Lesson 2-

Communication in
Multi-cultural
Setting ( G11
STEM)
Prepared by:

Jennyvi B. Espanola
Course Instructor
What can you say with the picture? How is it
related to intercultural communication?
What is intercultural communication?
- is a discipline that studies communication across
different cultures and social groups, or how culture
affects communication. It describes the wide range of
communication processes and problems that naturally
appear within an organization or social context made up
of individuals from different religions, social status,
family backgrounds, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation,
and educational backgrounds.
 Global communication becomes more
complicated when there are multiple recipients from
different cultures with different languages all receiving
the same message, as well as when there are more
layers added to the channel. For example, if a world
leader makes a speech broadcast across the globe,
people from one region may rejoice at the news, while
others may find it offensive. In this case, the channel
itself can involve many different layers, as translators,
news, editors and commentators each interpret the
message differently before passing it on to the intended
audiences.
Example of intercultural communication
Communicating across cultures

 Communicating across cultures is challenging. Each

culture has set rules that its members take for
granted. Few of us are aware of our own cultural
biases because cultural imprinting is begun at a very
early age. And while some of culture‘s knowledge,
rules, beliefs, values, phobias, and anxieties are
taught explicitly, most of the information is absorbed
subconsciously.
 HIGH CONTEXT VS. LOW CONTEXT
 High Context Cultures leave much of the message
unspecified, to be understood through context,
nonverbal cues, and between-the-lines interpretation
of what is actually said
(Latin American, African, European)

 Low context cultures expect message to be explicit

and specific.
(most Germanic and English-speaking countries.
 
 SEQUENTIAL VS. SYNCHRONIZING
 In Sequential Culture, businesspeople give full
attention to one agenda item after another. (North
American, English, German, Swedish, Dutch)

 In Synchronic culture, the flow of time is viewed as a

circle, with the past, present and future all interrelated.
(South American, Southern Europe, Asia.
 The Developmental Model of
Intercultural Sensitivity
Stage 1. Denial. The individual does not
recognize cultural differences.

Stage 2. Defense. The individual starts to

recognize individual differences and is intimidated
by them, resulting in either a superior view on
own culture or an unjustified high regard for the
new one.
Stage 5. Adaptation. The individual is
very open to world views when accepting
new perspectives.

Stage 6. Integration. Individuals start to

go beyond their own cultures and see
themselves and their actions based on
multifarious cultural viewpoints.
Stage 3. Minimization. Although
individuals see cultural differences, they
bank more on the universality of ideas rather
than on cultural differences.

Stage 4. Acceptance. The individual begins

to appreciate important cultural differences
in behaviors and eventually in values.
Characteristics of a competent Intercultural
Communicators
 flexibility and the ability to tolerate high levels of
uncertainty
 reflectiveness or mindfulness
 open-mindedness
 sensitivity
 adaptability
 ability to engage in divergent thinking
 politeness