Understanding Intercultural Communication Second Edition

Chapter 1

Why Study Intercultural Communication?

Stella Ting-Toomey & Leeva C. Chung

OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS

PowerPoint Slides Designed by Alex Flecky and Noorie Baig

TODAY’S MENU

I. Practical Reasons to Study Intercultural Communication (ICC)

II. What is Culture?

I. Why Study Intercultural

Communication?

• Take a moment to think about why you would like to study this subject. Jot down your reasons.

•Then, move to the next slide to see if your reasons match.

I. Some Practical Reasons to Study ICC

A. Adjust to global workplace heterogeneity

B. Adapt to domestic workforce diversity

C. Engage in creative multicultural problem solving

D. Comprehend the role of technology in global communication

I. Some Practical Reasons to Study ICC cont’d.

E. Facilitate better multicultural health care communication

F. Enhance intercultural relationship satisfaction

F. Foster global & intrapersonal peace

G. Deepen cultural self-awareness and other-awareness

II. What is Culture?

•Take a moment to think about what culture is. Jot down your reasons.

•Then, move to the next slide.

II. Culture: A Learned Meaning System

Culture is a learned meaning system consisting of patterns of:

• Norms• Meanings• Symbols

… that are passed on from one generation to the next and are shared to varying degrees by interacting members of a community.

• Traditions• Beliefs• Values

Culture is like an Iceberg:

Culture: An Iceberg Metaphor

Surface-level culture: Popular culture

Can you give examples of current popular culture icons that are different to the ones listed in the textbook?

What are some Canadian popular culture icons?

Culture: An Iceberg MetaphorIntermediate-level culture: Cultural

norms

How would you introduce yourself:

To your professor? To your romantic partner’s friends?

Deep-level culture: Culturally

shared traditions How would you explain common Canadian

traditions to a visitor from another culture unfamiliar with them?

Parting Thoughts…

Culture is the widening

of the mind and spirit.

~ Jawarhalal Nehru