Lecture 2

“Communication Skills”
ENG134
Lecture 02
“ The Intercultural Communication”
By: Mr. Zakirullah

Lecturer, Department of English
KUST
Topic: The Intercultural Communication
Outline
 Definitions
 Culture
 Communication
 Intercultural Communication
 Types of Intercultural Communication
 How to improve your Intercultural Communication Skills
 Managing Intercultural Communication
Course: Communication Skills ENG134 -- Instructor: Mr. Zakirullah, Lecturer. Department of English, KUST -- Email: zakir@kust.edu.pk
Outline
 Intercultural Communication Skills

 Barriers and Challenges
 Communicating with People of Different Cultures
 Importance of Intercultural Communication
 Conclusion
 References
Culture
 Culture isn’t only intellectual happenings like arts, festivals,
traditional foods, heritages or literature, but refers to the daily
lifestyle of the general population or a group of people.
 Culture is created by humans and can be different from place to

place. It creates a human environment with shared meanings within
a society through beliefs, values and norms, etc.
 Culture defines how a person behaves, interacts and gives meaning

to actions. People identify themselves with their culture and tend to
behave differently in different cultures.
Communication
The sharing of knowledge, ideas, thoughts,

expressions, beliefs, emotions and other experiences
of life between and among human beings is called
Communication.
It could be,
1) Verbal (Written and Spoken
2) Non-verbal (Body Language)
•Definitions of Intercultural Communication

Def 01: Intercultural communication refers to the communication
between people from two different cultures. (Chen & Starosta,
1998:28)
Def 02: Intercultural communication is a symbolic, informative, and

contextual process, in which people from different cultures create
shared meanings. (Lustig & Koester, 2007:46)
Def 03: Intercultural communication refers to the effects on

communication behavior, when different cultures interact together.
(Arasaratnam, 2013:48)
• Intercultural communication essentially means communication

across different cultural boundaries. When two or more people
with different cultural backgrounds interact and communicate
with each other or one another, we can say that intercultural
communication is taking place.
• So intercultural communication can be defined as the sharing
of information on different levels of awareness between people
with different cultural backgrounds.
Types of Intercultural Communication

 Spoken and written communication must be considered highly
while in intercultural communication. Cultural factors affect
verbal communication as people can sometimes not be able to
speak or write in the language of the receiver.
 Similarly, non-verbal cues consist of communication that occurs

without words like facial expressions, hand and body
movements, eye contact, use of objects, clothing, etc. They help
in making message clear or can give the different message as
well.
How to improve your intercultural communication skills
Prepare: Do your research and find out who you will be dealing with. Look
into the cultural norms and social customs of the location.
Learn the language: It will no doubt be a huge benefit and much

appreciated if you show that you’ve made an effort to learn your
counterpart’s language.
Observe: When you first interact with a person/representative of the

unfamiliar culture, listen carefully and closely observe their behavior. Pay
particular attention to how they respond to different communication
styles, and also look for similarities to your own culture.
How to improve your intercultural communication skills
Be open-minded and self-aware: Forget all blanket assumptions you may

have had about the other culture. After all, people are still individuals
with their own preferences, so be aware of any preconceived ideas you
may have and challenge them.
Ask questions: If you’re unsure about something or think you may have
misunderstood what’s being asked of you, it’s perfectly fine to ask and
clarify rather than guessing and potentially committing an embarrassing
faux pas.
Seek help: to coach you in the culture of your target country. You can ask
them any question you like and draw on their direct experience.
Managing Intercultural Communication

Some of the ways you can manage intercultural communications are:
• Be culturally sensitive and aware

• Gain knowledge of the culture you have to adapt
• Think of what the other person will interpret before saying
• Be aware of non-verbal cues you are giving
• Listen, encode and decode carefully
• Use pictures if you don’t know words to describe it
• Avoid local language
• Get a feedback
• Be open-minded and tolerant
• Respect others culture and people
• Learn phrases in their language
• Apologize
• Watch television
Intercultural Communication Skills

 Intercultural communication skills are those required to
communicate, or share information, with people from other cultures
and social groups.
 While language skills may be an important part of intercultural

communication, they are by no means the only requirement.
 Intercultural communication also requires an understanding that

different cultures have different customs, standards, social morals,
and even thought patterns.
Intercultural Communication Skills

 Intercultural communication requires both knowledge and skills. It
also requires understanding and empathy.
 Effective intercultural communication is a vital skill for anyone

working across countries.
 It is also crucial for anyone working with people from other cultures
to avoid misunderstandings and even offence.
 Good intercultural communication skills requires a willingness to

accept differences and adapt to them.
Barriers and challenges

• One of the main challenges of intercultural communication
is ethnocentrism, which is the common but misguided assumption
of a cultural group that it is superior to other cultural groups.
• Another barrier is assuming that other cultures are similar rather

than different to your own.
• Finally, the most common barrier to intercultural communication is

anxiety. When you are unsure what is expected of you or what to do,
it’s only natural to feel anxious.
Communicating With People Of Different Cultures

An Understanding Of Difference
 In order to effectively communicate with people of other cultures,
there is a fundamental aspect you must be aware of which is
understanding differences.
Developing Intercultural Sensitivity And Competence

 We feel something different when we interact with someone from
an unfamiliar culture, or one that is different than our own.
 It starts with the idea that as you begin to recognize and understand
cultural differences and the more you interact with people of other
cultures, the more competent you become and the more complex
your ideas of culture become as well.
Importance of Intercultural Communication

Intercultural communication is an important part of
intercultural competence — or the ability to effectively
function across cultures, and with those from other cultures.
Intercultural communication is very important to breaking

down cultural barriers and building awareness of cultural
norms, as well as enhancing self-awareness and
communication skills.
Conclusion
• All communication is cultural, it draws on ways we have
learned to speak and give nonverbal messages.
• We do not always communicate same way from day to
day, since factors like context, individual personality,
and mood interact with variety of cultural influences
and choices.
• Communication is interactive, so an important
influence on it effectiveness is our relationship with
others.
• Intercultural communication skills can be trained and
improved to foster smooth relationships among people
from different cultural backgrounds
References
Arasaratnam, L. A. (2013). Intercultural communication competence. In A. Kurylo
(Ed.), Intercultural communication: Representation and construction of
culture (Chap 3, pp. 47-68). Los Angeles, CA: SAGE Publications.
Chen, G. M., & Starosta, W. J. (1998). Foundations of intercultural communication:
Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
Lustig, M. W., & Koester, J. (2007). Intercultural competence: interpersonal
communication across cultures (5th ed.). Shanghai, China: Shanghai Foreign
Language Education Press.
Thank you

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“Communication Skills”

By: Mr. Zakirullah

 Intercultural Communication Skills

 Culture is created by humans and can be different from place to

 Culture defines how a person behaves, interacts and gives meaning

The sharing of knowledge, ideas, thoughts,

•Definitions of Intercultural Communication

Def 02: Intercultural communication is a symbolic, informative, and

Def 03: Intercultural communication refers to the effects on

• Intercultural communication essentially means communication

Types of Intercultural Communication

 Similarly, non-verbal cues consist of communication that occurs

How to improve your intercultural communication skills

Learn the language: It will no doubt be a huge benefit and much

Observe: When you first interact with a person/representative of the

How to improve your intercultural communication skills

Be open-minded and self-aware: Forget all blanket assumptions you may

Managing Intercultural Communication

• Be culturally sensitive and aware

Intercultural Communication Skills

 While language skills may be an important part of intercultural

 Intercultural communication also requires an understanding that

Intercultural Communication Skills

 Effective intercultural communication is a vital skill for anyone

 Good intercultural communication skills requires a willingness to

Barriers and challenges

• Another barrier is assuming that other cultures are similar rather

• Finally, the most common barrier to intercultural communication is

Communicating With People Of Different Cultures

Developing Intercultural Sensitivity And Competence

Importance of Intercultural Communication

Intercultural communication is very important to breaking

Arasaratnam, L. A. (2013). Intercultural communication competence. In A. Kurylo

(Ed.), Intercultural communication: Representation and construction of

culture (Chap 3, pp. 47-68). Los Angeles, CA: SAGE Publications.

Chen, G. M., & Starosta, W. J. (1998). Foundations of intercultural communication:

Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

Lustig, M. W., & Koester, J. (2007). Intercultural competence: interpersonal

communication across cultures (5th ed.). Shanghai, China: Shanghai Foreign

Language Education Press.

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