Lesson 2: Intercultural Communication
food chains, and coffee shops"
Definition and Nature of Intercultural Communication
 Intercultural communication happens when
individuals interact, negotiate, and create
meanings while bringing in their varied cultural
backgrounds (Ting-Toomey, 1999).
 For some scholars, intercultural communication
pertains to communication among people from
different nationalities(Gudykunst,2003).
 Others look at intercultural communication as
communication that is influenced by different
ethnicities, religions, and sexual orientations.
 Both interpretations show that intercultural
communication takes place when people draw
from their cultural identity to understand values,
prejudices, language, attitudes, and relationships
(Gudykunst & Kim, 2003)
 Intercultural communication is the sending and
receiving of messages across languages and
cultures.
 Sometimes intercultural communication can flow
smoothly and become very interesting for a cross-
cultural group. However, things may not go as
planned when communication is disrupted by
cultural collisions.
 Speak(gestures, facial expressions, and other body
movements that add to what you are saying in
different ways)
For example, nodding means “yes” in the
Indian subcontinent, Iran, most of
Europe, Latin America, and North
America. However, in Greece, Lebanon,
Syria, Palestine, Turkey, Macedonia,
Bulgari, and Albania, nodding indicates
disagreement.
It is important for you to acknowledge
and understand the many communication
patterns present in other cultures.
The Development Model of Intercultural Sensitivity
The DMIS offers a structure that explores how people
experience cultural differences.
-Bennett and Bennett (2004)
6 Stages
Stage 1: Denial. The individual does not recognize cultural
differences.
“All cities are the same, they all have tall buildings, fast
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.
“This culture does not view life the way we do, our
culture is certainly better”
“Their ways are better than my own; I wish I were one
of them”
Stage 3: Minimization. Although individuals see cultural
differences, they bank more on the universality of ideas
rather than on cultural differences.
“Once we see through the cultural differences, we really
are just the same!”
Stage 4: Acceptance. The individual begins to appreciate
important cultural differences in behaviors and eventually
in values.
“These people and I have different values and
experiences, and I think we can learn from one
another”.
Stage 5: Adaptation. The individual is very open to world
views when accepting new perspectives.
“To address our issue, I have to adjust my approach to
consider both my own and my counterpart’s
background”.
Stage 6: Integration. Individuals start to go beyond their
own cultures and see themselves and their actions based
on multifarious cultural viewpoints.
“I can look at things from the perspective of various
cultures”
 Once you understand these stages, you may apply
it to …
1)recognize communication behaviors which differ
from your own
2)take into account what can influence these
types of behaviors,
3)try to analyze how linguistic and cultural
communities differ in terms of communication
behavior and influencing factors (Allywood, 1985)