Technology allows people to connect with others from most countries and cultures across the globe. The internet and social websites like Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter help facilitate intercultural communication. People can now communicate with individuals and groups half way around the world in real time. Advances in mass communication and technology through the years have made this possible.
Intercultural communication is now a regular and important part of everyday life. Culture influences personal and social beliefs, perceptions, values, word meanings and message interpretations, thus directly impacting intercultural communication. As intercultural communication interactions increase and change, it becomes crucial to understand culture’s impact on communication. Cultural communication and linguistic differences commonly contribute to errors, confusion, and miscommunication.
Intercultural Communication Definition
Intercultural communication can be defined as any interpersonal interaction between persons belonging to different cultural or social groups, which differ from one another because of diverse backgrounds, communication and linguistic behaviors, communication interpretations, word meanings, and communication styles. Intercultural communication interactions include both verbal and nonverbal messages. Intercultural communication is dynamic because the process is always changing and evolving. This means one must continually improve and update intercultural communication skills and cultural knowledge.
Basic Intercultural Communication Skills
There are basic intercultural communication skills and behaviors that one can use to reduce confusion and miscommunication when communicating with others from various backgrounds and cultures. The following tips will improve your intercultural communication interaction skills.
Make sure communication interactions take place in a quiet space or room away from large crowds, activities, and loud background noises. When communicating with people of a different culture, it is important to be able to concentrate on the communication interaction. Crowds, noises and activities take concentration away from the intercultural communication interaction and leads to increased misunderstandings, confusion, mistakes, and miscommunication.
Make sure the space or room where intercultural communication is taking place is comfortable for the person with the different background or culture. Different cultures prefer specific settings for communication with others. Lighting, temperature, refreshments, tables and seating are a few examples of how space setup effects successful intercultural communication interactions. Every culture has its own “ideal” communication space. Do research about other culture’s communication habits, styles and behaviors. Being aware of and understanding the differences in cultural communication styles will improve intercultural communication skills and reduce confusion, mistakes, and miscommunication.
References:
Goodall, H.L. & Goodall, S. Communication in Professional Context: Skills Ethics, and Technologies. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 2002.
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Amanda-Makenzie Braedyn - Amanda-Makenzie Braedyn has been working in the communications field for 10 years. Amanda-Makenzie holds a Bachelor of Science in ...
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