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Course 1

The document provides an overview of intercultural communication, defining it as communication between people of different cultural backgrounds and outlining the importance of understanding cultural differences in business. It traces the history and development of intercultural communication study from the 1950s to present day and describes various theories and methods used to analyze and improve intercultural interactions, such as value orientation theory for understanding core cultural values. Understanding cultural differences is vital for effective global communication and business relationships.

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Sergiu Stana
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30 views17 pages

Course 1

The document provides an overview of intercultural communication, defining it as communication between people of different cultural backgrounds and outlining the importance of understanding cultural differences in business. It traces the history and development of intercultural communication study from the 1950s to present day and describes various theories and methods used to analyze and improve intercultural interactions, such as value orientation theory for understanding core cultural values. Understanding cultural differences is vital for effective global communication and business relationships.

Uploaded by

Sergiu Stana
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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INTERCULTURAL

COMMUNICATION
INTRODUCTION
Why study IC?
• cultural diversity; multiculturalism
• interdependence of people and cultures in a
global society
• communication is vital to international
business
• Recruitment, sales, management, marketing
and workplace environment are all affected by
cultures within an organization
Definition of Key Terms

• Intercultural communication - a form of


global communication; cross-cultural
communication; the base for international
businesses
• reasons for the development of intercultural
issues: the development of technology;
globalization of the business world;
widespread population migrations;
multiculturalism
The Importance of Intercultural Communication

• "...the single greatest barrier to business


success is the one erected by culture."
Edward T. Hall and Mildred Reed Hall
• promotes clearer communication, breaks
down barriers, builds trust, strengthens
relationships, opens horizons and yields
tangible results in terms of business success.
Intercultural business communication
competence
• flexibility and ability to tolerate high levels of
uncertainty, reflectiveness or mindfulness,
open-mindedness, sensitivity, adaptability,
and the ability to engage in divergent and
systems-level thinking
• “a Cross-Cultural Bridge in the workplace,
connecting people to one another”, according
to P.S. Perkins (2008:175)
A Short History of Intercultural Communication

• Edward T. Hall – 1950; The Silent Language-


1959
• Hall introduced terms such as “intercultural
tensions” and “intercultural problems” in 1950
and “intercultural communication” in 1959.
IC in The USA
• The country is a land of immigrants from many
diverse cultures;
• There are thousands of new immigrants
entering the country every year;
• The U.S. has large numbers of foreign students
and tourists; and
• The American involvement in the global
economy
The development of IC

• 1970 IC was recognized by the Intercultural


communication Association (ICA)
• 1970s – training - Peace Corps members
• Sietar (Society for intercultural education,
training and research) was set up in 1975
• 1977-International Journal of Intercultural
Relations
• The International Association of Communication -
over five thousand members.
The Chronological Development of Intercultural
Communication Study
• (1) The Burgeoning Period: 1958, Lederer and
Burdick's The Ugly American; Hall's The Silent
Language was published in 1959; Leeds-
Hurwitz (1990); Hall: The Hidden Dimension
(1966), Beyond Culture (1976), The Dance of
Life (1984), and Understanding Cultural
Differences (Hall & Hall, 1989)
A Short History of Intercultural Communication

• (2) From 1960 to 1970:


• Kluckhohn and Strodtbeck's (1961) discourse
on cultural value orientations
• Robert T. Oliver's Culture and Communication
(1962)
• Alfred G. Smith's Communication and Culture
(1966)
A Short History of Intercultural Communication

• (3) From 1971 to 1980:


• 1972 Edward C. Stewart - American Cultural Patterns
• 1973, Samovar and Porter published Intercultural Communication:
A Reader
• Michael H. Prosser's Intercommunication among Nations and
People (1973) and Cultural Dialogue (1978)
• A. G. Smith's Transracial Communication (1973)
• Condon and Yousef’ s Introduction to Intercultural Communication
(1975), Barnlund's Public and Private Self in Japan and United States
(1975), Sitaram and Cogdell's Foundations of Intercultural
Communication (1976), Fischer and Merrill's International and
Intercultural Communication (1976), Dodd's Perspectives on Cross-
Cultural Communication (1977), Weaver's Crossing Cultural Barriers
(1978), and Kohls' Survival Kit for Overseas Living (1979).
A Short History of Intercultural Communication

• 4) From 1981 to the Present Time


• Gudykunst's Intercultural Communication Theory:
Current Perspectives (1983), Gudykunst and Kim's
Methods of Intercultural Research (1984),
Kincaid's Communication Theory: Eastern and
Western Perspectives, Kim and Gudykunst's
Theories in Intercultural Communication (1988),
and Asante and Gudykunst's Handbook of
International and Intercultural Communication
(1989).
A Short History of Intercultural
Communication
• From the 1970s to the present time the
direction for the study of intercultural
communication has been determined mainly
by three influences: (1) the International and
Intercultural Communication Annual (IICA), (2)
the Speech Communication Association (SCA),
and (3) the International Communication
Association (ICA).
The Content of Intercultural
Communication Study
• intercultural communication - an ambiguous concept
• Rich (1974) classification: intercultural communication,
international communication, interracial
communication, interethnic or minority
communication, contracultural communication
• Outline of Intercultural Communication (1978), Stewart
• William B. Gudykunst (1987) - four categories: (1)
intercultural communication, (2) cross-cultural
communication, (3) international communication, and
(4) comparative mass communication.
Value Orientation Method
• Description of Five Common Human Concerns and
Three Possible Responses
• Human Nature: What is the basic nature of people?
• Man-Nature Relationship: What is the
appropriate relationship to nature?
• Time Sense: How should we best think about time?
• Activity: What is the best mode of activity?
• Social Relations: What is the best form of social
organization?
Communication Theories
• Theories focusing on effective outcomes
• Theories focusing on accommodation or
adaption
• Theories focusing on identity negotiation or
management
• Theories focusing on communication networks
• Theories focusing on acculturation and
adjustment
• Other Theories
QUESTIONS

• Why study Intercultural Communication?


• Are people able to understand one another if
they do not share a common cultural
background?
• How can intercultural business communication
competence be built?
• What are the benefits of the Value Orientation
Method (VOM) in understanding core cultural
differences related to the basic human concerns
or orientations?

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