lESSON 7:

INTERCULTURAL
COMMUNICATION
ORAL COMMUNICATION

Challenges in
Intercultural Communication

Principles in
Intercultural Communication

Study Tips

Open Microphone

Asynchronous Activity
Intercultural
communication

vs

cross-cultural
communication
Intercultural communication

Intercultural communication is a form of

communication that aims to impart
information, ideas, insights, and opinions
across various cultures and social
communities.

It is used to describe the wide range of

communication processes and challenges
that by nature happen within an organization
or social context made up of individuals from
different religions, social, ethnic, and
educational backgrounds.
Intercultural communication

Intercultural communication studies

situations where people from different
cultural backgrounds interact on social
attributes, thought patterns , significant
customs , and languages. It plays a role in
social sciences such as anthropology,
cultural studies, linguistics, psychology and
communication studies.
A Christian converses with a Muslim.
A woman receives an order from a man.
An American and African share their views.
A Chinese politician’s discussion with an American leader.
Cross-cultural communication
Cross-cultural communication should not be
used interchangeably with intercultural
communication.

It refers to the process of understanding how

people from different places, act , communicate
and perceive the world around them.

It involves comparing interactions among

people from the same culture to those from
another culture.
 Challenges in
Intercultural Communication
 Challenges in
Intercultural Communication

Message transmission

attribution

adaptation
 Challenges in
Intercultural Communication

In communication between two people of the

same culture, the person who receives the
message interprets it based on values,
beliefs and expectations for behavior similar
to those of the person who sent the message.

However, when a receiver is a person from

different culture, he uses information from
his culture and the interpretation may be
different from the speaker.

1. Message transmission
 Challenges in
Intercultural Communication
It is the process where people look for an
explanation of another person’s behavior.
When a person does not understand
another, he usually blames the confusion on
other’s “stupidity, deceit or craziness”.

2. attribution
 Challenges in
Intercultural Communication

lip plate

tattoos
turkana
red dot on
the forehead
2. attribution
 Challenges in
Intercultural Communication
Management of Intercultural Communication
To avoid misinterpretations between / among communicators, the following
vital points are suggested:

1. Develop cultural sensitivity

2. Anticipate the meaning of the receiver will get.
3. Careful encoding.
4. Use words, pictures and gestures.
5. Avoid slang, idioms, regional sayings.
6. Selective transmission
7. Build relationships, face to face ,if possible
8. Careful decoding of feedback
9. Get feedback from multiple parties
10. Improve listening and observation skills
11. Follow-up actions

3. adaptation
 Challenges in
Intercultural Communication

3. adaptation
 Challenges in
Intercultural Communication

3. adaptation
 Challenges in
Intercultural Communication

3. adaptation
 Challenges in
Intercultural Communication

3. adaptation
 Challenges in
Intercultural Communication

Message transmission

attribution

adaptation
 PRINCIPLES APPLIED IN
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
 PRINCIPLES APPLIED IN
Intercultural Communication

1. Cultural Convergence

2. Communication Accommodation Theory

3. Intercultural Adaption

4. Co-cultural Theory
PRINCIPLES APPLIED IN
Intercultural Communication
In a relatively closed social system in
which communication among members
is unrestricted, the system as a whole will
tend to converge over time toward a
state of greater cultural uniformity. The
system will tend to diverge toward
diversity when communication is
restricted.
e.g.
Filipino Communities
Chinese Communities
Indian Communities

1. Cultural Convergence
PRINCIPLES APPLIED IN
Intercultural Communication
This theory focuses on linguistic strategies to
decrease or increase communicative distances.

The theory talks about, people wanting to

portray their positive identity to others. They
tend to match their own vocabulary, accent
and cadence as of other interactants. For
example, people adopt the slang their friends
use to fit in.

e.g.
the use of "la" in Malaysia
chibog and jowa in the Philippines
OMG in American English
Thik Hain | Okay in India

2. Communication Accommodation Theory

PRINCIPLES APPLIED IN
Intercultural Communication
This theory is designed to explain how
communicators adapt to each other in “purpose –
related encounters”, at which cultural factors
need to be incorporated.

This is equated to assimilation,

(the process of taking in and fully understanding
information or ideas)

e.g.
Americans use the Filipino slangs like "petmalu"

3. Intercultural Adaption
PRINCIPLES APPLIED IN
Intercultural Communication
It refers to interactions among underrepresented
and dominant group members. It includes but are
not limited to people of color, women, people with
disabilities, gay men and lesbians, and those in the
lower social classes.

Co-cultural theory is a framework designed to

provide insight into the communication behaviors of
individuals with little societal power. Generated
primarily from the research of Mark Orbe, the
cocultural theory focuses on how culture and power
affect communication.

4. Co-cultural Theory
STUDY TIPS!
OPEN MICROPHONE
What is your key take away for today?
ANnouncement
Asynchronous activity
Answer Quiz No. 6 in your canvas.
Thank you for
actively
participating!

Prepared by:

Ms. Allen SD. Domingo,LPT

asddomingo@fatima.edu.ph