Intercultural

Communication

Oral Communication in Context

 DEFINITION AND
NATURE OF
INTERCULTURAL
COMMUNICATION
Intercultural
Communication
 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).

Intercultural
Communication
 DEFINITION AND NATURE OF
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION

For some scholars, intercultural

communication pertains to communication
among people from different nationalities
(Gudykunst, 2003). Still, others look at
intercultural communication as communication
that is influenced by different ethnicities,
religions, and sexual orientations.

Intercultural
Communication
 DEFINITION AND NATURE OF
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION

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
 DEFINITION AND NATURE OF
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION

Moreover, this facet of communication can

also be seen as a bargained understanding
of human experiences across diverse
societies. Simply put, intercultural
communication is the sending and
receiving of messages across languages
and cultures.
Intercultural
Communication
THE DEVELOPMENTAL
MODEL OF
INTERCULTURAL
SENSITIVITY

Intercultural
Communication
 THE DEVELOPMENTAL MODEL OF
INTERCULTURAL SENSITIVITY

Stage 1: Denial
The individual does not recognize
cultural differences.
An individual in the denial stage might be heard saying:

“All cities are the same; they all

have tall buildings, fast food
chains, and coffee shops.”
Intercultural
Communication
 THE DEVELOPMENTAL MODEL OF
INTERCULTURAL SENSITIVITY

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.
An individual in the defense stage might be heard saying:

“This culture does not view life

the way we do; our culture is
certainly better.”
Intercultural
Communication
 THE DEVELOPMENTAL MODEL OF
INTERCULTURAL SENSITIVITY

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.
An individual in the defense stage might be heard saying:

“Their ways are better than my

own; I wish I were one of them.”
Intercultural
Communication
 THE DEVELOPMENTAL MODEL OF
INTERCULTURAL SENSITIVITY

Stage 3: Minimization
Although individuals see cultural differences,
they bank more on the universality of ideas
rather than on cultural differences.
An individual in the minimization stage might be heard saying:

“Once we see through the

cultural differences, we really
are just the same!”
Intercultural
Communication
 THE DEVELOPMENTAL MODEL OF
INTERCULTURAL SENSITIVITY

Stage 4: Acceptance
The individual begins to appreciate important
cultural differences in behaviors and
eventually in values.
An individual in the acceptance stage might be heard saying:

“These people and I have different

values and experiences, and I
think we can learn from one
another.”
Intercultural
Communication
 THE DEVELOPMENTAL MODEL OF
INTERCULTURAL SENSITIVITY

Stage 5: Adaptation
The individual is very open to world
views when accepting new perspectives.
An individual in the adaptation stage might be heard saying:

“To address our issue, I have to

adjust my approach to consider
both my own and my
counterpart’s background.”
Intercultural
Communication
 THE DEVELOPMENTAL MODEL OF
INTERCULTURAL SENSITIVITY

Stage 6: Integration
Individuals start to go beyond their own cultures
and see themselves and their actions based on
multifarious cultural viewpoints.
An individual in the integration stage might be heard saying:

“I can look at things from the

perspective of various cultures.”

Intercultural
Communication
 THE DEVELOPMENTAL MODEL OF
INTERCULTURAL SENSITIVITY

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, and 3) try to analyze how linguistic
and cultural communities differ in terms of
communication behavior and influencing
factors (Allwood, 1985).
Intercultural
Communication
 CHARACTERISTICS
OF COMPETENT
INTERCULTURAL
COMMUNICATORS
Intercultural
Communication
 CHARACTERISTICS OF COMPETENT
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATORS
World Bank (2010) identifies the following traits that define a
competent intercultural communicator.

1. flexibility and the ability to

tolerate high levels of uncertainty
2. reflectiveness or mindfulness

Intercultural
Communication
 CHARACTERISTICS OF COMPETENT
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATORS
World Bank (2010) identifies the following traits that define a
competent intercultural communicator.

3. open-mindedness
4. sensitivity
5. adaptability

Intercultural
Communication
 CHARACTERISTICS OF COMPETENT
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATORS
World Bank (2010) identifies the following traits that define a
competent intercultural communicator.

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)
Intercultural
Communication
 CHARACTERISTICS OF COMPETENT
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATORS
World Bank (2010) identifies the following traits that define a
competent intercultural communicator.

7. politeness

Intercultural
Communication
 CHARACTERISTICS OF COMPETENT
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATORS
Note that in addition to culture, other elements such as gender, age, social
status, and religion must also be taken into consideration when
communicating with others. Refrain from showing bias when talking to
someone by following the tips below.

1. Avoid stereotypes, i.e.,

generalizations about a
certain group.
Intercultural
Communication
 CHARACTERISTICS OF COMPETENT
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATORS
Note that in addition to culture, other elements such as gender, age, social
status, and religion must also be taken into consideration when
communicating with others. Refrain from showing bias when talking to
someone by following the tips below.

2. Challenge gender norms; avoid using “he”

and “man” to refer to a general group of
people. To remedy this, you may use plural
pronouns or rewrite a sentence to avoid
using pronouns. The use of his/her is also
acceptable.
Intercultural
Communication
 CHARACTERISTICS OF COMPETENT
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATORS
Note that in addition to culture, other elements such as gender, age, social
status, and religion must also be taken into consideration when
communicating with others. Refrain from showing bias when talking to
someone by following the tips below.

3. Do not talk down on younger

people and the elderly.

Intercultural
Communication
 CHARACTERISTICS OF COMPETENT
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATORS
Note that in addition to culture, other elements such as gender, age, social
status, and religion must also be taken into consideration when
communicating with others. Refrain from showing bias when talking to
someone by following the tips below.

4. Be sensitive to the
religious practices of others.

Intercultural
Communication
 CHARACTERISTICS OF COMPETENT
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATORS
Note that in addition to culture, other elements such as gender, age, social
status, and religion must also be taken into consideration when
communicating with others. Refrain from showing bias when talking to
someone by following the tips below.

5. Be polite at all times; do not

belittle people you perceive to be
on a lower social class than you.
Intercultural
Communication
 Intercultural
Communication

Oral Communication in Context