COM 340 Lecture 1 Overview of Intercultural Communication

COM What is Communication?  In its simplest form, the passing of a meaningful message from one person to another person. Not necessarily verbal… can also be non- verbal. Can be conscious or unconscious.

COM What is Communication?  The way we communicate and the way we understand another person’s communication is a result of our knowledge and past experiences.  When receiving a message or seeing a behavior, we reach into our mind and attempt to understand and give meaning to it. Easy to do in our own culture. Can be challenging outside our own culture.  Chances for mis-interpretation great.

COM An Activity - Introductions  Form groups of three people  Introduce yourself to the other two people in your group.  Listeners will want to take notes.  Later you will introduce one of the people in your group.  You may also ask questions if there is some additional information you want.

COM What is Culture?  In this course, when we think about culture, we are concerned with the way people live.  The way people… think, feel, believe, and strive for what is proper in their culture.

COM Definitions of Culture  Culture is… an historically-transmitted, socially constructed system of beliefs, premises, symbols and their meanings that pertain to a group of people.  Culture is… in your head. in your talk. in your behavior.deeply felt.  Culture is a system of resources for understanding the world around you.  Culture is the “tools” that our families and societies instill in us to get through life.

COM An Activity - Time Capsule  Imagine you are going to prepare a time capsule that will not be opened for 100 years. You want to show people in the next century what your culture is like. What things would you put in it?

COM Time Capsule  Can you touch these things? Items like these appear on the surface of our cultures.  But, also many things which describe our culture that we cannot see.  This difference is very important when we study ICC.  All governed by the patterns of culture… Language habits, friendships, food & eating habits, social acts, economic and political activities, religion, clothing, art, music, sports, festivals, etc.

COM Culture is like an Iceberg  Part of an iceberg is above the water and part is below the water. Surface culture: part we can see  visible and tangible Deep culture: part we can’t see  hidden and not tangible

COM Artifacts Values and Beliefs Underlying Assumptions

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COM Communicating Interculturally  Imagine you are communicating with someone from a different culture. Surface cultures: parts similar and parts different Deep cultures: more than likely different  The more different the deep cultures, the more chance there is for misunderstandings.  Increased contact with other cultures has brought about the need to communicate more efficiently and effectively.

COM Communicating Interculturally  In our shrinking world, it is important to become interculturally aware in order to overcome and reduce the chance for misunderstanding.  More than ever before… Opportunities to live, work, study, travel abroad. People from other cultures are living in our communities.  Because most people have little intercultural awareness, their communication is not as effective as it could be. When interacting with someone from another culture, you have to know where they are coming from

COM Communicating Interculturally  When interacting with someone from another culture, you have to know where they are coming from (figuratively).  You must ask yourself… What is their mindset? Why are they acting or behaving in that manner?

COM Perceived Cultural Differences  “PCDs” Areas where diversity can be present between people from two cultures. Illustrated by differences in:  World View  Values and Beliefs  Thought Process  Customs  Appearance  Expectations  Communicator Style  Language usage  Verbal & Non-verbal behavior  Rules of social interaction  Roles & Relationships  Business interactions  Concepts and ideologies