Oral Communication

Lesson 2: Intercultural Communication

I. What is Intercultural Communication?

(Ting-Toomey, 1999; Gudykunst, 2003; Gudykunst and Kim, 2003)

 Intercultural Communication happens when individuals interact, negotiate, and create meanings
while bringing in their varied cultural backgrounds.
 Intercultural Communication pertains to communication among people from different
nationalities.
 Intercultural Communication is a communication that is influenced by different ethnicities,
religions, and sexual orientations.
 Intercultural Communication refers to the communication between people from two different
cultures having a symbolic, interpretative, transactional, contextual process in which they create
shared meanings.
 Intercultural Communication takes place when people draw from their cultural identity to
understand values, prejudices, language, attitudes, and relationships.


II. The Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity

(Bennet and Bennet 2004)

 Stage 1: Denial Stage

The individual does not recognize cultural differences.
 Stage 2: Defense
The individual starts to recognize cultural differences and is intimidated by them, resulting
in either a superior view on own culture or an unjustified high regard for the new one.
 Stage 3: Minimization
Although individuals see cultural differences, they bank more on the universality of ideas
rather than on cultural differences.
 Stage 4: Acceptance
The individual begins to appreciate important cultural differences in behaviors and
eventually in values.
 Stage 5: Adaptation
The individual is very open to world views when accepting new perspectives.
 Stage 6: Integration
Individuals start to go beyond their own cultures and see themselves and their actions
based on multifarious cultural viewpoints.

III. Characteristics of Competent Intercultural Communicators

(World Bank 2010)

1. Flexibility and the ability to tolerate high levels of uncertainty

2. Reflectiveness or mindfulness
3. Open-mindedness
4. Sensitivity
5. Adaptability
6. Ability to engage in divergent thinking (or thinking creatively) and systems-level thinking (or
thinking how each one in a system or organization influences each other)
7. Politeness

IV. Tips to refrain from showing bias when talking to someone.

1. When communicating to others, take into consideration the elements such as culture, gender, age,
social status, and religion.
2. Avoid stereotypes, i.e., generalization about a certain group.
3. Challenge gender norms.
4. Do not talk down on younger people and the elderly.
5. Be sensitive to the religious practices of others.
6. Be polite at all times; do not belittle people you perceive to be on lower social class than you.