Global Perspectives on Intercultural Communication

Stephen M. Croucher, Stephen M. Croucher

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2017
• ISBN:
  9781317506522
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Sprachen & Linguistik
• Subtopic: Kommunikationswissenschaften

What is intercultural communication? How does perspective shape a person's definition of the key tenets of the term and the field? These are the core questions explored by this accessible global introduction to intercultural communication. Each chapter explores the topic from a different geographic, religious, theoretical, and/or methodological perspective, with an emphasis on non-Western approaches, including Buddhist, South American, Muslim, and Chinese perspectives. Featuring the voices of a range of international contributors, this new textbook presents the full breadth of diverse approaches to intercultural communication and showcases the economic, political, and cultural/societal needs for and benefits of communicative competence.

Part 1
What is Intercultural Communication?

The following 14 chapters each present different approaches to what is intercultural communication. Each chapter is written by a different author(s) from a different geographic, religious, theoretical, and/or methodological perspective. When asked to write these chapters, each of these authors approached this task differently. However, each was asked, and delivered on, one task, to discuss what is the intercultural from their point of view. I believed it was essential to offer different perspectives on what is “intercultural” and “intercultural communication,” as opposed to the typical US, and Western, connotations provided in most intercultural communication textbooks. I hope you learn from and enjoy it.

In Chapter 1, “Why Intercultural Communication,” I, Stephen Croucher, do a few things. First, I define a few key terms. I define these terms from predominantly a US-approach to intercultural communication, as this is the approach in which I was trained. I also introduce you to the other chapters in the book.

In Chapter 2, “Intercultural Communication in South America,” Javier Protzel outlines how intercultural communication as a field of inquiry has developed in different South American nations. He also discusses the multicultural nature of the continent. In Chapter 3, “Intercultural Communication: A European Perspective,” by João Caetano, you are introduced to the intricate links between interculturality and what it means to be a member of the European Union. Questions such as how integration, diversity, and wealth relate to intercultural communication are posed. In Chapter 4, “Intercultural Communication in South Africa,” Sabihah Moola and Babalwa Sibango explore how intercultural communication can best be understood in its specific contexts. This chapter explores the unique historical background of South Africa and how intercultural communication relates to its history and present situation. In Chapter 5, “Intercultural Communication: A West African Perspective,” Elvis Ngwayuh offers an overview of the diversity of West Africa and how cultural differences shape this region. In Chapter 6, “Intercultural Communication: An Israeli Perspective,” Yuval Karniel and Amit Lavie Dinur discuss the links between politics and culture in nation building. Their discussion combines historical and cultural elements to describe what is the intercultural from an Israeli perspective. In Chapter 7, “Intercultural Communication: An Iranian Perspective,” Nourollah Zarrinabadi explores the development of the intercultural discipline and describes its place in Iranian culture. He also explains the aims of intercultural communication in Iranian culture. In Chapter 8, “Intercultural Communication: A Chinese Perspective,” Jiang Fei sketches the landscape of intercultural communication research in China. He outlines various developments in China regarding intercultural communication research as a field of inquiry/scholarship. In Chapter 9, “Intercultural Communication: A Korean Perspective,” Young-Ok Lee describes how in Korean society, the links between history, religion, and societal hierarchy are intrinsically linked to what makes the intercultural. In Chapter 10, “Intercultural Communication: A Japanese Perspective,” Jiro Takai explores the history of intercultural communication as a discipline. In doing so he outlines how this discipline, and concept, have emerged, and still are emerging from other fields. In Chapter 11, “Intercultural Communication: An Australian Perspective,” Terry Flew considers how history, geography, demography, social policy, and political economy all shape a distinctively Australian perspective on intercultural communication. In Chapter 12, “Intercultural Communication: A Christian Perspective,” Janie Harden Fritz describes how intercultural communication has been part of the Judeo-Christian tradition since its beginnings and has always been an integral part of the Christian doctrine. In Chapter 13, “Intercultural Communication” A Muslim Perspective,” Hassan Abu Bakar and Munif Zarirruddin Fikri Nordin explain how a basic tenet for Muslims is to communicate. Thus, the significance of intercultural communication as essential to Islam is outlined in this chapter. In Chapter 14, “Intercultural Communication: A Buddhist Perspective,” Tenzin Dorjee describes how intercultural communication includes interdependent origination, nonviolence, and mindfulness, among other things.

1 Why Intercultural Communication?

Stephen M. Croucher, Massey University, New Zealand

Chapter Outline

1. • Book Outline
2. • The Complex Nature of Communication
   1. • Communication Defined
   2. • Models of Communication
3. • The Need for Intercultural Communication
   1. • Review of Intercultural Communication Definitions
4. • The Needs for and Benefits of Intercultural Communication

Book Outline

While working on this book the European Union has grappled with an unprecedented influx of migration. More than one million migrants in 2015 escaped ISIS and/or the war in Syria and conflicts in Africa, and entered the EU (Migrant crisis: Migration to Europe explained in graphics, 2016). Upon entering the EU, many migrants have experienced vast cultural differences, physical challenges, legal challenges, economic challenges and opportunities, etc. Communication has been integral to the entire management and interpretation of the migrant crisis. Many of the migrants who have entered the EU speak different languages than those in their new host nation(s), have different cultural/social practices, and the press coverage of the crisis has varied significantly from nation to nation in the EU. As a consequence, it has been common to see clashes between migrants and host nations (Greece, Germany, Finland, France, etc.), migrant violence toward the host nation (Germany), and the introduction/proposal of various anti-immigration and migrant resettlement/deportation proposals throughout the EU (e.g., Sweden, France, and the United Kingdom) (Fiaola, 2015; Migrant Crisis: Finland’s case against immigration, 2015; Wintour, 2015). Ultimately, the migrant crisis in the EU has renewed the call for heightened cultural awareness, communicative competence, and intercultural communication.

In this chapter we will examine intercultural communication from my point of view. I stress that it is from my point of view because, as you will find throughout this textbook, multiple points of view on what is intercultural communication are presented. This is done to show you, the reader, the depth and breadth of the field. To facilitate this examination we will first explore communication itself. In this first section we will define communication and describe the different models of communication. In the second section of the chapter we will delve into why we need intercultural communication, and what it is. In the following chapters in this textbook you will be introduced to various definitions and approaches to intercultural communication. All of these chapters and approaches will further address the why and what of “intercultural communication.”

The Complex Nature of Communication

Communication Defined

In one form or another communication has been around for thousands of years; but what is it? Well, there is not one singular definition of communication. Littlejohn (1999) asserted, “communication is difficult to define. The word is abstract and, like most terms, possesses numerous meanings” (p. 6). To better understand the variety of approaches to defining communication, take a look at the following list of five classic definitions of communication:

1. “All of the procedures by which one mind can affect another.” (Weaver, 1949, p. 95)
2. A verbal interchange of thoughts or ideas. (Hoben, 1954)
3. A process through which we try to understand individuals and have them understand us. The process is dynamic and continually changing in response to the situation. (Andersen, 1959)
4. The transmission of ideas, information, emotions, skills, etc. through symbols, words, pictures, etc. (Berelson & Steiner, 1964)
5. The central interest of communication is to transmit a message to a receiver with conscious intent to affect the receiver’s behavior(s). (Miller, 1966)

Each of these definitions provides different, and some overlapping perspectives on what is communication. While some of the definitions are narrower in scope than others, for example Hoben’s (1954) only considers verbal exchanges, others consider all aspects of human behavior that influence another person (Weaver, 1949). Most modern-day communication researchers tend to follow a combination of the definitions provided by Andersen (1959) and Berelson and Steiner (1964). In this case, communication is a dynamic process through which we share meaning with others through various message channels (Croucher & Cronn-Mills, 2015).

There are three key elements of communication that should be reviewed before we can progress any further, each of which are common to most definitions of communication. First, communication involves the sharing of symbols via signs. A sign is an object (e.g., letter, word, phrase, action, event, etc.) that represents something else. To understand how signs work we need to define two terms: signifier and signified, using the example “computer.” The signifier is the word “computer.” The signified is the physical object that is the “computer,” all of the electronic and metal parts that make up the “computer.” The relationship between the signified and the signifier is the sign. In most cases this relationship is easily understood and does not need explanation; we have mental concepts/ideas of what these signs represent, what Ogden and Richards (1927) called referents. For example, when you see a “computer” you may think of a device to log onto the Internet, do homework, connect to social media, etc., while others may see it as work; it all depends on our experiences with the sign.

Second, most researchers view communication as a process. Communication is ongoing and ever-changing. Consider the following example. An employee asks his/her employer for a raise. This request is not a one-time communication event. In fact, when the employer considers the request, the employer thinks about many things the employee has done since working at the company. Our past deeds influence the final decision as to whether or not we get a raise, as well as the financial situation of the company. Are we a good employee? Does the boss like us or not? How well do we communicate that we are an effective employee? There are countless questions that go into this decision. Our past interactions with the boss will have a huge impact on the final decision. Ultimately, how we communicate is greatly influenced by our past and present situations/interactions when we realize that communication is a process.

Third, communication is often regarded as transactional, or a back and forth between a sender and receiver. Essentially, feedback is critical to communication. Yet, a transactional approach to communication takes more into consideration than just feedback. Burgoon and Ruffner (1978, p. 9) noted that the participants in communication have a great impact on one another:

People are simultaneously acting as source and receiver in many communication situations. A person is giving feedback, talking, responding, acting, and reacting continually through a communication event. Each person is constantly participating in the communication activity. All of these things can alter the other elements in the process and create a completely different communication event. This is what we mean by transaction.

Models of Communication

To better understand the transactional approach to communication let’s look back at the employer/employee interaction over a raise. When thinking about this interaction look to Figure 1.2 below as a model of communication. Each of the individuals is a sender of messages, while at the same time being a receiver of messages. Both communicators are encoding (processing messages to send out), and decoding (processing messages received). In this particular case their communication channel is verbal and non-verbal communication (voice, talking, eye contact, and gestures). However, they could also have this interaction over another communication channel, such as Facebook, or via texting for example. No matter what communication channel they use, the other person receives their messages and gives them feedback, more than likely through the same communication channel. However, as ...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• List of figures
• List of tables
• PART 1 What is Intercultural Communication?
• PART 2 Culture
• PART 3 Theoretical Domains
• PART 4 Intercultural Contexts
• PART 5 Conclusion
• Index