1. Cultures and Cocultures Intercultural communication: A comparison of communication from different culturesIntercultural communication: A comparison of communication from different cultures

2. Intercultural communication More formally: The study of the impacts that cultural and co-cultural differences have on communication encoding and decoding. It is designed to help the student develop a better understanding of communication differences (both verbal and non-verbal) and strategies that will improve his or her communication with diverse groups of people.More formally: The study of the impacts that cultural and co-cultural differences have on communication encoding and decoding. It is designed to help the student develop a better understanding of communication differences (both verbal and non-verbal) and strategies that will improve his or her communication with diverse groups of people.

3. Culture People often think of elements such as music and art when they hear the term “culture.” That aspect of culture is known as objective culture.People often think of elements such as music and art when they hear the term “culture.” That aspect of culture is known as objective culture. Intercultural communication is more concerned with subjective culture.Intercultural communication is more concerned with subjective culture.

4. Culture defined From this perspective, culture is defined as the attitudes, beliefs, values, and behaviors common to people within a particular country or region.From this perspective, culture is defined as the attitudes, beliefs, values, and behaviors common to people within a particular country or region. For example, there is a U.S. culture and a North American culture.For example, there is a U.S. culture and a North American culture.

5. Co-Culture defined A group of people who have attitudes, beliefs, values, and behaviors different from those within a particular culture.A group of people who have attitudes, beliefs, values, and behaviors different from those within a particular culture. Co-cultures are based on gender, race, socioeconomic status, religion, physical ability, population density, physical size, geographic location, age, and man other characteristics.Co-cultures are based on gender, race, socioeconomic status, religion, physical ability, population density, physical size, geographic location, age, and man other characteristics.

6. So why is this important? A person’s culture and co-cultures essentially determine perceptions.A person’s culture and co-cultures essentially determine perceptions. Messages are encoded, transferred, and decoded in the context of one’s culture and co-culture.Messages are encoded, transferred, and decoded in the context of one’s culture and co-culture. This process is automatic, subtle, and subconscious. For example, just because I am male does not mean I think that messages must be encoded and decoded in specific ways, but subconsciously that is exactly what happens!This process is automatic, subtle, and subconscious. For example, just because I am male does not mean I think that messages must be encoded and decoded in specific ways, but subconsciously that is exactly what happens!

7. More reasons of importance In part, the study of intercultural communication makes communicators more consciously aware of the cultural and co-cultural variables that affect the encoding, transmission, and decoding of our own communication as well as the communication of others.In part, the study of intercultural communication makes communicators more consciously aware of the cultural and co-cultural variables that affect the encoding, transmission, and decoding of our own communication as well as the communication of others.

8. The source The environment: Our families, neighborhoods, schools, churches, and many other sources instill our sense of culture and co-culture.The environment: Our families, neighborhoods, schools, churches, and many other sources instill our sense of culture and co-culture. These aspects become automatic—how often do you think of whether or not you should wear clothes outside of home?These aspects become automatic—how often do you think of whether or not you should wear clothes outside of home?

9. Encoding Encoding: The act of preparing a message to be transmitted to another person. Our thoughts are encoded into verbal and non- verbal symbols; different cultures and co- cultures encode messages differently.

10. Decoding Decoding: The process of receiving verbal and non-verbal symbols and interpreting those symbols; different cultures and co- cultures decode messages differently.Decoding: The process of receiving verbal and non-verbal symbols and interpreting those symbols; different cultures and co- cultures decode messages differently.

11. Your co-cultures Before we go further into the study of intercultural communication, it will be helpful to identify some of your co- cultures. Try to identify at least ten of your co-cultures and rank them in terms of how important that each one is in affecting your communication and interaction with others.Before we go further into the study of intercultural communication, it will be helpful to identify some of your co- cultures. Try to identify at least ten of your co-cultures and rank them in terms of how important that each one is in affecting your communication and interaction with others.