Intercultural Communication Theories and Concepts - Essay Example

Intercultural Communication Theories and Concepts Meaning of Intercultural communication - Intercultural communication may refer to a communication process that involves people from different cultures. Indeed, intercultural communication manifests when people from different cultural backgrounds engage in specific interactions. -However, the actual meaning of intercultural communication relies on the definition of culture that is usually contestable. -Scholars have developed various intercultural communication theories and concepts that depict intercultural communication as a symbolic process where people from diverse cultural backgrounds share a cultural meaning. -Ideally, intercultural communication theories help me to understand the actual meaning of intercultural communication in my learning environment. -Beck’s intercultural communication theories have enhanced my knowledge of deriving a meaning from a particular communication. Apparently, proficiency in the host culture language is a prerequisite for any intercultural communication. -The theories confirm that communication helps in establishing what another person is thinking. -The most dominant intercultural communication theories include the following: Individualism/Collectivism Uncertainty Avoidance Power-Distance Masculine/Feminine Ethnocentrism Confucian Dynamism Cultural Shock Individualism/collectivism The theory seeks to establish whether unique attributes or group memberships define individuals from an individual culture (Communication for Governance & Accountability Program 1). Moreover, the theory explores whether individual achievement and gratification are more important than unity a cultural group. The theory has enhanced my knowledge about collectivism with reference to the Thailand research project that encouraged me to befriend people from Thailand that helped me to explore Thailand culture. The impact of individualism-collectivism cultural dimension guided my Thailand project since it attracts the greatest attention in intercultural communication. I learned that members of a highly collectivist nation like Thailand depend on one another at different levels (Gorodnichenko and Roland 2-4). Apparently, collectivism culture is more useful than the individualism culture as seen in international universities where international students from China record higher grades compared to American students. Uncertainty Avoidance The theory explores the risk of experimenting new cultures compared to adopting well-known cultural trends (Communication for Governance & Accountability Program 1). The theory has developed my knowledge on cultural diversity where I have been interacting with people from different cultures with the aim of understanding such cultures and borrowing the best cultural values. The concept helped me to understand how Thailand people feel the threat of uncertainties that may affect Thailand culture (Hawks 1). I have read and adopted the best American and Thailand values to complement my host culture. Power distance The theory compares minimum status differences with the preference for strict social hierarchies (Communication for Governance & Accountability Program 1). It relates to the acceptance of unequal distribution of power by the less powerful (The Hofstede Centre 1). Power distance relies on Hofstede theories where individuals from high power distance cultures accept power as part of society (Andrews University 1). The theory was significant in my project since it helped me to understand the powerful effect of Thailand culture on communication (College of Marin 1). For example, I established that Thailand people respect their King. Masculinity-Femininity The theory explores whether culture cultivates competition or cooperation. Hofstede dimension of masculinity developed my knowledge about societies that differentiate social gender roles. Indeed, my Thailand project investigated the degree to which Thailand people consider themselves masculine or feminine. Thailand depicts a feminine society that respects women and allows them to work for a living (The Hofstede Centre 1). Ethnocentrism The theory refers to treating your culture as superior to other cultures (Communication for Governance & Accountability Program 1). The theory has developed my knowledge about ethnocentric people who consider their culture as the right and best culture in total disregard of other cultures. For example, Americans are ethnocentric since they believe that the American culture is ideal and the best in the world. On the contrary, Thailand people value and accommodate other cultures. Intercultural communication competence eliminates ethnocentrism. Confucian Dynamism The theory compares immediate outcomes and personal dignity with the emphasis on long-term perspectives and social order (Communication for Governance & Accountability Program 1). The theory developed my understanding on the significance of respecting personal dignity during intercultural communication. Cultural Shock It is fundamental in intercultural communication. Cultural shock relates to the reaction derived from a psychological experience witnessed by most people who interact with another culture. Cultural shock is very popular among international students who experience the American culture for the first time. The cultural shock relates to the immediate need for knowledge of American culture and English proficiency. The cultural shock may manifest through hostility, euphoria, gradual adjustment, and adaptation of cultural diversity. As an international student, I experienced cultural shock upon landing in both America and Thailand. However, I started to understand the new cultures since I wanted to belong to the environment. I established the good and bad things about the American and Thailand culture that enabled me to interact with people from the two cultures. 2. Intercultural Communication Skills Apparently, intercultural communication manifest when people from different cultural communities negotiate shared meanings in interaction. Nonverbal Communication Observation The Nonverbal Communication Observation defines how we can communicate with other people without talking. I learned the need to understand how to use nonverbal communication patterns in other cultures to present intended meanings. For instance, flirting depicts nonverbal communication. Moreover, the American culture involves the use of Haptic from nonverbal communication. We can also communicate through observing each other behaviors and looking into their eyes. Since the eyes reflect the soul, people from any culture can establish our sincerity and feelings by looking through our eyes. Meaning of Culture We can only understand different cultures by integrating our host culture with other cultures. My class regards culture as a set of morals, beliefs, norms, customs and values of a group of people that can change over time. I have adopted this meaning in my academic pursuit. Experiencing Different Cultures In my culture learning sojourn plan, I experienced a different culture that defined the Thailand culture. My sojourn plan took me to Thailand where I experienced different Thailand cultures. For example, Thailand people do not wave their hands to greet people but their cultural greetings include putting their palms together in a “Wei” gesture and bowing. Thailand people follow Buddhism religion. As such, Thailand culture is evidently different from my Chinese culture or even the American culture. Becoming a Good Learner My experience with different cultures taught me about the need to become a good learner. The learning will include understanding various cultural languages and adopting cultural diversity in a multicultural society. A good learner will gain the capacity to interact with people from different cultures by respecting their cultural views and adopting cultural values that correlate with the host culture. Intercultural Communication Competence Proficiency in the host culture language is fundamental to intercultural competence. Being sensitive and understanding how to use nonverbal communication patterns in other cultures to present intended meanings also define intercultural communication competence (Communication for Governance & Accountability Program 1). Flexibility and capacity to accommodate high levels of uncertainty, and the potential to respect divergent views amount to intercultural communication competence. Competent intercultural communicators disregard their ethnocentric reactions to accommodate other cultures (Communication for Governance & Accountability Program 1). Self-disclosure Self-disclosure is fundamental in a multicultural society since it establishes relationships between people from distinct cultures. I learned that self-disclosure motivates us to engage with others. For instance, I rely on self-exposure to enquire how my classmates experienced the quality of our classes. 3. Intercultural Communication Strengths Ability to Understand Nonverbal Behavior The class discussions and specific extra curriculum activities have enabled our group to develop and understand nonverbal behaviors used to greet people in different cultures. Apparently, some cultures like the American culture allow their members to greet one another with a kiss while others only wave at each other. Thailand cultural greetings include putting their palms together in a “Wei” gesture and bowing. The understanding informs me on how to greet people from different cultures. Explored the New Things from Different Cultures The online discussion and my culture learning sojourn plan to Thailand helped me to learn new cultural aspects. For example, rings are very significant in Thailand where they protect women against slavery. Intercultural Communication Competence I have gained the flexibility and capacity to accommodate high levels of uncertainty, and the potential to respect divergent views. I have also disregarded my natural ethnocentric reactions to understand the Thailand culture. 4. Intercultural Communication Weaknesses Misunderstanding I am still struggling to be fluent in English since English is not my native language. I fail to understand American students who speak so fast. I have been missing and misinterpreting certain ideas that jeopardize my intercultural communication competence. Moreover, I struggle to express my feelings and ideas to my colleagues during class discussions. Cultural Shock I am still struggling to integrate myself into the American culture despite being in America for a long time. The types of foods available in U.S have been a persistent challenge for me. Works Cited Andrews University. Hofstede: Power Distance. Web. 4 December 2014. < http://www.andrews.edu/~tidwell/bsad560/HofstedePowerDistance.html> College of Marin. High-context and Low-context Culture Styles. Web. 4 December 2014. Communication for Governance & Accountability Program. Intercultural Communication. Web. 4 December 2014. < http://siteresources.worldbank.org/EXTGOVACC/Resources/InterculturalCommweb.pdf> Gorodnichenko, Yuriy, and Gerard Roland. Understanding the Individualism-Collectivism Cleavage and its Effects: Lessons from Cultural Psychology. 2012. Web. 4 December 2014. Hawks, Douglas. Hofstedes Uncertainty Avoidance Index: Definition & Example Cultures. Web. 4 December 2014. The Hofstede Centre. What about Thailand? Web. 4 December 2014. < http://geert-hofstede.com/thailand.html> Read More