 | Chapter Summary
(See related pages)
The study of intercultural communication is important because:
- We are increasingly exposed to people of other cultures and co-cultures.
- We have an economic need to relate to others.
- We are curious about others.
Co-cultures communicate with the dominant culture with different goals.
- The three goals of co-cultural communication with the dominant culture are separation, accommodation, and assimilation.
Ethnocentrism and stereotyping result in communication problems in both intercultural and co-cultural interactions.
Cultural barriers can be reduced by learning the norms and values of other cultures.
Cultures can be characterized by variations such as:
- Individualistic versus collectivist cultures.
- Low-context versus high-context cultures.
- Uncertainty-accepting versus uncertainty-rejecting cultures.
- Implicit-rule versus explicit-rule cultures.
- M-time versus P-time cultures.
You can strive to improve your own communication competence by:
- Conducting a personal self-assessment.
- Practicing supportive communication behaviors.
- Developing sensitivity toward diversity.
- Avoiding stereotypes.
- Avoiding ethnocentrism.
- Developing code sensitivity.
- Seeking shared codes.
- Using descriptive feedback.
- Opening communication channels.
- Managing conflicting beliefs and practices.
|
|