Transcript Intercultural Communication

“…one of the world’s most significant problems:
intercultural relations…”
Edward T. Hall
1. The Nature of Intercultural Communication
2. Dominant Cultural Orientations
3. Domains of Cultural Differences
4. Steps Towards Effective Communication
Intercultural communication is:
communication between at least two people
from different cultures.
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Increasing interaction between people due to
globalization
Increasing diversity in workplaces
Increasing need to develop caring, responsible and
ethical business leaders
What is ‘culture’ in
intercultural communication?
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National cultures
Social groups
Ethnic groups
Genders
Age or generational
groups
(and more…)
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If intercultural communication is
communication between at least two people
from different cultures…
◦ ALL communication between people is essentially
intercultural.
◦ Different types of cultures shape communication.
◦ Caring, responsible and ethical business leaders must
be effective intercultural communicators.
1.
How contexting affects communication
High
Context
Low Context
2)
How face-saving affects communication
3)
How the individual is viewed in relation to the
group
Individualist
Collectivist
4)
How time is perceived
Monochronic
Polychronic
5)
How power is distributed
Flat
Hierarchical
6)
How decisions are made
Top-down
Through
consensus
Reminder: cultural orientations are NOT
dichotomies; they are tendencies.
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Choice of words
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Organization of messages
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Body language
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Eye contact
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Laughter
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Touch
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Tone, volume and
speed
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Turn-taking and
silence
PART IV
STEP TOWARDS EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION
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Develop a sense of cultural awareness
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Do not be ethnocentric
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Listen genuinely when others speak
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Do not lapse into your own language while in the
presence of others who do not speak it
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Take responsibility for the communication (e.g., if
miscommunication happens, it is not always the other person’s fault)
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DO NOT STEREOTYPE
Intercultural communication:
 respects people as part of a group
individuals.
AND
as
 is not about interaction between national cultures
only.
Intercultural competence:
 helps you deliver your messages clearly,
appropriately and persuasively.
 enables you, as a business leader, to contribute to
a just and equitable world.
THANK YOU!
Q&A