INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION

 intercultural communication refers to the communication

between people from two different cultures. (Chen & Starosta,
1998:28)
 Intercultural communication is a symbolic, interpretive,
transactional, contextual process, in which people from different
cultures create shared meanings. (Lustig & Koester, 2007:46)
 Intercultural communication refers to the effects on
communication behavior, when different cultures interact
together. Hence, one way of viewing intercultural communication
is as communication that unfolds in symbolic intercultural
spaces. (Arasaratnam, 2013:48)

Human are formed by the forces other than genetics . Family

background, religious affiliations, educational achievements, socio
cultural forces, economic conditions, emotional states, and other
factors shape human identities. Because of this, no two people can
ever be the same.

This situation –the diversity of people and cultures impacts

communication. People interacting with those coming from unfamiliar
cultures may have difficulties in communication .Most people tend to
conclude that miscommunication results from a speakers lack of
proficiency in a language. What is not realized is the fact that even
with excellent language skills, people may still experience
miscommunication.
“People of different religions and cultures live side-by-
side in almost every part of the world, and most of us
have overlapping identities which unite us in very
different groups.

We can love what we are, without hating what- and who

we are not. We can thrive in our own tradition, even as
we learn from others, and come to respect their
teachings” — Kofi Annan

Here, there are two extremely interesting points. Firstly, Kofi

Annan expresses the idea that most of us actually have
overlapping identities of some sort. For example, even if I am
seemingly the most far away from this person culturally, I might
still have other identity layer in common with him or her.

For example, this could be a common sport, a common religion, a

common belief. If we dig deep enough, the chance that we come
across at least one common factor is quite high.

Secondly, the idea that we can remain in our own tradition while
at the same time learning and adjusting to the traditions of those
around us.

Essentially, this is the idea that only because we have one

particular cultural conditioning, this doesn’t mean that we should
reject anything that goes against our belief system.

Rather, we should embrace these differences as learning

opportunities, and even if we can not accept them, then at least we
should learn to understand and tolerate them.
 THE IMPORTANCE OF EFFECTIVE INTERCULTURAL
COMMUNICATION

The importance of effective intercultural communication can hardly be

overstated. Indeed, as Trudy Milburn pointed out in Management Review,
communication serves not only as an expression of cultural background, but
as a shaper of cultural identity. "Cultural identities, like meaning, are socially
negotiated," she wrote. "Ethnic identities, class identities, and professional
identities are formed and enacted through the process of communication.
What it means to be white, Jewish, or gay is based on a communication
process that constructs those identities. It is more than just how one labels
oneself, but how one acts in the presence of like and different others, that
constructs a sense of identity and membership."