Intercultural

Communication
What is Intercultural
Communication?
“ According to science, each
person is genetically unique.
This uniqueness becomes
even more heightened
because of individual
experiences.
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Intercultural
Communication is:
✘ Derived from:
✘ Communication - The active
relationship established between
people through language
✘ Intercultural - A communicative
relationship is between people of
different cultures
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 Therefore Intercultural
Communication is:
Communication between individuals or
groups of different linguistic and cultural
origins.
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Why is Intercultural
Communication challenging?
✘ Because:
✗ Each culture is different:
■ Cultural Rules
■ Cultural Biases
✗ People of different cultures respond
differently
✗ The individuality and diversity of each
person

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Elements of Intercultural
Communication:
✘ High & Low Context Cultures
✘ Synchronic & Sequential Cultures
✘ Affective & Neutral Cultural
Approaches

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High & Low Context
Cultures

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 High & Low Context
Cultures
✘ refers to the value cultures place on
indirect and direct communication.

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 High Context Cultures
✘ relies on implicit communication and
nonverbal cues
✘ messages cannot be understood without a
great deal of background information

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 High Context Cultures
✘ Often display the ff. tendencies:
✗ Association: Relationships build slowly and
depend on trust.
✗ Interaction: Usage of nonverbal elements
✗ Territoriality: Space is communal
✗ Temporality: Everything has its own time,
and time is not easily scheduled.
✗ Learning: Multiple sources of information
are used. Thinking proceeds from general to
specific; accuracy is valued.
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 Low Context Cultures
✘ relies on explicit communication
✘ more of the information in a message is
spelled out and defined

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 Low Context Cultures
✘ Often display the ff. tendencies:
✗ Association: Relationships begin and end
quickly
✗ Interaction: Verbal messages are explicit, and
communication is seen as a way of
exchanging information, ideas and opinions.
✗ Territoriality: Space is compartmentalized
✗ Temporality: Events and tasks are scheduled
✗ Learning: One source of information is used.
Thinking proceeds from specific to general.
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Source: South Eastern University
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Synchronic & Sequential
Cultures

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 Examples of Sequential and
Synchronic Cultures:
Sequential: Synchronic:
• North • South
American America
• English • Southern
• German Europe
• Swedish • Asia
• Dutch
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 Sequential
✘ A linear commodity to “spend,” “save,” or
“waste.”
✘ Believes that the individual can influence
the future by personal effort
✘ Favor a short term view

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 Synchronic
✘ A constant flow to be experienced in the
moment
✘ A force that cannot be contained or
controlled
✘ The flow of time is viewed as a sort of a
circle
✘ The past, present and future interrelated
✘ Understand the present to prepare for
the future
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 Expressions of Sequential Time
Perception:
• • People do 1 thing at a time
• Times are precise
• Time is limited; Time is a resource that needs to
be efficiently used
• Logic, efficiency and speed are the focus of
business
• Tasks are sometimes secondary to time
• ‘Meeting deadlines’ is commended
• Future is a continuance of the present time-line 19
 Expressions of Synchronic Time
Perception:
• • People do multiple things at a time
• Times are guidelines/ intentions
• Time is a tool, a subjective, moldable concept
• Relationships and effectiveness are the focus of
business
• Time is secondary to tasks
• Completing the task is more important than
meeting deadlines
• Future is interconnected with the past and present
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Affective & Neutral Cultural
Approaches

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 Affective & Neutral
Approaches
✘ describes how overtly a culture
expresses emotions.

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 Affective Approach
✘ Express emotions more immediately,
openly and passionately.
✘ Can be seen as being out of control and
inconsistent.
✘ Have a wider range of facial expressions
and physical gestures during
conversation.
✘ Consider their emotions (intuitions) in
their decision making process.
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 Neutral Approach
✘ Do not openly or directly show emotions
and opinions and consider it inappropriate
to exhibit emotions in certain situations.
✘ Value self-control, being calm and rational,
and not going to emotional extremes.
✘ Separate their emotions from the decision
making process, and prefer to focus on
logic.

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 Examples of Affective and
Neutral Countries:
Affective: Neutral:
• Spain • Japan
• Brazil • Russia
• Italy • U.K
• U.S.A • Norway

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 References
✘ Dingenmans, A. (2011, February 15). Sequential vs Synchronic time
perception. Retrieved from
https://www.globalizen.com/sequential-vs-synchronic-time-
perception/
✘ Barrot, J. , Sipacio P. (2018) Intercultural Communication. In
Purposive Communication in the 21st Century (pp. 103-107).
Manila, Philippines. C & E Publishing, Inc.
✘ Lanqua (2016) Intercultural Communication. Retrieved from
https://www.lanqua.eu/theme/intercultural-communication/
✘ Intercultural English (2015) Affective or Neutral Cultures.
Retrieved from https://www.ic-english.com/affectiveneutral.html
✘ South Eastern University (2019) Intercultural Communication:
High- and Low-Context Cultures. Retrieved from
https://online.seu.edu/articles/high-and-low-context-cultures/
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Thanks!

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