Interpersonal and Intercultural Communication: Foundations, Culture, Verbal and Nonverbal Messages

Physical Context

Location, light, temperature, and distance.

Social Context

The relationship between people (friends vs. strangers).

Historical Context

Past interactions that influence the current one.

Psychological Context

Moods and feelings (stress, happiness).

Cultural Context

Beliefs and values of a specific group.

Indexical

Reveals the 'status' of a relationship.

Continuous Communication

Communication doesn't stop just because someone stops talking.

Irreversible Communication

You cannot 'un-say' a message.

Canned Plan

The 'mental library' of scripts you use.

Script

The specific text or sequence of behaviors for a situation.

Competence

Achieved when communication is Effective (reaches goals) and Appropriate (follows norms).

Individualism vs. Collectivism

Focus on 'I' rights vs. 'We' harmony.

Low-context vs. High-context

Direct/verbal vs. indirect/nonverbal cues.

Monochronic vs. Polychronic

Time is a resource/sequential vs. time is continuous/flexible.

Uncertainty Avoidance

High (needs strict rules) vs. Low (comfortable with risks).

Power Distance

High (accepts inequality/ranks) vs. Low (values equality/democracy).

Dominant Culture

The group with the most power.

Co-culture

Groups outside the dominant power (ethnic, gender, age).

Barriers to Communication

Ethnocentrism, Stereotyping, and Prejudice.

Denotation

Literal dictionary definition.

Connotation

Feelings or emotions attached to a word.

Lexicon

Collection of words in a language.

Phonology

Sounds used to pronounce words.

Idiolect

Your unique personal version of a language.

Pragmatics

Using context to understand meaning (e.g., a 'Speech Act').

Phonation

Producing the voice.

Resonation

Amplifying the sound.

Articulation

Shaping sounds into recognizable words.

Speech Rhythm

Includes Stress (emphasis), Intonation (pitch changes), and Phrasing (pauses).

Kinesics

Body movement (Gestures, Eye Contact, Posture).

Paralanguage

Voice cues (Pitch, Volume, Rate, Vocalized Pauses).

Proxemics

Use of space (Personal, Social, Public distance).

Chronemics

Use and interpretation of time.

Physical Appearance

Clothing and grooming.

Inevitable Communication

You cannot not communicate nonverbally.

Ambiguous Communication

One gesture can mean multiple things.

Perception Checking

Asking the sender to clarify their nonverbal cue.