Understanding Intercultural Communication: Culture and Its Layers
This chapter explores the key concepts of Intercultural Communication (ICC), emphasizing that culture is a learned system of meanings, encompassing traditions, beliefs, values, norms, and symbols that are passed down generations. It differentiates between surface-level and deep-level culture, identifying elements such as cultural competence, shared meanings, and normative beliefs. Additionally, it introduces a process model for ICC, addressing the significance of context, multiple communication goals, and the challenges posed by mismatched expectations and cultural clashes, while providing tools for effective intercultural interaction.
Understanding Intercultural Communication: Culture and Its Layers
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Presentation Transcript
HCOM 320Chapter 2 What is Intercultural Communication (ICC)?
Culture: a learned meaning system • Culture – includes patterns of traditions, beliefs, values, norms, meanings, and symbols – passed from one generation to the next… • Surface-level • Intermediate-level culture • Symbol • Meanings or interpretations • Cultural norms; setting; interaction goal • Relationship expectation; cultural competence
Culture (continued) • Deep-level culture • Traditions, beliefs, values • Normative culture • Subjective culture • Culturally shared traditions • Culturally shared beliefs • Cultural values • Instrumental • terminal
Understanding ICC: A Process Model • ICC • ICC difference alert model • ICC communication process • ICC: meaning characteristics • Shared meanings • Three layers of meaning critical • Content; relational; identity
ICC Process Thinking • Principles • Mismatched expectations • Biased intergroup perceptions • Encoding & decoding of verbal and NVC • Multiple goals • Diverse approaches & styles • Cultural bumps or clashes • Context • Embedded systems
