Communication is: Symbolic Symbols are central to the process: words, actions, or objects. Interpretive We interpret symbolic behaviors of others. “We see Sinbad very differently.”“We just understand each other.” When folks travel to foreign countries, they are comforted when they find fellow countrymen. Transactional Folks communicate at the same time (face-to-face)

Contextual The setting, or situation Physical (actual location) (Ball games, bars, and classrooms ) Social (Shared expectations, funerals), and Interpersonal Context (expectations based on differences in the relationship, speaking to your parent, friend) A process (Communication is dynamic, i.e. changing a greeting at the last minute, “doing”conflict, apologizing too early, a debate flow chart, reminiscing with a friend) Creates Shared Meanings (We don’t always consult a dictionary, i.e. “honorable,” “friends”)

Culture: *Is learned *Involves a set of shared interpretations about norms, values, and beliefs that affect behavior *Involves a large group of people *Involves feelings

Three Levels of Culture Ting-Toomey & Chung (28-37) Surface-Level: Popular Culture Easily observed culture: Pop music, television, gadgets, etc. Intermediate Level: Symbols, meanings and norms Words, gestures, and nonverbal behaviors: idioms, expressions “The nail that sticks out gets hammered down” (a Japanese idiom)“Let’s hang out” “What’s up?!” Language students enjoy these “real” expressions

Deep Level: Traditions, beliefs, and values; A patterned way of living by a group of individuals who share a common set of history, traditions, beliefs, values and interdependent fate. (Stable over time) For example: Religion, Military, LGBT, Friends, Team, Academic, consumer culture, etc.

Intercultural Communication: a symbolic, interpretive, transactional, contextual process in which people from different cultures create shared meaning. (Koester and Lustig) two persons from different cultures, or co- cultures exchanging verbal and non- verbal messages. (Neulip 2006)

Socio- Relational Context Person 1Person 2 Verbal Code Nonverbal Environmental/Physical Context Cultural Context Micro-culture/co-culture context

Everyone has culture!

Three Approaches to Intercultural Communication (Burrell06 ) Functionalist: Research Goal: Describe and predict behavior Method of study: Survey, Observation Contribution of the approach: Recognizes difference, but doesn’t consider context Interpretive: Research Goal: Describe behavior, but not predict behavior. Method of study: Participant/observation Contribution of the approach: Recognizes differences should be studied in context.

Critical: Research Goal: Change behavior Method of Study: Textual Analysis of Media Contribution of the approach: Asserts that all intercultural interactions are characterized, or affected by power. (Political, economical)

A continuum of interculturalness Most Intercultural Least Intercultural

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Why is it important to learn about Intercultural Communication?

Imperatives for Intercultural Communication Technological Marshall McLuhan’s “Global Village” Demographic The U.S. Census Bureau in 2010, estimates America's young people will become "minority white" in About two decades later, in 2042, the same will be true for adults. Presently there are “minority majorities” in Miami, Detroit, L.A., Chicago, Baltimore, San Francisco, Fresno, San Jose, Sacramento, Atlanta, New York...

Peace-keeping Religious Tolerance Hate Crimes Economic Trade Workplace diversity

Race: Certain physical similarities, such as skin color, eye shape, that are shared by a group of people. Race is socially defined. In 2000, the U.S. census allowed people to identify themselves as bi-racial for the first time. Nationality: A political term referring to set of formal and legal mechanisms that regulate the political behavior of its people. How leaders are chosen, rules of the legal system for example. Additionally, your nationality is defined by the government you were born under. Ethnicity: A group that shares a language, historical origins, religion, nation-state, or cultural system.

Metaphors of Cultural Diversity Melting Pot Tapestries Tributaries Garden Salad

Forces that Maintain Cultural Differences History Ecology Technology Biology Institutional Networks Interpersonal Communication Patterns