CHAPTER 3

INTERCULTURAL
COMMUNICATION
Communication examines the basic elements of interpersonal communication and
culture as the two relate to one another. Emphasis is given to the influence of
culture on the interpretation of the communication act and to the communication
skills that enhances cross cultural communication. Communication requires the
ability to understand language, but just think about how much of your
communication with even you friends is nonverbal: our body language, our
attitude, the rituals from hand-shaking to the stink eye. Some researchers estimate
thar up to 93% of all human communication is nonverbal, although according to
recent studies, it is actually closer to 60%.

It provides several commonly accepted academic and applied definitions to clarify

this concept and process.

The term "intercultural communication", represent broad ideas that are difficult to
express in just one way. Thus, we present several working definitions as starting
points for exploring this topic. Intercultural communication refers to the
communication between people from two different cultures. (Chen & Starosta,
1998:28). It is a symbolic, interpretive, transactional contextual process, in which
people create shared meaning, Lustig & Koester, 21:46). It also 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).

Intercultural communication is the verbal and nonverbal interaction between

people from different cultural backgrounds. Basically, "inter" is a prefix that means
"between" and "cultural means from a culture, s intercultural communication is the
communication between cultures. Sometimes this is used to describe a single
person trying to interact in a foreign environment but more often, it is a two-way
street, where people from both cultures are trying to improve their communication.
It is important to understand intercultural communication because it allows us for
positive and productive interaction. Intercultural communication refers to the
effective communication between people workers/ elements of different cultural
background. It also includes managing thought patterns and nonverbal
communication,

Still, that means that more than half of communication is never spoken So,
intercultural communication is going to take a lot more than just learning a
language. It describes the wide ting of communication processes and problems that
naturally appears within an organization or social context made up of individual
from different religious, social, ethnic, and educational backgrounds. It this sense it
seeks to understand how people from different countries and cultures act,
communicate and perceived the world around them. Intercultural communication
plays a role in social sciences such as anthropology, cultural studies, linguistics,
psychology and communication studies. It also referred as the base of international
businesses, several cross-cultural services provide assist with the development of
intercultural communication skills, in a way the interaction with speakers of other
languages of equal terms and respecting their identities".

Identity and culture are also study within the discipline of communication to
analyze how globalization influences ways of thinking, beliefs, values, and
identity, within and between cultural environments. Language is an important
example of a cultural component that is linked to intercultural understanding.
 TOPIC 1

COMMUNICATION AND GLOBALIZATION

LEARN ABOUT IT!

As technology advances, the world is getting smaller. Today we are able to

communicate with people across the globe at the touch of a button. While
globalization, of communication between nations beyond their borders, is an old
concept, with the onset of new technology globalization is affecting the ways we
communicate and learn in fascinating was. We are expanding our understanding of
fellowship and as we become more connected, we are deepening our educational
experiences. The rise in the use of the internet in particular has been incredibly
instrumental in improving the ways in which we connect with one another.

Because of technologies like the internet, we have the opportunity to view diverse
perspectives that overlooks outside of our scope before. We are able to fully
connect with someone who is thousands of miles away in real time and the effects
are profound.

The Effects of Globalization on Global Communication

 Increased Business Opportunities

Many companies today hire employees that are located in other countries: Using
communication vehicles such as video calling make it simple to converse with
colleagues across the globe, almost making it feel as if they are in the same room.
Technology also make it easier to connect with suppliers and customers all over
the world, and to streamline relationship through improved ordering, shipment
tracking and so on. With this kind of communication technology, many businesses
are able to take advantage of opportunities in different countries or cities,
improving the economic outlook on a global level.

 Fewer Cultural Barriers

Many people perceive culture to be the root of communication challenges. When
people from two different cultures try to exchange information, the way they
speak, their body language their mannerisms can be interpreted differently by the
other person. The way people approach problems and how they participate in
communities is all influenced by culture.
Globalization has made it possible, for example, for someone in Japan to
understand how someone in the L.S goes about their day. With television and
movies, cultural barriers are becoming less prevalent. Being able to communicate
effectively and frequently with colleagues or friends across the planet helps people
understand each other’s cultures a little better.

 Creation of a Global Village

You're likely heard of the phrase "global village," coined by theorist Marshall
McLuhan. Affected both by globalization and global communication, the global
village is created when distance and isolation no longer matter because people are
connected by technology. Widespread telephone and internet access have been life
changing for many people across the world, especially those in developing
countries. Many are now enrolling in universities across the world without having
to leave their desk chair. Virtual assistant jobs are becoming commonplace, where
employees from developing countries work with companies in North America or
Europe, providing administrative support and other business services that can
easily be conducted over the phone or via the internet.

DO YOU KNOW?

EYE CONTACT:
-North Americans view direct eye contact as a sign of honesty
-Asians view direct eye contact as a form of disrespect

LEARN ABOUT

Why do we need to study this?

The transmission of the message from sender to recipient can be affected by a lot
of actors. These include cultural situation, the medium used to communicate, and
even our location. However, because of globalization, communication goes well
and easy. These topics made the students aware of the following:

Globalization and global communication have made easier to see people on the
other side of the world as a neighbor, instead of a stranger from a faraway land.
There is so much knowledge about other countries and cultures available online
that it's no longer a complete mystery.
Some effects of globalization to global communication are having or increased
business opportunities, fewer cultural barriers as well as creating a global village or
making the world or the community connected with the use of technology.
Key Terms:

Globalization the process of interaction and integration among people, companies

and governments worldwide.

Global village refer to the world emphasize that all the different parts of the world
for one community linked together by electronic communication, especially the
internet. Cultural barriers when people of different cultures are unable to
understand each other’s' customs, resulting in inconveniences and difficulties
 TOPIC 2

LOCAL AND GLOBAL COMMUNICATION IN MULTICULTURAL

SETTING

LEARN ABOUT IT!

Multiculturalism meters to the presence of people with several cultures in a

specific setting. It is the co-existence of diverse cultures, where culture includes
racial, religious, or cultural groups and is manifested in customary behaviors,
cultural assumptions and values, patterns of thinking, and communicative styles.

The world today is characterized by ever growing compacts resulting in

communication between people with different linguistic and cultural background.
One of the most common forms of global communication is an email. A person in
one country types a message and click the send button. The message is then
encoded into packets which are sent across the internet to the recipient. In another
country, the receiver logs in and decodes the message by opening the email, and
retrieves the message.

Global communication becomes more complicated when there are multiple

recipients from different cultures with different languages all receiving the same
message, as well as when there are more layers added to the channel. For example,
if a world leader makes a speech broadcast across the globe, people from one
region may rejoice at the news, while others may find it offensive. In this case, the
channel itself can involve many different layers, us translators, news, editors and
commentators each interpret the message differently before passing it on to the
intended audiences.

LOCAL AND GLOBAL COMMUNICATION

It is the way on how we communicate to other. Is using our own languages and an
English language, we can make a conversation locally or globally. The main
purpose of this is to have an idea on how can we apply what we learned from them
for ourselves and for our community. It can also be the way for our country to have
sufficient knowledge to make it more outstanding.

Local communication means data transferred directly from the gateway to bluz
DK, without going through the Particle cloud. Local communication can be used
for a lot of tasks that don't require the cloud.
Multicultural education refers to any form of education or teaching that
incorporates the histories, texts, values, beliefs, and perspectives of people from
different cultural backgrounds The study of global communication is an
interdisciplinary field focusing on global communication, or the ways that people
connect, share, relate and mobilize across geographical, political, economic, social
and cultural divides.

COMMUNICATING ACROSS CULTURES

Communicating across cultures is challenging. Each culture has set rules that its
members take for granted. Few of us are aw are of our own cultural biases because
cultural imprinting is begun at a very early age. And while some of culture's
knowledge, rules, beliefs, values, phobias, and anxiety are taught explicitly, most
of the information is absorbed subconsciously.

The challenge for multinational communication has never been greater. Worldwide
business organizations have discovered that intercultural communication is a
subject important not just because of increased globalization, but also because their
workforce is growing more and more diverse.

The challenge for multinational communication has never been greater. Worldwide
business organizations have discovered that intercultural communication is a
subject important not just because of increased globalization, but also because their
domestic workforce is growing more and more diverse. Intercultural
communication is a discipline that studies communication across different cultures
and social status, or how culture affects communication. It describes the wide
range of communication processes and problems that naturally appear within an
organization or social context made up of individuals from different religious,
social, ethnic, and educational backgrounds. In this sense it seeks to understand
how people from different countries and cultures act, communicate and precise the
world around them.

CULTURES
-A culture is the system of knowledge, beliefs, values, customs, behaviors, and
artifacts that are acquired shared, and used by its members during daily living

CO- CULTURES
- Within a culture as a whole arc co-cultures, these are composed of members of
the same general culture who differ in some ethnic or sociological way from the
parent culture.

BARRIERS TO LOCAL AND GLOBAL COMMUNICATION

IN MULTICULTURAL SETTINGS

Some of the barriers to effective communication are language, medium of

communication, personality and culture. Culture became barrier to an effective
communication when a person has different language bearing and they have
different interpretation to such words.

What is the difference between multicultural and cross-cultural or

Intercultural?

While they all might be under the same roof, they describe entirely different
rooms. The differences in the meanings have to do with the perspectives we take
when interacting with people from other cultures.
Multicultural refers to a society that contains several cultural or ethnic groups.
People live alongside one another, but each cultural group does not necessarily
have engaging interactions with each other. For example, in a multicultural
neighborhood people may frequent ethnic grocery stores and restaurants without
really interacting with their neighbors from other countries, Cross-cultural
(Intercultural) refers o the comparison of different culture. In cross cultural
communication, differences are understood and acknowledged, and can bring
about individual change, but not collective transformations. In cross-cultural
societies, one culture is often considered the norm" and all other cultures are
constipated or contrast.

SYNTHESIS

 Global communication becomes more complicated when there are multiple

recipients from different cultures with different languages all receiving the
same message, as well as when there are more layers added to the channel.
 Local communication means data transferred directly from the gateway to
bluz DK, without going through the Particle cloud. Local communication
can he used for a lot of tasks that don't require the cloud.
 Local and global communication in multicultural settings help me realize
that miscommunication is essential to enhance our ability to communicate
 and effectively accept and embrace across country cultures. And it made me
realize also the importance of cross-culture in globalization business
opportunities, job opportunities, sharing of views and ideas, talent
improvisation and understanding of diverse market.
 To enhance our ability to communicate and effectively accept and embrace
across country cultures:
 To make realize the importance of cross culture in globalization business
opportunities, job opportunities, sharing of views and ideas, talent
improvisation and understanding of communication.
 TOPIC 3

VARIETIES AND REGISTERS OF SPOKEN AND WRITTEN

LANGUAGE

LEARN ABOUT IT!

According to an article written by Gleaner, we have six language registers: formal,
casual, intimate private, frozen and consultative. These registers can be use
depending on the situation and people we encounter. It is essential to use
appropriate varieties and registers of language in certain communication context
because in different situations and people call for different registers. It shows the
level of formality and informality of the language used. When we use appropriate
varieties and register of language, we're showing respect, interest, comfortableness
and professionalism. However, we have different approach in language register
when it comes to face to face conversation and in written mode. We characterized
face-to-face conversation as multi-modality because we can use different registers
and we considered the status, position or the way of living of the person we're
communicating with in order to know when and where to use or drop the formality.
While in writing a paper we commonly use the formal register since the
construction of sentences, correction of grammar and appropriate use of words
really matter.

CHARACTERISTICS OF WRITTEN LANGUAGE

Permanence - means when students write something, they already their mind to be
done one session. They don't think that they can edit or revised their writing to le
better because students think their written is subject to permanence. In this case
teacher perhaps notice all of students that they just write everything that comes in
their written.
Production time this part plays a crucial issue for the agents. in this part, students
will think about the deadline. The possible case in here is the students will just
only focus on the deadline and would resort to not give importance on the content
itself. As the result, their written work will not be maximized and or to be
improved. Moreover, this is a job for the teachers to push students to think about
the process of learning rather than the result itself
Distance having a relationship with the audience anticipation. Before students start
to write, they have to know who will be the audience to read their output.
Orthography this part is all: about the technical of appearance. After writer
consider about the word, phrase and sentence that they will use students also
consider about the font, size and also the picture. All appearance has to connect
with the topic and target of the reader.
Complexity - this is talk about the sentence whether students use simple sentence
combine or complex sentence. We as a teacher will know the students’ progress of
learning. And for the academic writing, students should provide reference.
Vocabulary - talk about word richness we (teacher) can see what a new
vocabulary that they already acquired.
Formality - this is complex convention for academic writing (describe, explain,
compare, criticize, argue, etc.) If the writer creates academic writing it means the
product have to formal. Because of that the language that they use has to formal
and polite. The front or size has to consistent with the guideline that they use (APA
style, MLA etc.)

CHARACTERISTICS OF SPOKEN LANGUAGE

1. VARIATION IN SPEED
2. LOUDNESS OR QUIETNESS
3. GESTURES
4. INTONATION
5. STRESS
6. RHYTHM
7. PITCH RANGE 8. PAUSING AND PHRASING

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SPOKEN AND WRITTEN LANGUAGE

WRITTEN

Tends to be more complex and intricate than speech with longer sentences and
many subordinate clauses. The punctuation and layout of written text also have no
spoken equivalent. Usually permanent and written texts. Cannot usually be
changed once they have been printed/written out.

Written text can communicate across time and space for as long as the particular
language and writing.

SPOKEN:

Tends to be full or repetitions, incomplete sentences, corrections and interruptions

with the exception of formal speeches and other scripture forms of speech such as
news reports and scripts for plays and films.
Usually transient unless recorded and speakers can correct themselves and change
their utterances as they go alone Speech is usually used for immediate interactions.
Speech can us timing tone, volume and tremble to add emotional context.

Some types of vocabulary we used only or mainly speech. These include slang
expressions, and tags like y'know, like, etc.

THE FIVE MOST COMMON LANGUAGE REGISTER IN WRITING

FORMAL LANGUAGE REGISTER

Is appropriate for professional writing and letters to a boss or stranger.
Cannot instead of can't.
Have not instead of haven't
Will not instead of won’t
EXAMPLE: business letters, announcement, professional emails, some essay,
letters complaint.

INFORMAL LANGUAGE REGISTER

Is conversational and appropriate when writing to friends and people you very
well.
They've been fighting all day.
He's very busy.
We feel that the target in unrealistic
I planned many different
EXAMPLE: short notes diaries and journals

NEUTRAL LANGUAGE REGISTER

Is non-emotional and sticks to facts. It is most appropriate for technical writing.
"Definition of register and varieties of spoken and the written language”

Register
Is a subset of language as defined by purpose and setting.

Varieties
A variety also called "lect" is a specific form of language cluster. This may include
Languages, Dialects, registers, style or other forms of language, as well as
"Standard Variety”

Varieties of the Philippines

a. Cebuano
 b. Waray-Waray
c. Ilocano
d. Kapampangan
e. Hiligaynon

Types of Register
A. Frozen is a language that never changes. (Ex. Panatang Makabayan).
B. Formal Standard English. (Ex. Speeches or School Lessons)
C. Consultative - Less formal standard English. (Ex. Newscasting)
D. Casual - Language between Friends (Ex. Vernacular speech)

Intimate language between lovers or other close family or friends.

Spoken Language
Is a language produced by articulate sounds, an oral language is a produced with
vocal tract. It tends to convey subjective information.

Written Language
Is a representation of Spoken or gestural by means of a writing system.
It must be taught to children.

SYNTHESIS
 The kind of register to be us affects the way we speaks and writes
 Language has formal and informal registers. These register have form which
define the social situation
 TOPIC 4

EXPLORING TEXTS REFLECTING DIFFERENT CULTURES

LEARN ABOUT IT!

A "text “isn’t limited to something written down. A text can be a film, an artifact,
anything in a language and culture that conveys meaning. Think about the text that
you use in your language classroom: textbook What do you read in class or even at
home? How do you describe the classroom, its design? Why do you think the
chairs are placed facing the tables? Those questions, with its finite answer would
tell you that there are texts that are reflection of one's own culture.

Text can be categorized into the following groups:

Created texts: Texts authored by non-native speakers for non-native speakers to
achieve pre-determined curricular goals.
Semi-authentic text: Texts created by native and/or non-native speaker, based on
original language materials, but adapted to fit curricular needs.
Authentic texts: Texts created by native speakers for native speakers for
consumption in a native environment.

Cultural texts are those objects, actions, and behaviors that reveal cultural
meanings. A photo is an image, but is also a cultural text, a picture with cultural
information beyond just the picture itself. Food and clothing also suggest cultural
information, and it doesn't stop there. The entire place and space, all of the people
and interaction, all of the rituals and rules and the various forms in which they
manifest themselves, as "readable" texts, suitable for observation and analysis by
the ethnographer and writer-namely by you.

The initial description of a cultural text may make it seem as though everything is a
cultural text. While in some sense true, this doesn't mean that every text has
particular cultural relevance. Sometimes a book is just a book; a picture is just a
picture. The difference between relevant cultural texts, (one that has one
connection with your project and a irrelevant cultural text, (one that may have
nothing to do with your project), has to do with the meaning transferred to that text
by the people who create and/or use the text.
Identification of a cultural text is relatively easy. Take a look around the room or
place you are in right now and briefly catalog the people and/or thing you see.
These objects and actions are cultural texts.

HOW TO EVALUATE MESSAGES AND IMAGES OF DIFFERENT

REFLECTING DIFFERENT CULTURE?

The following should do:

 Understand how the specified cultures live
 How the people in the specified group communicate
 Learn the symbolism of their culture.
 Be aware in every detail such as artifact, language, and symbolism.

Text is not literal text, but in semiotics refers to combination of signs, signifies and
mechanism like metonymy. A text could be a sentence, paragraph an image, a
story, or a collection of stories.

Collection of signs in a single photograph or painting, a video clip, a television

show, a feature film and whenever these signs come together in the land of
semiotics, they become texts. These texts can be understood, rearranged and put
together in different combinations, with different meanings to different groups of
people. But cultural texts are not one-dimensional. A text is not simply
representative of one culture, it does not belong to one culture, even if it purposely
excludes others semiotically. Cultural texts are multidimensional, they are
dynamic.

 TRIVIA

A cultural text is perhaps better understood as having cultural layers of

understanding where groups different in age, race, nationality, sexual orientation
may read and understand a collection of signs in different ways. Depending on the
producer or the audience, the Text itself has a kind of flexibility in meaning to
different people when it starts to operate culturally.

Formal and Informal Language

Formal and Informal language serve different purposes. The tone, the choice of
words and the way the words are put together vary between the two styles. Formal
language is less personal than informal language. It is used when writing for
professional or academic purpose like university assignments. Formal language
does not use colloquialisms, contractions or first-person pronouns such as I or We.

Informal language is more casual and spontaneous. It is used when communicating

with friends or family either in writing or in conversation. It is used in writing
personal emails, text messages and in some business correspondents. The core of
informal language is more personal than formal language.

Contractions

Informal: The improvements can't be introduced due to funding restrictions.

Formal: Improvements cannot be introduced due to funding restrictions.

Informal: I don't believe that the results are accurate.

Formal: The results are not believed to be accurate.
Phrasal Verbs
Informal: The balloon was blown up for the experiment.
Formal: The balloon was inflated for the experiment.

Informal: The patient got over his illness. Formal: The patient recovered from his
illness.
Informal. The results of the study were mixed up. Formal: The results of the study
were confused.

Slang/Colloquialisms
Informal: The mob was very rowdy during the protest against cuts to university
funding.
Formal: The crowd was very rowdy during the protest against the cuts to university
funding.

Informal: Letters still count on students to used correct grammar and punctuations
in essays, Formal: Lecturers expect students to use correct grammar and
punctuations in essays.

Informal: It was raining cats and dogs.

Formal: It was raining very heavily

First Person Pronouns

Informal: I considered various research methods for the study
Formal: Various research methods were considered for the study.

Informal: We believe the practice is unsustainable.

Formal: It is believed the practice is unsustainable

Informal: During the interview I asked students about their experiences.

Formal During the interview students were asked about their experiences.

SYNTHESIS

 Metonymy is an extension of the idea of a metaphor in semiotics, where

metonymy covers a diverse set of strategies of association and meaning
transfer between different designs. With a metaphor, on word stands in for
another word- love is battlefield' or 'apple of my eye'.
 Semiotics is the study of making meaning, the connection between a sign or
symbol. What in comes to represent and how it is understood by different
people. How we dress, the music we listen to the individual words we use in
conversation all convey specific meaning.
 TOPIC 5

COPING WITH THE CHALLENGES OF INTERCULTURAL

COMMUNICATION

LEARN ABOUT IT!

Communicating to the people around us is crucial in our everyday life. We convey

and gather information thoughts, opinions, as well as ideas through
communication. Communication in other words is the act of conveying meanings
from one entity or group to another through the use of mutually understood signs,
symbols, and semiotic rules.

Our culture affects the way of our communication, which means that different
culture is equivalent to different communication style. And one's way of
communicating may have the same or different interpretation to the other. This
may lead to miscommunication between the participants involved What is
Intercultural communication? What are the barriers and challenges of intercultural
communication?
How to cope with these challenges?

Communication is no denying an important part of a persons' life. People

communicate with one another to reach their own goals, whether it is to gather or
relay information and ideas, and they tend to communicate with the various people
from different races and culture to reach their aims.

What is Intercultural Communication?

Intercultural communication or (cross-cultural communication) discipline that
studies communication across different cultures and social groups, or how culture
affects communication It describes the wide range of communication processes
and problems that naturally appear within an organization or social context made
up of individuals from different religious, social, ethnic, and educational
backgrounds. In this sense it seeks to understand how people from different
countries and cultures act, communicate and perceive the world around them.
Many people in intercultural business communication argue that culture determines
how individuals encode messages, what medium they choose for transmitting
them, and the way messages are interpreted. With regard to intercultural
communication proper, it studies situations where people from different cultural
backgrounds interact. Aside from language, intercultural communication focuses
on social attributes, thought patterns, and the cultures of different groups of people.
It also involves understanding the different cultures, languages and customs of
people from other countries.

Intercultural communication plays a role in social sciences such as anthropology,

cultural studies, linguistics, psychology and communication studies. Intercultural
communication is also referred to as the chase for international businesses. Several
cross-cultural service providers assist with the development of intercultural
communication skills. Research is a major part of the development of intercultural
communication skills, Intercultural communication is in a way the interaction with
speakers of other languages on equal terms and respecting their identities'.

Identity and culture are also studied within the discipline of communication to
analyze how globalization influences ways of thinking, beliefs, values, and
identity, within and between cultural environments. Intercultural communication
scholars approach theory with a dynamic outlook and do not believe culture can be
measured nor that cultures share universal attributes. Scholars acknowledge that
culture and communication shift along with societal changes and theories should
consider the constant shifting and nuances of the society.

The study of intercultural communication requires intercultural understanding,

which is an ability to understand and value cultural differences. Language is an
example of an important cultural component that is linked to intercultural
understanding.

Functions of Intercultural Communication:

Private Function are functions that indicated communication through the

communication behavior originating from an individual.

1. Express Social identity - in the process of intercultural communication are

some of the communication behavior of individuals who used to express the
behavior of social identity is expressed through the aet of speaking both
verbal and non-verbal of language behavior that is knowable and social
identity.
2. Declares The Social Integration – the core concept of social integration is to
accept the unity between individuals, between groups but still recognizes the
differences of every clement. It should be understood that one of the goals of
communication is to give the same meaning for the message shared between
the communicator and the communicant.
 3. To the Knowledge-often interpersonal and intercultural communication
increase knowledge together to learn the culture of each.

Social Function- means the relation between social action and the systems of
which the action is a part, alternatively, as the result of social action.

1. Supervision- practice intercultural communication between different

communicators and
1. communicant culture of mutual monitoring functions. In any process of
intercultural communication function is useful to inform the "development”
of the environment.
2. Condition Between Culture - in the process of intercultural communication,
the communication function is carried out between two people of different
cultures was bridge over the differences between them. The bridging
functions can be controlled via messages they exchanged, the two are
explaining the differences of interpretation on a message that produces the
same meaning.
3. Value Socialization - socialization function is a function to teach and
introduce the cultural values of a society to another society.
4. Entertainment - entertaining functions are often performed in the process of
intercultural communication. For example, the arrival of outside artists
shows the differences between their cultures so that people learn the
language and follow their style.

Barriers to Intercultural Communication

1. [Link]- when you are anxious because of not knowing what you are expected
to do, it is only natural to focus on that feeling and not be totally present in the
communication transaction. For example, you may have experienced anxiety on
your very first day a new college campus or in a new job. You may be so
conscious of being new and out of place and focus so much of your attention on
that feeling that you make common mistakes and appear awkward to others.

2. Assuming Similarity Instead Of Dissimilarity- when people are acting in a home

manner in the different culture it might cause a lot of problems. In order to
prepare yourself for various circumstances it is very important to assume laws,
habits, and attitudes of another society.

3. Ethnocentrism- ethnocentrism or negatively judging aspects of another culture

by the standards of one's own culture. To be ethnocentric is to believe in the
 superiority of one's own culture Everything in a culture is consistent to that
culture and makes sense if you understood that culture. For example, assume
that global warming is a fact and, as a result, assume that summers in the United
States average 43° C (109° F). I would be logical to make adjustments: Rather
than air condition buildings all day, you might close schools and businesses in
the afternoons to conserve energy. Such adjustments would make sense. Why
then do some people attribute sensible midday siestas in hot climates to
laziness?

4. Language Problems - according to Jandt (2000) the definition of language is the

set of symbols shared by a community to communicate meanings and
experiences. There are five actual factors that generally produce the difficulties
in the translation. They are lack of equivalences in vocabulary idioms, grammar
and syntax, experiences, and concepts, Indonesian students are having a lot of
inconveniences with studying foreign languages for the reason that in
Indonesian language there is no gender rules. That is very complicated for them
to understand why for example the French word "une table" is feminine.

5. Nonverbal Misinterpretations - as another barrier to communication, it can be

stated that in a conversation this is more problematical to understand the
nonverbal symbols without sharing the same nonverbal codes. There are more
than a few types of nonverbal intention: proxemics, kinesics, chronemics,
paralanguage, olfactics, clothing appearance, haptics, oculesics, etc. All of them
are very different in every culture. As an example, in a society where people
don't kiss when they great each other, a missing person might be judged as a
vulgar and without manners.

6. Stereotypes and Prejudices – both of them are to make a judgment about

individuals according to group membership. S type are the perceptions about
that certain people have particular qualities or abilities because they belong to a
particular race, sex, or social class. They can be positive and negative. Usually
they are based on half-truths. Positive examples of stereotyping are: Japanese
people are good in mathematical sciences. French are the gods in the kitchen.
Negative Russians Mafia-Vodka-Prostitution -Cold winter the Arabs are
terrorists. Prejudice can be defined as a unreasonable dislike and distrust of
people who are different from you in some way, especially because of their
race, sex, religion, etc. For instance, talking about Indian people in Arabic
countries, it can be affirmed that Indians do get less salary than other
nationalities. The reason for this is that Middle Eastern people are sure that the
Indian race does not deserve something more, because it is Indian.
Challenges of Intercultural Communication

Any moment that we're dealing with people different from ourselves, the
likelihood is that they carry a similar list of hopes and fears in their back pocket.
Culture" is often at the root of communication challenges. Our culture influences
how we approach problems, and how we participate in groups and in communities.
When we participate in groups we are often surprised at how differently people
approach their work together. Our culture influences how we approach problems,
and how we participate in groups and in communities.

Six Fundamental Patterns of Cultural/ Differences

 Different Decision-Making Styles. The roles individuals play in decision-

making vary widely from culture to culture. For example, in the U.S.
decisions are frequently delegated. In many Southern European and Latin
American countries, there is a strong value placed on holding decision-
making responsibilities oneself. Be aware that individuals' expectations
about their own roles in shaping a decision may be influenced by their
cultural frame.

 Different Attitudes Towards Disclosure. In some cultures it is not

appropriate to be frank almat emotions, about the reasons behind a conflict
or u misunderstanding, or about personal information. Variation among
cultures in attitudes toward disclosure is also something to consider before
you conclude that you have an accurate Reading of the views, experiences,
and goals of the people with whom you are working.

 Different Approaches to Knowing. Notable differences occur among cultural

groups when it comes to the way people come to know things. European
cultures tend to consider information acquired through cognitive means,
such as counting and measuring, more valid than other ways of coming to
know things. Compare that to African cultures preference for affective ways
of knowing, including symbols imagery and rhythm. These different
approaches to knowing could affect ways of analyzing a community
problem or finding ways to resolve it. Some members of your group may
want to do library research to understand a shared problem better and
identify possible solutions. Others may prefer to visit places and people who
have experienced challenges like the ones you are facing, and get a feeling
 for what has worked elsewhere. These are ways in which cultures, as a
whole, tend to vary from one another.

 Different Communication Styles. The way people communicate varies

widely between, and even within, cultures. Across cultures, some words and
phrases are used in different ways. For example, even in countries that share
the English Language, the meaning of "yes" varies from "maybe I'll consider
it" to "definitely so," with many shades in between

 Different Attitudes toward Conflict. Some cultures view conflict as a

positive thing, while others view it as something to be avoided in many
Eastern countries, open conflict is experienced as embarrassing or
demeaning as a rule, differences are best worked out quickly.

 Different Approaches toward Completing Tasks. From culture to culture,

there are different ways that people move toward completing tasks. Asian
and Hispanic cultures tend to attach more value to developing relationships
at the beginning of a shared project and more emphasis on task completion
toward the end as compared with European Americans. European-
Americans tend to focus immediately on the task at band, and let
relationships develop as they work on the task. This does not mean that
people from any one of these cultural backgrounds are more or less
committed to accomplishing the task, or value relationships more or less; it
means they may pursue them differently.

Respecting Our Differences and Working Together

An appreciation of patterns of cultural difference can assist us in processing what it

means to be different in wars that are respectful of others, not faultfinding or
damaging. We can learn to collaborate across cultural lines as individuals and as a
society. Being aware of cultural differences doesn't have to divide us but should
instead help us communicate with each other more effectively Communicating
people who are different from us, gives us hope and energizes us to take on the
challenge of improving our communities and world as a whole.

Guidelines for Multicultural Collaboration

As we set to work on multicultural collaboration in our communities, we should
keep the following guidelines in mind:
• Learn from generalizations about other cultures, but don't use those
generalizations to stereotype, or oversimplify your ideas about another
person.
• Don't assume that there's only one write way yours to communicate.
• Listen actively and empathetically.
• Respect others choices about whether they would like to engage in
communication with you
• Suspend judgment and try and look at the situation as an outsider
• Develop an understanding from the other person's point of view.
• Be aware of current power imbalances.