Chapter 2: What is Intercultural Communication Flexibility (copy)

Intercultural Communication

The symbolic exchange process between individuals from different cultural communities negotiating shared meanings.

Model of Human Communication

Framework outlining the components involved in communication, including source, message, receiver, channel, feedback, feedforward, and context.

Source

The originator of a message who encodes thoughts into verbal or nonverbal forms.

Message

The content projected by the encoder to the receiver.

Receiver

The individual who decodes the verbal or nonverbal messages from the source.

Channel

The medium through which the message is transmitted between source and receiver.

Feedback

The response that verifies whether the message was successfully delivered.

Feedforward

Information provided before the main message is delivered.

Context

The rules, norms, and expectations surrounding communication.

Physical Context

The specific location where communication occurs.

Socio-psychological Context

The status and cultural rules that influence expectations of formality in communication.

Temporal Context

The time factors affecting communication, including time of day and historical context.

Cultural Context

The beliefs, values, and behaviors of both the communicator's and receiver's cultures.

Noise

Any interference that disrupts the transmission or reception of a message.

Physical Noise

External distractions that affect communication.

Psychological Noise

Internal biases, preconceptions, and wandering thoughts that hinder understanding.

Physiological Noise

Impairments within an individual that affect communication.

Semantic Noise

Misunderstandings arising from varied meanings or nonverbal cues.

Albert Mehrabian

Researcher who found that 93% of communication is nonverbal, with 55% from facial expressions and 38% from paralanguage.

Intercultural Communication Flexibility

The ability to integrate knowledge, attitudes, and skills in intercultural interactions.

Ethno-Relative Mindset

Understanding communication behavior from the cultural frame of reference of others.

Inflexible IC Communication

Relying on one's own cultural values when communicating with culturally different individuals.

Ethnocentric Mindset

Evaluating other cultures based on one's own cultural standards.

Staircase Model

A framework illustrating the stages of developing intercultural communication competence.

Unconscious Competence Stage

The highest level of intercultural communication flexibility, where individuals code-switch effortlessly.

Conscious Competence Stage

Awareness of one's intercultural communication skills and actively seeking to improve them.

Conscious Incompetence Stage

Semi-awareness of one's communication shortcomings and questioning ethnocentric habits.

Unconscious Incompetence Stage

Lack of awareness regarding communication mistakes and cultural ignorance.

Flexible Intercultural Communication

The integration of knowledge, attitude, and skills to enhance intercultural interactions.

Factors for Flexible IC Communication

Updating knowledge about cultural differences, developing self-awareness of biases, and recognizing the complexity of cultural identities.