The Nature of Intercultural Communication

1. The Nature of Intercultural Communication

2. Definitions • Intercultural communication: communication between persons of different cultures. • Intercultural business communication: communication within and between businesses that involves people from more than one culture.

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

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

5. Subcultures • 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.

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

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

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

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

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

11. The German economic system • Riol (p. 25, 5th paragraph): “Germany in one of the largest economies in Europe…”

12. The U.S. Social behavior • Riol (p. 45, 2nd paragraph): “In the United States, People like to believe …”

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

14. The German social behavior • Riol (p. 46, 1st paragraph): “As an individualistic culture….”

15. Individualism • 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.

16. Collectivism • 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.

17. Values vs. attitudes • 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.

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

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

20. Attitudes toward work • 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.

21. Attitudes toward ethics • 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 …”

22. Cultural shock • 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 …”

23. Now, it is your turn • Please share the cultural shock happened to you.