PROBLEMS OF INTERCULTURAL

COMMUNICATION

PREPARED BY STUDENT OF 41-A GROUP:

ANGELINA MOROZ
DEFINING CULTURE

CULTURE ISN’T ONLY ABOUT THE LANGUAGE YOU SPEAK, THE FOODS YOU EAT, AND THE
WAY YOU DRESS.

THERE ARE MUCH MORE NUANCED ASPECTS OF OUR EVERYDAY LIFE THAT CAN BE
ATTRIBUTED TO CULTURE. OUR LIFESTYLE, INCLUDING WAYS OF PERSONAL LIFE, FAMILY
LIFE, AND SOCIAL LIFE ARE ALL PART OF OUR CULTURE.
WHAT IS INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION?

INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION IS MUCH MORE THAN JUST YOUR TYPICAL TYPES OF COMMUNICATION SUCH AS VERBAL AND NONVERBAL. IT IS ABOUT THE BROADER
EXCHANGE OF IDEAS, BELIEFS, VALUES, AND VIEWS.

INTERCULTURAL OR CROSS CULTURAL COMMUNICATION REFERS TO COMMUNICATION BETWEEN INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS OF DIFFERENT CULTURAL BACKGROUNDS.
 Cultures
Cultures are
are
shared
shared

Cultural
Cultural Cultures
Cultures are
are
identities
identities are
are learned
learned
overlapping.
overlapping.
Characteristics
of intercultural
communication

Cultures
Cultures are
are Cultures
Cultures are
are
multifaceted
multifaceted dynamic
dynamic
 Other Intergroup Relations Terms

Other relevant terms

when discussing
intercultural
communication are:

Multicultural Diversity Cross-cultural

Multicultural means a group or organization that has multiple cultures within it, or is made up of
several cultures.
Cross-cultural means between multiple groups of different cultures, whereas intercultural means
between members of those cultures.
IMPORTANCE OF INTERCULTURAL
COMMUNICATION

INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF INTERCULTURAL COMPETENCE — OR

THE ABILITY TO EFFECTIVELY FUNCTION ACROSS CULTURES, AND WITH THOSE FROM OTHER
CULTURES. AS OUR WORLD GETS SMALLER AND GLOBALIZATION GETS STRONGER, INTERCULTURAL
COMPETENCE AND GREAT INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION BECOME A NECESSITY TO BE
SUCCESSFUL.
Two trends of intercultural
commmunication
Multicultural
Globalization
workforce
 SIX BARRIERS TO INTERCULTURAL
COMMUNICATION
1.Language Differences
Language differences are an obvious barrier to
intercultural communication. If you speak only
English and a shopkeeper speaks only Japanese, you
won't be able to communicate verbally.

In addition, words don't necessarily translate from one

language to another in a clean one-to-one
correspondence. The same English word may have
different meanings to people from different cultures.
2.BODY LANGUAGE

PEOPLE SOMETIMES TAKE OFFENSE BECAUSE OF DIFFERENCES IN BODY LANGUAGE ACROSS CULTURES. FOR EXAMPLE, A BUSINESSPERSON FROM LATIN AMERICA
MIGHT STAND CLOSER TO A CLIENT THAN SOMEONE FROM NORTH AMERICA WOULD.

THIS MAY MAKE THE NORTH AMERICAN FEEL CROWDED AND WANT TO BACK AWAY.

PEOPLE FROM SOUTHERN EUROPE TYPICALLY USE MORE EYE CONTACT THAN BRITONS AND AMERICANS, WHICH MAY MAKE THE ENGLISH-SPEAKERS
UNCOMFORTABLE. BECAUSE THE FRENCH TYPICALLY SMILE LESS THAN AMERICANS, SOMETIMES AMERICANS THINK THEY AREN'T FRIENDLY.
3. LEVEL OF CONTEXT

Most English-speaking cultures are low-context, meaning

they put a message into explicit words. In these cultures,
saying "no" when you mean "no" is just considered
straightforward or honest.

High-context cultures, such as Japan, expect the listener

to pick up more meaning from the general situation. For
example, Asians sometimes say "yes" or "maybe" when
they actually mean "no," according to the Diversity
Council. Asians often consider an outright refusal blunt
rather than honest.
4.VALUE OF TIME

Not all cultures think about time in the North American

linear fashion. In the U.S., punctuality is important, but
Latin and Middle Eastern cultures put a higher value on
relationships.

For example, you'd finish your conversation with

someone even if it makes you late to a meeting. A
culture's view of time also influences how it sees
deadlines.

For example, North Americans consider making a

deadline crucial -- whether on the job or in college.
People from Asia or South America are more likely to
view deadlines as less important than results over the
long haul.
5.NEGATIVE STEREOTYPES 6.Feelings and Emotions
AND PREJUDICES
Individuals from the United Kingdom and Japan
Stereotypes and prejudices about people from other typically keep a tight control of their emotions,
cultures can cause communication problems and give while Italians and French are more comfortable
offense. showing their feelings.

Ethnocentrism, or a belief that your own culture is better Loud talking might embarrass an Englishman, for
than that of others, can lead to acting superior toward example, but an Italian may just be expressing
other groups and not treating them well. excitement. Differences in culture and
communication styles can even cause fear. As a
For example, a teacher in an American college may think result of this anxiety, people from different cultures
that students from a certain culture lack strong English may pull back and avoid trying to communicate at
skills or are incapable of good work. This prejudice can all, reports Kathy McKeiver, Coordinator of
lead the teacher to treat the students unfairly. International Student Academic Advising at
Northern Arizona University and chair of the Global
Engagement Commission of the National Academic
Advising Association.
Thank you for attention!!!