Intercultural Communication - Study Notes (ENG1 Unit 1 Lesson 2)

Nature and Elements of Communication

• English ENG1 UNIT 1 topic introduces Intercultural Communication as the core focus of the unit.
• Welcome across cultures is symbolically shown through multiple language greetings (e.g., 欢迎, Bienvenido, Bienvenue, स्वागत हे, ברוך הבא, Willkommen, أهلا بك, Benvenuto, Welkom, Welcome, Bem-vindo, Добро пожаловать, いらっしゃいませ) to illustrate intercultural contact and mutual recognition.

What is Intercultural Communication?

• Intercultural communication refers to communication among people from different nationalities (Gudykunst, 2003).
• It involves the mutual creation of meaning across different cultural groups, facilitating understanding and interpretation between individuals of diverse backgrounds.
• It emphasizes respecting differences and seeking to understand others without judgment.
• In short: it is cross-cultural interaction that builds shared understanding while recognizing cultural differences.

How Does Intercultural Communication Happen?

• When individuals interact, negotiate, and create meanings while bringing in their varied cultural backgrounds (Ting-Toomey, 1999).
• When individuals draw from their cultural identity to understand values, prejudices, language, attitudes, and relationships (Gudykunst & Kim, 2003).
• It can flow smoothly and be highly engaging for cross-cultural groups, but it may also not go as planned when cultural collisions occur.

The Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity (DMIS)

• DMIS is a structure that explores how individuals experience and engage cultural differences.
• It ranges from ethnocentrism to ethnorelativism.
• Developed by Dr. Milton Bennett.
• The model distinguishes between ethnocentric stages (denial, defense, minimization) and ethnorelative stages (acceptance, adaptation, integration).

The Six (6) Stages of the DMIS

• Stage $1$ - Denial
• Stage $2$ - Defense
• Stage $3$ - Minimization
• Stage $4$ - Acceptance
• Stage $5$ - Adaptation
• Stage $6$ - Integration

Ethnocentrism vs Ethnorelativism

• Ethnocentrism: the tendency to view the world primarily from the perspective of one’s own culture.
• Ethnorelativism: the ability to see values and behaviors as cultural rather than universal.

Details: The Six Stages (DMIS) in More Depth

• Stage $1$: Denial
  • The individual does not recognize cultural difference.
  • Example: “All cities are the same; they all have tall buildings, fast food chains, and coffee shops.”
• Stage $2$: Defense
  • The individual recognizes differences but feels intimidated, often leading to a superior view of one’s own culture or an unjustified high regard for the new one.
• Stage $3$: Minimization
  • The individual sees differences but emphasizes universality of ideas rather than cultural differences.
• Stage $4$: Acceptance
  • The individual begins to appreciate important cultural differences in behaviors and values.
  • Example: “These people and I have different values and experiences, and I think we can learn from one another.”
• Stage $5$: Adaptation
  • The individual is very open to other world views and adjusts approaches to consider both sides.
  • Example: “To address our issue, I have to adjust my approach to consider both my own and my counterpart's background.”
• Stage $6$: Integration
  • Individuals go beyond their own cultures and begin to see themselves and their actions from multiple viewpoints.

Characteristics of a Competent Intercultural Communicator

• World Bank (2010) identifies the following traits:
  1. $1$ Flexibility and the ability to tolerate high levels of uncertainty
  2. $2$ Reflectiveness or mindfulness
  3. $3$ Open-mindedness
  4. $4$ Sensitivity
  5. $5$ Adaptability
  6. $6$ Ability to engage in divergent thinking (creativity) and systems-level thinking (understanding how elements in a system or organization influence each other)
  7. $7$ Politeness

Factors to Consider in Intercultural Communication

• Culture
• Age
• Gender
• Religion
• Status

Avoid Stereotyping and Prejudice

• Stereotyping: preconceived notions about a group of people.
• Prejudice: a negative attitude toward a group based on little or no experience.

Challenging Gender Norms

• Avoid using ‘he’ and ‘man’ to refer to a general group of people.

Do Not Talk Down on Younger People or the Elderly

Be Sensitive to Religious Practices of Others

• Be mindful of diverse religions and symbols encountered in intercultural contexts (examples include Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Shinto, Judaism, Sikhism).
• Religious symbols shown in the materials include:
  • Christianity: Cross
  • Islam: Crescent and Star
  • Hinduism: Aum
  • Buddhism: Dharmachakra
  • Taoism: Yin and Yang
  • Shinto: Torii Gate
  • Judaism: Star of David
  • Sikhism: Khanda

Be Polite at All Times

• Do not belittle people perceived to be of a lower social class; social class relates to education, income, and occupation.

Quote to Reflect on Diversity

• "It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences." — Audre Lorde

Practical Takeaways and Applications

• Recognize and respect cultural differences in values, practices, and communication styles.
• Practice active listening, avoid assumptions, and ask clarifying questions.
• Adapt communication approach when needed to bridge cultural gaps without compromising core values.
• Be mindful of stereotypes and work toward inclusive language and behaviors.

Sources and References

• Sipacio, P. J. F., & Balgos, A. R. G. (2020). Oral communication in context for senior high school. C&E Publishing, Inc
• Teacher Kat. (2021, September 28). Lesson 5: Intercultural Communication | oral communication in context [video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFXCnsomAQc

Closing Note

• Summary emphasis: intercultural communication is about understanding across cultures, recognizing biases, and developing skills to engage respectfully and effectively across differences.