unit 1

what is intercultural communication?

culture: an iceberg metaphor

culture is like an iceberg

surface-level culture:

 popular culture (cultural artifacts or systems that have mass

appeal and that infiltrate our daily life)

 intermediate-level culture: symbols, meanings, and norms

 deep-level culture: traditions, beliefs, and values

 universal human needs: security, inclusion, love, respect,

control, and creating meaning.

intermediate-level culture:
symbols, meanings, and norms

*a symbol is a sign, artifact, word(s), or nonverbal behavior that stands for or reflects
something meaningful.

*the meanings or interpretations that we attach to a symbol (e.g., a national flag or a

nonverbal gesture), for example, can cue both objective and subjective reactions.

*cultural norms refer to the collective expectations of what constitutes proper or improper
behaviors in a given interaction scene.

deep-level culture: traditions, beliefs, and values

*cultural shared traditions can include myths, legends, ceremonies, and rituals (e.g.,
celebrating hanukkah or thanksgiving) that are passed on from one generation to the
next via an oral or written medium.

*cultural shared beliefs refer to a set of fundamental assumptions or worldviews that

people hold dearly to their hearts without question.

*cultural values refer to a set of priorities that guide “good” or “bad” behaviors,
“desirable” or “undesirable” practices, and “fair” or “unfair” actions

universial human needs

*even though people diverse cultures are dissimilar in many ways, they are also alike in

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 many aspects-especially in the deep levels of the needs for human respect, and
security.

a. facial expressions b. importance of time

a. religious rituals b. concept of self
a. paintings b. concept of leadership
b. values a. literature
a. holiday customs b. nature of friendship
a. gestures b. general world view
a. foods b. work ethic
b. concept of beauty b. rules of social etiquette
a. eating habits b. concept of personal space
a. music a. styles of dress
b. concept of fairness b. notions of modesty
b. childraising beliefs intercultural communication
b. understanding of the natural world competence:
b. religious beliefs a staircase model

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quiz

you spend hours determining the appropriate gifts for your visit to japan and
purchase them from all the best stores. you will present them...

a) still in the shopping bag to capitalize on the prestige from where you purchased
them.

b) quickly wrap in brown paper for the trip over.

c) spend 10 minutes wrapping each one of them very carefully and elegantly once
you are in japan

d) no wrapping so everyone sees how much you spent and assumes your company is
very rich.

when giving flowers as gifts in western europe,

be careful not to give:

a) tulips and jonquils

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 b) daisies and lilacs

c) chrysanthemums and calla lilies

d) lilacs and apple blossoms

if you want to give a necktie or a scarf to a latin american it is best to avoid the
colour::
a) red

b) purple

c) green

d) black

the doors in german offices and homes are generally kept:

a) wide open to symbolize an acceptance and welcome of strangers and friends

b) slightly ajar to suggest that some people should knock before entering

c) half-opened suggesting that some people are welcome and others are not

d) tightly shut to preserve privacy and personal space

in some south american countries, it is considered normal and acceptable to show up

for a social appointment:

a) ten to fifteen minutes early

b) ten to fifteen minutes late

c) fifteen minutes to an hour late

d) one to two hours late

in france, when friends talk to one another:

a) they generally stand about three feet apart

b) it is typical to shout

c) they stand closer to one another than americans do

d) it is always with a third party present

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