FORMS OF CROSS-CULTURAL COMMUNICATION

1. Acculturation as a Form of Cross-Cultural

Сommunication
2. Cultural Expansion as a Form of Cross-Cultural
Communication
3.Cultural Diffusion as a Form of Cross-Cultural
Communication
4. Cultural Conflict as a Form of Cross-Cultural
Communication
5. Linguistic Aspects of Cross-Cultural Communication
1. Acculturation as a Form of Cross-Cultural
Communication

 Acculturation - the interaction and reciprocal influence of cultures.

 Acculturation includes both, the process and the result of mutual influence of
different cultures, in which all or some representatives of one culture (the
recipients' culture) adopt norms, values and traditions of another culture (the
donors' culture).
 In the process of acculturation two or more interacting cultures serve as the
donors' culture and the recipients' culture, though the degree of their
influence on each other can be uneven.
Initially acculturation was considered to be the
result of a prolonged contact among groups
representing different cultures, which resulted in
changes of their original cultural patterns. It was
believed that cultures got mixed and the cultural
and ethnic homogeneity was reached. A less-
developed culture was more influenced by the
more advanced, but not vice versa.
Within this approach a famous American concept of
the "melting pot" originated: cultures of all
nations, living in the United States, are
mixed and as a result a new homogeneous
American culture appears.
Classification:

 an assimilation – a complete replacement of the old culture by the new one;

 an adaptation – a partial change of the old culture;
 a reaction – a complete rejection of the new culture.
Strategies of acculturation:

 An assimilation - a variant of acculturation, in which an individual fully accepts the norms and
values of other cultures, giving up his/her values.

 A separation - the rejection of a foreign culture while preserving native culture identification.
In this case, the representatives of non-dominant groups prefer some isolation from the
dominant culture. If such isolation is imposed by the representatives of the dominant culture it
is called a segregation.

 A marginalization - is a loss of identity with the native culture and a lack of identity with the
culture of majority. This happens because the individuals are unable to maintain their own
cultural identity (usually because of some external reasons), and lack the commitment to
obtain a new identity (because of the discrimination or segregation).

 An integration - the recognition of the old and the new culture.

The factors influencing the nature of
acculturation:

 the degree of differentiation of the

recipients' culture
 the duration of the interaction
 the political and economic conditions of
the interaction
2. Cultural Expansion as a Form of Cross-Cultural
Communication

 Cultural expansion is defined as a widening of influencing

sphere of the dominant culture beyond its initial boundaries or
state borders. It is mainly a process of unidirectional cross-
cultural communication.
 A "humanistic" approach: the criterion of civilization was not a color of skin or
the eyes shape; any nation can be civilized if it quits its national traditions in
the process of cultural development. Until the collapse of colonial regimes
the aim to civilize "undeveloped" countries served the expansion of western
countries to get advantages in trade, political and cultural spheres.
3.Cultural Diffusion as a Form of Cross-Cultural
Communication

Cultural Diffusion is a reciprocal penetration of culture peculiarities from one society into
another during their close cultural contact.

directions of cultural diffusion :

 horizontal distribution of cultural innovations
is observed among equal in status groups. It is called an intergroup cultural diffusion;

 vertical distribution of culture elements is

possible among individuals of unequal status. It is called a stratificational cultural
diffusion.
4. Cultural Conflict as a Form of Cross-Cultural
Communication
Cultural conflict as a form of intercultural communication assumes a collision
between subjects of culture, who are the bearers of different cultural values and
norms.
 conflicts among different ethnic groups and their
cultures
 conflicts among religious groups, representatives of
different religions
 conflicts among generations, representatives of
different subcultures
 conflicts among various parts of one dominating culture
 conflicts among traditions and innovations in culture
 conflicts among different linguo-cultural societies and
their representatives
5. Linguistic Aspects of Cross-Cultural
Communication
 In our global village the English language is an international language of
communication; very often both sides of communication do not speak their
native languages, but use English bringing into it their own cultural shades.
 A successful cross-cultural communication depends not only on language
knowledge but on the ability to interpret adequately a communicative
behavior of a foreign representative and the readiness to accept it; the
understanding of all differences in the cultures is of vital importance too.
 Understanding in cross-cultural communication is a complex interpretation
process depending on several linguistic and non-linguistic factors. To achieve
understanding in cross-cultural communication its participants must not only
know grammar and lexicology of a language but be aware of the cultural
component of the word-meaning.