The increasing economic, political, and cultural integration and interdependence of diverse cultures- the world wide integration of humanity
Diversity
The recognition and valuing of the difference, encompassing such factors as age, gender, race, ethnicity, ability, religion, education, marital status, sexual orientation and income
MarshallMcLuhan
A theorist who predicted many years ago that our world would become a global village
At this era, people are linked physically and electronically around the globe
Digital technology has helped erased the notion of territorial boundaries between countries, gradually eroding the idea of the term nation
Multiculturalists
Persons respectful of and engaged with people from distinctly different cultures
Understanding diversity and engendering respect for differences can help erase the tensions globalization creates
By emphasizing our differences we fuel potentials conflicts
Need to spend more time learning about cultures
We are better served spending our time focusing on American values
Globalization enriches cultures
Globalization destroys our cultures
Communicators can be judged as insensitive, ignorant or culturally confused
When they fail to realize the people from different cultures and whom they interact with
Culturally confused
Lacking understanding of cultural difference
Cultural ignorance affects communication
Cultural Differences
Showing the sole of a shoe is insulting in Muslim cultures, while crossing legs is normal in the US and Europe
Crossing legs is to relax in the US, but a social faux pas in Korea
Japanese view business cards as an extension of a person, while Americans view them as a formality
Interculturalcommunication
Interaction with individuals from different cultures, concerned with the process of interpreting and sharing meanings with individuals from different cultures
Forms of Intercultural Communication
Interracial communication
Interethnic communication
International communication
Intracultural communication
Culture
The system of knowledge, beliefs, values, customs, behaviors, and artifacts that are acquired, shared and used by its members during the daily living; within a culture as a whole are co-cultures
Co-cultures
Composed of members of the same general culture who differ in some ethnic or sociological way from the parent culture
Co-cultures
Igorots, Ilocanos, Bicolanos in the Philippines
Native Americans, Scandinavian Americans, Middle Eastern Americans, some Latino groups, and some Asian American groups in the US
Disabled, gays and lesbians, cyberfunks, elderly
Marginalized group
Group whose members feel like outsiders; different groups of people within a given culture, context and history at risk of being subjected to multiple discrimination due to interplay of different personal characteristics or grounds
Dominant culture
Being perceived as the majority of the population and having a significant presence in institutions relating to communication, education, artistic expression, law, government and business
Strategies of co-culture members to join in the dominant culture
Assimilation
Accommodation
Separation
Preferred strategies and communication approaches of marginalized groups
Separation (passive)
Accommodation (assertive)
Assimilation (aggressive, confrontational)
Ethnocentrism
Tendency to see one's own culture as superior to all; this lacks cultural flexibility; (experiencing great anxiety when interacting with persons from different cultures)
Cultural relativism
The acceptance of other cultural groups as equal in value to one's own (trying to understand the behavior of the other groups)
Melting-pot philosophy
The view that different cultures should be assimilated into the dominant culture
Cultural pluralism
Adherence to the principle of cultural relativism, advocating respect for uniqueness, tolerance for difference and adherence to the principle of cultural relativity
We need to open ourselves to differences by adding our storehouse of knowledge, by learning to cope with uncertainty, and by developing an appreciation of how increasing our cultural sensitivity will possibly affect our communication competence
We need to accept the fact that our culture is not superior to others
Cultural Dialectics
Individualism versus collectivism
High context versus Low context
High power distance versus low power distance
Masculine versus feminine culture
Individualistic cultures
Cultures in which individual goals are stressed; cultivates individual initiative and achievement; "I"
Collectivistic cultures
Group goals are stressed; tend to nurture group influences; "We"
Characteristics of Individualistic Cultures
"I" orientation
Human independence and freedom
Disagree that tradition, church and other social agencies can dictate limitations
Assertive and independent
Focuses on individual rights, uniqueness and self reliance
Characteristics of Collectivistic Cultures
"We" orientation
Prioritizing group solidarity
Long term relationship is important
Sacrificing individual benefit for the sake of others
Interdependent
Orientation is towards the group
Kinship and community is essential
Consultation in major decisions
High context communication
A tradition-bound communication system which depends on indirectness; tradition bound; their cultural traditions shape the behaviour and lifestyle of group members; over-polite and indirect in relating others
Low-context communication
A system that encourages directness in communication; exhibit a more direct communication style; tend to gather background information when meeting someone for the first time; feel that they have to explain everything rather than rely on non-verbal, contextual information
Characteristics of Low Context Communication
Independence and individualism is emphasized
Everyone is responsible for themselves
Clear rules
Direct
Explicit (Text, speech)
Characteristics of High Context Communication
People feel responsible for their family
If a member is in danger, whole group's honor is in danger