Intercultural Communication

INTERCULTURAL
COMMUNICATIO
N
REA ROSE ROXAS
DEFINITION OF
INTERCULTURAL
COMMUNICATION
What is Intercultural Communication
Intercultural communication
happens when individuals interact,
negotiate, and create meanings while
bringing in their varied cultural
backgrounds (Ting-Toomey, 1999).
For some scholars, intercultural

communication pertains to
communication among people
from different nationalities
(Gudykunst, 2003).
Still, others look at intercultural

communication as communication
that is influenced by different
ethnicities, religions, and sexual
orientations.
All interpretations show that

intercultural communication takes place
when people draw from their cultural
identity to understand values, prejudices,
language, attitudes, and relationships
(Gudykunst & Kim, 2003).
Simply put, intercultural

communication is the sending
and receiving of messages
across languages and cultures.
•Intercultural
communication is also
not simply a language
proficiency.
LOW CONTEXT VS.
HIGH CONTEXT
CULTURES
LOW CONTEXT VS. HIGH CONTEXT
CULTURES
• A high-context culture relies on implicit communication
and nonverbal cues. In high-context communication, a
message cannot be understood without a great deal of
background information. Asian, African, Arab, central
European and La tin American cultures are generally
considered to be high-context cultures.
LOW CONTEXT VS. HIGH CONTEXT
CULTURES
A low-context culture relies on explicit
communication. In low-context communication, more
of the information in a message is spelled out and
defined. Cultures with western European roots, such
as the United States and Australia, are generally
considered to be low-context cultures.
THE DEVELOPMENTAL
MODEL OF
INTERCULTURAL
SENSITIVITY
• Intercultural sensitivity can be
conceptualized as an individual's
ability to develop a positive emotion
towards understanding and
appreciating cultural differences that
promotes an appropriate and effective
behavior
within intercultural communication.
• The Developmental Model of
Intercultural Sensitivity (DMIS) offers a
structure that explores how people
experience cultural differences. According
to Bennett and Bennett (2004), it has six
stages. These are the following:
1. Denial- The individual does not recognize cultural
differences.
An individual in the denial stage

might be heard saying:
∙ “All cities are the same; they all
have tall buildings, fast food
chains, and coffee shops.”
Stage 2: Defense.
• The individual starts to recognize

cultural differences and is
intimidated by them, resulting in
either a superior view on own
culture or an unjustified high
regard for the new one.
Stage 2: Defense.
An individual in the defense stage might

be heard saying:
∙ “This culture does not view life the way
we do; our culture is certainly better.”
∙ “Their ways are better than my own; I
wish I were one of them.”
Stage 3: Minimization.
• Although individuals see

cultural differences, they
bank more on the
universality of ideas rather
than on cultural differences.
Stage 3: Minimization.
An individual in the
minimization stage might be
heard saying:
∙ “Once we see through the
cultural differences, we really are
just the same!”
Stage 4: Acceptance.
•The individual begins to

appreciate important
cultural differences in
behaviors and eventually in
values.
Stage 4: Acceptance.
An individual in the acceptance

stage might be heard saying:
∙ “These people and I have
different values and experiences,
and I think we can learn from one
another.
Stage 5: Adaptation.
• The individual is very

open to world views
when accepting new
perspectives.
Stage 5: Adaptation.
An individual in the adaptation

stage might be heard saying:
∙ “To address our issue, I have to
adjust my approach to consider
both my own and my
counterpart’s background.”
Stage 6: Integration.
• Individuals start to go
beyond their own cultures
and see themselves and their
actions based on multifarious
cultural viewpoints.
Stage 6: Integration.
An individual in the
integration stage might be
heard saying:
∙ “I can look at things from the
perspective of various
cultures.”
CHARACTERISTICS OF
COMPETENT
INTERCULTURAL
COMMUNICATORS
World Bank (2010) identifies the following traits that define a
competent intercultural communicator:
1. flexibility and the ability to tolerate high

levels of uncertainty
2. reflectiveness or mindfulness
3. open-mindedness
4. sensitivity
World Bank (2010) identifies the following traits that define a
competent intercultural communicator:
5. adaptability
6. ability to engage in divergent thinking and
systems-level thinking
7. Politeness

Intercultural Communication

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INTERCULTURAL

For some scholars, intercultural

Still, others look at intercultural

All interpretations show that

Simply put, intercultural

An individual in the denial stage

• The individual starts to recognize

An individual in the defense stage might

• Although individuals see

•The individual begins to

An individual in the acceptance

• The individual is very

An individual in the adaptation

1. flexibility and the ability to tolerate high

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