DEFINITION OF TERMS

Accommodation – It is the means by which co-culture members maintain their cultural identity
while striving to establish relationships with members of the dominant culture.

Assimilation – It is the means by which co-culture members attempt to fit in with members of
the dominant culture.

Co-cultures – It refers to group of people who differ in some ethnic or sociological way from the
parent culture.

Collectivistic Cultures – It refers to cultures in which group goals are stressed.

Cultural Imperialism – It is the expansion of dominion of one culture over another culture.

Cultural Pluralism – It is the adherence to the principle of cultural relativism.

Cultural Relativism – It refers to the acceptance of other cultural groups as equal in value to
one's own.

Culturally Confused – It refers to the lacking an understanding of cultural difference.

Culture – It is a system of knowledge, beliefs, values, customs, behaviors, and artifacts that are
acquired, shared, and used by members during daily living.

Diversity – It refers to the recognition and valuing of difference such factors as age, gender,
race, ethnicity, ability, religion, education, marital status, sexual orientation and income.

Ethnocentrism – It is the tendency to see one's own culture as superior to all others.

Globalization – It refers to the increasing economic, political, and cultural integration and
interdependence of diverse cultures.

High-context Communication – It is a tradition-bound communication system which depends

on indirectness.

High-power-distance Cultures – It pertains to the cultures based on power differences in which

subordinates defer to superiors.

Individualistic Cultures - It pertains to the cultures in which individual goals are stressed.

Intercultural Communication – It is the way of interpreting and sharing meanings with

individuals from different cultures.

Interethnic Communication – It refers to the interaction with individuals of different ethnic

origins.

International Communication - It refers to the communication between persons representing

different nations.

Intracultural Communication - It refers to the interaction with members of the same racial or
ethnic group or co-culture as yours.

Interracial Communication - It is the way of interpreting and sharing of meanings with

individuals from different races.

Low-context Communication – It is a system that encourages directness in communication.

Low-power-distance Cultures – It pertains to the cultures that believe that power should be
used only when legitimate.

Masculine Cultures - It pertains to the cultures that value aggressiveness, strength, and
material symbols of success.

Melting-pot Philosophy – It is the view that different cultures should be assimilated into the
dominant culture.

Multiculturalism – It refers to the engagement with and respect toward people from distinctly
different cultures.

Prejudice – It is a positive or negative prejudgment.

Separation – It is the means co-culture members use to resist interacting with members of the
dominant culture.