The Nature of Intercultural Communication

Intercultural communication: communication between persons of different cultures.

Intercultural business communication: communication within and between businesses that involves people from more than one culture.

Definitions

Riol (read it out loud) (p. 5, last paragraph): “Whereas communication is a process, culture is…”

Culture, I

Riol (p. 6, last paragraph): “Another way to describe culture is by using the cultural metaphor…”

Culture, II

Subcultures are groups of people possessing characteristics traits that set apart them from others within a larger society or macroculture.

The U.S. macroculture is white (66%). Subculture examples: teenagers, baby

boomers, African Americans, Latin Americans, etc.

Subcultures

Riol (p. 7, last paragraph): “Stereotypes, perceptions about certain groups of people or nationalities, exist….”

Stereotypes

Riol (p. 13, first paragraph): “When encountering someone from another culture…”

Communication barriers

Riol (p. 14, last paragraph): “In order for managers to be successful interculturally…”

Global mindsets

Riol (p. 24, 3rd paragraph): “ The U.S. economic system is capitalistic…”

The U.S. economic system

Riol (p. 25, 3rd paragraph): “The Chinese government is supporting the growth of the private sector…”

The Chinese economic system

Riol (p. 25, 5th paragraph): “Germany in one of the largest economies in Europe…”

The German economic system

Riol (p. 45, 2nd paragraph): “In the United States, People like to believe …”

The U.S. Social behavior

Riol (p. 45, 5th paragraph): “The Chinese are a hospitable, yet reserved, people…”

The Chinese social behavior

Riol (p. 46, 1st paragraph): “As an individualistic culture….”

The German social behavior

The attitude of valuing ourselves as separate individuals with responsibility for our own destinies and our own actions.

Believe in self-interest, independence, creativity, curiosity, assertiveness, and self-esteem.

Examples: Germans, European Americans, Dutch.

Individualism

The attitude to emphasize common interests, conformity, cooperation, and interdependence.

Believe in responsibility, politeness, and respect for elders and family.

Examples: Japan, China, India, and Puerto Rico.

Collectivism

Values form the core of a culture. Values are social principles, goals, or

standards accepted by persons in a culture. The family value in China vs. the family

value in U.S. Attitudes are our likes and dislikes to certain

people, objects, or situations.

Values vs. attitudes

Riol (p. 52, 2nd paragraph): “Some val;ues held by people in the United States are …”

American values

Riol (p. 56, 5th paragraph): “This attitude toward a woman’s role …”

Attitudes toward women

People in the U.S. value work and tend to subscribe to the work ethic.

Japanese work even harder, and they are expected to be so by their families.

Attitudes toward work

Riol (p. 60, 5th paragraph): “Truth, according to U.S. beliefs…”

Riol (p. 61, 2nd paragraph): “Although many U.S. Americans are inclined to believe that …”

Attitudes toward ethics

The trauma that you experience when you move into a culture different from your home culture.

Riol (p. 74, 2nd paragraph): “Engholm (1991) has identified …”

Cultural shock

Please share the cultural shock happened to you.

Now, it is your turn