1. Intercultural communication

2. Glossary Communication:
A process involving one or more persons sending and receiving messages during some kind of social interaction. This process is not as simple as it first appears because the process has many layers.

3. How do people communicate?
Verbal communication is language, spoken or written. However it only accounts for about 35% of actual communication. Non verbal cues make up about 50% of the message. The meaning of the message is also influenced by tone, volume, levels of formality, speed and pauses.

4. A Model of communication
Message
Verbal
Non-verbal
Cultural Context
Sender
Receiver
Interference
(Can be caused by intercultural misunderstanding)
The response usually reveals whether the message has been understood

5. Verbal communication There are two types of verbal communication:
The ‘verbal text’ is the actual words that are spoken.
‘Vocal paralanguage’ is the different ways in which the words can be said.
E.g. “Come here,” could be spoken in a firm, loud voice by a teacher on playground duty or in a soft, friendly manner by a family member in your household.

6. Nonverbal communication
Research suggests that nonverbal communication is more important in understanding human behaviour than the words people say.

8. Messages are communicated through many un-voiced means, including:
Clothing & hairstyles
Body language
Gestures
Eye contact
Personal space
Patterns of touch
Observable cultural differences

9. Gestures and their meaning differ between cultures.
For example, giving directions to someone by pointing is considered rude in parts of Asia.

11. Questions..
What are the norms/customs dictating body language in Australia?
How might a person’s cultural background affect this?
Is there room for individualism?

12. Glossary Customs: Socialisation:
Established ways of thinking and acting.
Socialisation:
The process by which we learn to become members of society, by internalising the norms and values of society, and learning to perform social roles.

13. Styles of communication
There are three main styles of communication that people use. These will effect the message being sent:
Passive
They often take a secondary position to other people and communicate this by stating that the receiver’s needs are of primary importance and that whatever the receiver of the message feels or wants is correct.

14. Aggressive
The aggressive sender believes strongly in his/her own rights and does not feel that other people’s rights are as important as their own.
Assertive
The assertive person expresses his/her own needs while also effectively listening to the receiver’s responses.

15. Glossary
Values:
Those things, which a person feels are very important to them. Values often influence how we view the world

16. Contexts of Communication
Communication always takes place within a context.
Some cultures are regarded as high-context and others are low-context.

17. High-context cultures
These place a high emphasis on non-verbal communication and implicit factors of the communication.
E.G. Japan and India
Characteristics:
Indirect
Emotionally controlled
Implicit/Nonverbal
Self-effacing/Modest
Formal
Goal oriented

18. Low-Context cultures
These cultures put less emphasis on non-verbal communication and social hierarchies.
E.G. US, Canada, Great Britain
Characteristics:
Explicit/Verbal
Self-promoting/ Egocentric
Informal
Spontaneous
Emotionally expressive

19. What about Australia? Self help is a valued attribute in Australia.
Inherited privilege is viewed negatively
Working in pairs think of 8 more characteristics/attitudes of Australian culture.
Hint: Think about the values that our national songs, poems, myths and stereotypes perpetuate.

20. Why bother with intercultural communication?
Living in a multicultural society, such as Australia, you are likely to be involved in intercultural communication. At school, work or in your local community you need to be able to communicate with people from a range of cultural backgrounds.

21. Glossary Globalisation:
Describes the emergence of a global culture brought about by a variety of social and cultural developments. It involves a consciousness of the worlds as a single place.
E.G. Transnational corporations, the spread of world tourism and the emergence of global sport.

22. Think about…
Do you make changes to the way you communicate from situation to situation?
Does this happen subconsciously or do you have to stop and think about what to do?

23. Intercultural misunderstandings
We all have assumptions about the way people are supposed to behave. These assumptions are invariably challenged in an intercultural encounter.
It is important to acknowledge that intercultural communication is a two-way process. Ideally, both communicators need to be making the effort to understand the other’s culture.

24. Glossary Cooperation:
When individuals work together to produce a common effect

25. Reconsidering assumptions
Situation
Misunderstanding
Understanding
The person you’re talking to avoids looking you in the eye
They’re lying or guilty
They’re shy or intimidated
In their culture it’s rude to look directly into someone’s eyes when talking to them
You’re angry with someone, but her response is to laugh or smile
They’re not taking you seriously or don’t care
They’re making fun of you
They’re embarrassed and don’t know how to respond. It might be unusual to show anger in their culture.
You notice many men holding hands but no heterosexual couples doing the same
Homosexuality must be dominant in this society
In some cultures it is normal for people of the same gender to hold hands in public, but not for heterosexual couples to show their affection in public.

26. Glossary Stereotypes Mores Cultural Relativism
Characteristics that people assign to particular groups of people whether or not the groups actually have those characteristics.
Mores
Moral rules or ways of behaving that most members of society believe are essential for maintaining standards of decency
Cultural Relativism
The idea that concepts are socially constructed and vary cross culturally. It implies that one must always view cultures objectively.

27. Continuity
The idea that things stay the same over time. In Australia this is reflected through the celebration of Anzac Day every year and the continuation of Anzac Day parades. These cultural continuities influence the communication process within different cultures.
Change
When things within societies and cultures do not remain the same. This can be seen when we examine the way communication styles and mediums have changed over time.

28. Acculturation Enculturation
Involves the process of contacts between different cultures and also the outcome of such contacts. It may involve direct social interaction or exposure to other cultures through mass media.
Enculturation
The idea that to be a full member of a culture or subculture, individuals have to learn to use, formally and informally, the patterns of behaviour prescribed by that culture.

29. Barriers to successful intercultural communication
Some people’s enculturation experiences have included absorbing prejudices from other people or the media.
The situation becomes worse if the person has little contact with other cultures, allowing stereotypes to influence decision making.

30. The key to effective intercultural communication is adopting a position of cultural relativism. This means that the way people from another society behave can only be understood in terms of their own values, beliefs and norms.
When we come into contact with people from different cultures, some aspects of their way of life will be observable and some will not.

31. The ‘invisible’ aspects of a culture (unseen values, norms and beliefs, etc) will provide the foundation for their observable behaviour. In this way culture is similar to an iceberg.

32. The iceberg of culture What you need to know and can actually see
Stereotypes
Discrimination
Food Environment
Language Customs Rituals
Behaviour Clothing
Prejudice
Continuity Roles Social structure Institutions
Social change Acculturation Enculturation
Attitudes Status Tradition Mores Values
Religion Rules Organisations Government
Collectivist/Individualist
What you need to know but is less visible

33. Glossary Identity Cultural heritage Cultural diversity
Refers to what makes someone a unique person. E.G. a person’s name, personality, family, cultural background, peers all contribute to one’s identity
Cultural heritage
Aspects of the past that we want to keep and pass on to other generations
Cultural diversity
The differences in race, ethnicity, language, nationality and/or groups within a society

34. Strategies to achieve intercultural understanding
Cultural Relativism
Overcome ethnocentric feelings
Strive for empathy
Be willing to communicate and enthusiastic to learn
Listen and observe carefully
Understand that you and the other person will each make mistakes, and so you will need to persevere
Be aware that ‘culture shock’
may result in ill-considered
decisions and misunderstandings
Be willing to share
your own culture with the other person
Learn as much
as you can about the culture with which you will be communicating,
including values, customs
and gestures
Learn some useful
words and phrases in the other person’s language.
This opens doors and
brings rapport
and warmth.

35. Hybrid societies
A hybrid society is one that comprises a variety of social and cultural influences and components, rather than one homogenous identity.

36. Individualist or collectivist
Individualistic
Collectivist
The emphasis is on the individual
The emphasis is on the group
Achievements are mostly attributed to individuals
Achievements are the result of people working together
Sense of identity is focused on the individual
Sense of identity is focused on the community
There are few ties beyond the immediate family
People belong to strong, cohesive groups
The right to privacy and personal freedom are important
The group’s interests override personal freedom and privacy
Self-fulfilment is the main goal in life
Group harmony and consensus are the main goals in life.