An Introduction to Intercultural Communication
An Introduction to Intercultural Communication
Intercultural communication is of importance to international businesses as it examines how people from different cultures, beliefs and religions come together to work and communicate with each other.
Demands for intercultural communication skills are increasing as more and more businesses go global or international. They realize that there are barriers and limitations when entering a foreign territory. Without the help of intercultural communication they can unknowingly cause confusion and misunderstandings. For these intercultural businesses to breach the cultural barriers encountered when stepping into foreign grounds it is vital for them to fully understand the cultural differences that exist so as to prevent damaging business relations due to intercultural communication gaps.
There are many theories that set principles to help interpret the basis of intercultural communication. These theories help to iron out possible ripples of misunderstanding by giving a basic guideline on how to address situations. These guidelines help prevent clashes between different cultures groups caused by misperceptions. The basic skills of intercultural communication are fundamentally general communication skills that can be used universally by all cultures and races. These skills are simply tweaked in a direction that takes the cultural limitation into consideration. An example of such communication skills in the intercultural environment is to listen without judging, repeat what you understand, confirm meanings, give suggestions and acknowledge a mutual understanding.
In a nutshell the main purpose of following such theories is to earn respect from others. Respect in all cultures in the world is a common language and by earning it through respecting other peoples culture and religion; the favor is returned.
Cross Cultural Communication Consultants
Cross cultural communication consultants have come a long way in the
Intercultural communication is of importance to international businesses as it examines how people from different cultures, beliefs and religions come together to work and communicate with each other.
Demands for intercultural communication skills are increasing as more and more businesses go global or international. They realize that there are barriers and limitations when entering a foreign territory. Without the help of intercultural communication they can unknowingly cause confusion and misunderstandings. For these intercultural businesses to breach the cultural barriers encountered when stepping into foreign grounds it is vital for them to fully understand the cultural differences that exist so as to prevent damaging business relations due to intercultural communication gaps.
There are many theories that set principles to help interpret the basis of intercultural communication. These theories help to iron out possible ripples of misunderstanding by giving a basic guideline on how to address situations. These guidelines help prevent clashes between different cultures groups caused by misperceptions. The basic skills of intercultural communication are fundamentally general communication skills that can be used universally by all cultures and races. These skills are simply tweaked in a direction that takes the cultural limitation into consideration. An example of such communication skills in the intercultural environment is to listen without judging, repeat what you understand, confirm meanings, give suggestions and acknowledge a mutual understanding.
In a nutshell the main purpose of following such theories is to earn respect from others. Respect in all cultures in the world is a common language and by earning it through respecting other peoples culture and religion; the favor is returned.
Cross Cultural Communication Consultants
Cross cultural communication consultants have come a long way in the
Bibliography: Aronson, E. 1972. The Social Animal. San Francsico: W. H. Freeman. Breme K. C. Roberts, M. Vasseur, M. Simonot & D. Broete. 1996. Achieving Understanding in Discourse in Intercultural Encounter. London: Longman. Brislin, Richard, W. 1981. Cross-Cultural Encounters, Face-to-Face Interaction. New York/Oxford,/Toronto/Sydney/Paris/Frankfurt: Pergamon Press. Burleigh, D. 1985. Variation: Language Culture Communication. Tokyo: MacMillan Sluppna. Feldman, N. R. 1968. Response to compatriot and foreigners who seek assistance. In: Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. No. 10: 202-14. Levine D. R. and Adelman M. B. 1993. Beyond Languages: Cross Cultural Communication. New York: Englewood Cliffs, Prentice Hall Regents. Lorand, B. Scalay et al. 1994. American and Chinese Perceptions and Belief Systems: A People’s Republic of China-Taiwan Comparison. New York: Plenum Press. Lustig M & Koester J. 1996. Intercultural Competence: Interpersonal Communication Across Culture. New York: Harper Colin. Seelye, Ned, H. 1994. Teaching Culture, Strategies for Intercultural Communication. Lincolnwood, Illinois: National Textbook Company.