GLOBAL STUDIES – INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
Intercultural- pertaining to or taking place between two or more cultures
Communication- the imparting or interchange of thoughts, opinions, or information by speech,
writing, or signs
Why study intercultural communication?
“Every culture reflects the fingerprints of God and the brokenness of the world”
What cultures do we represent?
Ethnolinguistic – first language
National- passport status
Regional- regions, states
Organizational- majors
Social
What professionals need skills in intercultural communication?
People are influenced by their…
- Personal stories
- Cultural stories
- Global story
We are going to frame this class in STORY.
Every person and culture has a story.
There is danger in only considering a single story.
A major part of interpersonal communication is considering and listening to the stories of
another person and seeking to consider and share our own.
The Power of God’s Story…
- THE STORY from which all other stories come
- Understanding God’s story from beginning to end
- God’s story as we know it?
- Our story is only significant within the story
- The GLOBAL story
How can this impact gospel communication?
In honor/shame cultures…
Communication is more about managing social relationships than exchanging info. Talking is a
dance not a download. For this reason, caution is taken to not offend other people. The highest
priority is to not shame anyone.
Events start when everyone gets there! Identity is defines by the people we gather with, not
the tasks we accomplish. So, to start without someone would be excluding them from the
group, an offensive gesture. Time is an instrument for conferring honor.
Different types of stories:
- Personal
- Cultural
- World
CULTURE- Genesis 4, Genesis 11:1-9, Genesis 12:1-3
Some truths about culture:
- Everyone has culture
- We are often so immersed in it we don’t even realize it
- To be effective in learning other cultures, we need to be able to identify our own
- Culture is one of the most complex words in the English language
What Is Culture? CULTURE is the label anthropologists give to the structured customs and
underlying worldview assumptions which govern people’s lives
- It is a people’s way of life and coping with their biological, physical, and social
environment
It consists of…
- Learned assumptions
- Concepts and behavior
- Physical artifacts/material culture
Layers of culture…
- Behavior- what is done/
oMost superficial layer
oLeads to the questions of meaning-why is this done?
- Values- What is good or best?
oPreset decisions that a culture makes between choices commonly faced
oWhat “should” or “ought” to be?
- Beliefs- what is true?
- Worldview- what is real?
oThe way the world is viewed and explained…
oEXAMPLES
Cultural Analogy #1- Cultural Iceberg
- Things visible above the surface (10%):
oFood, dress, music, arts, dance, language, greetings, celebrations, games,
religious practices
- Things below the surface (90%)
oConversation patters, facial expressions, body language, VALUES, understanding
of modesty, beauty, leadership, BELIEFS, about elders, concept of cleanliness,
nature of friendships, roles, WORLDVIEW, concepts of self, God, community, etc.
Cultural Analogy #2- River
- Worldview- the deep level of the river
oSurface-Level Culture (the visible patterned behavior)
oDeep-Level Culture (the invisible worldview culture)
Cultural Analogy #3- Colored Glasses
- An individual’s worldview is the lens through which they see the world… and the “color”
of that lens affects the way we see and interpret all that happens around us
“intercultural communication is not a problem or barrier but rather an experience to be
negotiated”
Research Question: What is the difference between individuals and organizations that succeed
in today’s globalized, multicultural world and those that fail?
Cultural Intelligence: is the capability to function and relate effectively in culturally diverse
situations
MYTHS:
- International experience = cultural intelligence
- Technical success = success
- High EQ = High CQ
TYPES OF CULTURE:
- National Culture: the norms, customs, and values shared with people who live in a
country
- Ethno-Linguistic Culture: the norms, customs, values and worldview shared among an
ethnic and/or linguistic group
- Organizational Culture: organizations and even professions have their own distinct
values, norms, and ways of viewing people and issues
- Generational Culture: age groups
- Other cultural types: Regional, social, etc.
Cultural Systems
1. Economic
2. Family
3. Educational
4. Religious
5. Legal
6. Artistic
10 Key Cultural Value Orientations
- Individualism/collectivism
- Low Power Distance/High Power Distance
- Low/High Uncertainty Avoidance
- Cooperative/Competitive
- Time Orientation (Short Term/Long Term)
- Direct/Indirect Context
- Being/Doing
- Universalism/Particularism
- Neutral/Affective
- Monochronic/Polychronic
INDIVIDUALISM
- Emphasizes “I”
- Individual identity
- Individual decisions, goals, and rights
- Prefers/values working alone
- Examples: Anglo, Germanic Europe, Nordic Europe
COLLECTIVISM
- Emphasizes “we”.
- Group identity
- Group decisions, goals, responsibilities, relationships
- Prefers/values working with others
- Examples: Arab, Confucian Asia, Latin America, Southern Asia, S-S Africa
LOW POWER DISTANCE
- Equality
- All should have equal rights
- Shared decision making
oFlat, equalitarian approach
- Publicly question and challenge the views of superiors
- Examples: Anglo, Germanic/Nordic Europe
HIGH POWER DISTANCE
- Status differences
- Power holders entitled to privileges
- Superiors make decisions
oHierarchal approach
- Publicly support and accept the views of superiors
- Examples: Arab, Latin America, Southern Asia
Is one right or wrong?
Does Biblical Christianity reflect low or high power distance?
LOW UNCERTAINTY AVOIDANCE
- Flexibility!
- Prefers fewer rules/guidelines, little structure
- Tolerates unstructured and unpredictable situations
- Examples: Anglo, eastern/Nordic Europe
HIGH UNCERTAINTY AVOIDANCE
- Predictability!
- Prefers written rules, structure, and guidelines
- Emphasis on planning
- Examples: Latin America, Latin Europe, *Germany, Japan, Singapore
COVID-19 Response>
- How have cultural values influenced the global response to Covid-19?
oIndividualism/Collectivism
oPower Distance
oUncertainty Avoidance
COOPERATIVE
- Collaboration
- Nurturing
- Quality of relationships
- Examples: Nordic Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa
COMPETITIVE
- Competition
- Assertiveness
- Quality of performance, achievement, and results
- Examples: Anglo, Germanic Europe
SHORT TERM TIME ORIENTATION
- Emphasizes immediate outcomes/rewards
- Success NOW
- Examples: Anglo, Arab, Eastern/Nordic Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa
LONG TERM TIME ORIENTATION
- Long term planning
- Success later
DIRECT- LOW CONTEXT
- Emphasizes explicit words and directions
- Values direct communication
- Examples: Anglo, Germanic/Nordic Europe
INDIRECT- HIGH CONTEXT
- Emphasizes roles and implicit understanding
- Values indirect communication
- Examples: Arab, Confucian/Southern Asia, S-S Africa
BEING ORIENTATION
- Motivation is quality of life, social relationships
- Values spontaneity
- Work to live
- Examples: Arab, Latin America, Nordic Europe, S-S Africa
DOING ORIENTATION
- Motivation is productivity, being industrious
- Values efficiency and punctuality
- Live to work
- Examples: Anglo, Germanic Europe
UNIVERSALISM
- Emphasis on rules for all
- Standards apply to everyone- few or no exceptions
- Obligations to a standard
- Examples: Anglo, Germanic/Nordic Europe
PARTICULARISM
- Emphasis on unique standards based on relationships
- Special obligations to people you know (nepotism)
- Examples: Arab, Confucian/Southern Asia, Latin America, S-S Africa
NEUTRAL
- Emphasis on non-emotional communication
- Values controlling or hiding feelings/emotions
- Examples: Confucian Asia, Eastern/Germanic/Nordic Europe
AFFECTIVE
- Emphasis on expressive communication
- Values sharing feelings openly, more gestures
- Examples: Arab, Larin America & Europe, S-S Africa
MONOCHRONIC/ CLOCK TIME
- Emphasis on a linear approach to time and schedules are followed
- Values punctuality
- Work and personal lives kept separate
- Examples: Anglo, Germanic/Nordic Europe
POLYCHRONIC/EVENT TIME
- Emphasis on responding as things happen
- Values relationships
- Work and personal lives are often intertwined
- Examples: Arab, S-S Africa, Latin America/Europe
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