Intercultural Communication

Summary

Dr. Steve Klein introduces the complexities of intercultural communication, emphasizing its importance in our globalized world. He discusses the concept of culture, the challenges of ethnocentrism, and the necessity of intercultural communication competence (ICC). Key cultural dimensions by Edward T. Hall and Gert Hofstede are explored, including context, individualism vs. collectivism, and power distance, using the film 'The Joy Luck Club' to illustrate cultural misunderstandings. The goal is to improve communication effectiveness across cultural boundaries.

Takeaways

• 🌐 Dr. Steve Klein introduces the concept of intercultural communication as a complex subfield within communication studies, emphasizing the importance of understanding cultural differences for effective and ethical communication.
• 🌟 Culture is defined as the ongoing negotiation of learned and patterned beliefs, attitudes, values, and behaviors, which is broader than just nationality or ethnicity and includes race, gender, socioeconomic class, and more.
• 🔄 Culture is dynamic, passed down through generations, and while it predates and will likely outlive individuals, it is not monolithic or unchanging.
• 🤝 Intercultural communication involves communication between people with differing cultural identities and can be prone to miscommunication due to differing learned norms and values.
• 👁️ Other-focused orientation is a common challenge in intercultural communication where one's own culture is seen as the norm, potentially leading to ethnocentrism or viewing one's own culture as superior.
• 🌱 Ethnocentrism is a problematic but common stance that arises from discomfort with cultural differences and a tendency to value one's own cultural norms over others.
• 📚 Intercultural Communication Competence (ICC) is the ability to communicate effectively and appropriately in various cultural contexts, which is increasingly important in a globalized world.
• 🏛 Edward T. Hall's concept of context in communication is crucial, with cultures varying between low context, where verbal communication is emphasized, and high context, where nonverbal and contextual cues are key.
• 🌍 Gert Hofstede's dimensions of cultural difference provide a framework for understanding specific communication tendencies across cultures, including individualism vs. collectivism and power distance.
• 🎬 The clip from 'The Joy Luck Club' illustrates the practical challenges of intercultural communication, highlighting the misunderstandings that can occur when cultural norms and expectations clash.
• 🛑 Understanding cultural differences such as low vs. high context and Hofstede's cultural dimensions can help avoid miscommunication and foster intercultural competence.

Q & A

Who is Dr. Steve Klein and what is his role in the video?

Dr. Steve Klein is a professor from the Department of Communication at the University of Missouri. In the video, he serves as the instructor, providing an introduction to intercultural communication.

What is the purpose of the video according to Dr. Klein?

The purpose of the video is to introduce fundamental concepts of intercultural communication, highlighting important issues faced in this field, and to help improve the effectiveness and ethical nature of communication across different cultural identities.

How does Dr. Klein define 'culture' in the context of the video?

Dr. Klein defines culture as the ongoing negotiation of learned and patterned beliefs, attitudes, values, and behaviors. It is not limited to nationality or ethnicity but includes a broad range of group identities such as race, regional identities, gender, sexuality, socioeconomic class, religion, etc.

What are the two common challenges to intercultural communication mentioned by Dr. Klein?

The two common challenges mentioned are having an 'other-focused orientation' and the potential for 'ethnocentrism', which is the tendency to view one's own culture as superior to others.

What is 'intercultural communication competence' (ICC) as described by Dr. Klein?

Intercultural communication competence (ICC) is the ability to communicate effectively and appropriately in various cultural contexts. It involves being aware of and understanding principles that enable one to see where another culture is coming from.

Who is Edward T. Hall and what concept did he introduce to understand cultural communication?

Edward T. Hall is an anthropologist who introduced the concept of 'context' to understand cultural communication. He proposed a continuum between low context and high context cultures to explain how meaning is generated within an interaction.

What does 'low context culture' mean according to Edward T. Hall?

A low context culture is one where much of the meaning in an interaction comes from verbal communication. It is characterized by saying what one means and meaning what one says, valuing clarity and directness in communication.

What is the difference between 'low power distance' and 'high power distance' cultures as per Hofstede's model?

In a low power distance culture, there is a preference for equality of status and power among members of various institutions. In contrast, a high power distance culture expects and accepts unequal power between superiors and subordinates.

What is the significance of the film 'The Joy Luck Club' in illustrating intercultural communication challenges?

The film 'The Joy Luck Club' is used to illustrate the challenges of intercultural communication through the story of Chinese-American women and their mothers. It shows the tensions between embracing U.S. culture and maintaining traditional Chinese cultural practices.

How does the dinner scene in 'The Joy Luck Club' demonstrate cultural misunderstandings?

The dinner scene demonstrates cultural misunderstandings through Rich's actions, such as taking more food than is customary, making a toast without understanding the social cues, and criticizing the cooking, which are all seen as disrespectful in a traditional Chinese context.

What are Hofstede's six dimensions of cultural difference?

Hofstede's six dimensions of cultural difference are individualism versus collectivism, high power distance versus low power distance, masculinity versus femininity, low tolerance for uncertainty versus high tolerance for uncertainty, long-term orientation versus short-term orientation, and indulgence versus restraint.