversations
• Conversational rules

d.  Relational styles

• Variations in interpersonal relationships
• Maintaining face in interpersonal relationships

6.  How does non-verbal communication differ from culture to culture?
Focus: introduces the idea of “difference” in communication as a manifestation of culturally-influenced variations in non- verbal behaviour

a. Kinesics (body language)

• Posture
• Gestures
• Gait

b.  Paralanguage (vocal characteristics)

• Pitch
• Tone
• Volume
• Rate of speech
• Use of silence

c. Proxemics (use of space)

d. Chronemics (use of time)

• Formal and informal time systems
• Monochronic and polychronic time

e. Olfactics (use of smell)

f. Haptics (use of touch)

g. Occulectics (eye contact)

7.  How can we enhance our abilities to communicate with others who are different?
Focus: defines the concept of Intercultural Communication competence and identifies the personal benefits of  improving competence

a.  Models and theories of intercultural adaptation and cultural learning

b.  Knowledge (cognitive) dimension

• Culture-general and culture-specific knowledge
• Cultural self-knowledge
• Language learning
• Mindfulness (alert to differences and one’s perception of them)

c.  Skills (behavioural) dimension

• Respect
• Task role behaviour
• Relational role behaviour
• Interaction management
• Relationship initiation and maintenance strategy
• D.I.E. model (description, interpretation, and evaluation)

d.  Attitude

• Sensitivity to socio-cultural information
• Empathy
• Adaptability
• Flexibility
• Tolerance for ambiguity
• Positive view of diversity

8.  What ethical issues arise in Intercultural Communication:
Focus: identifies and addresses ethical issues that may arise in the context of Intercultural Communications, and encourages students to formulate responses to those issues

1. Ethical awareness
   • Ethnocentrism
   • Cultural relativity
   • Universal ethics.