11-23-2010, 05:08 AM
Define intercultural communication
Intercultural communication principles guide the process of exchanging meaningful and unambiguous information
across cultural boundaries, in a way that preserves mutual
respect and minimises
antagonism. For these purposes, culture is a
shared system of symbols, beliefs, attitudes, values, expectations, and
norms of behaviour. It refers to coherent groups of people whether
resident wholly or partly within state territories, or existing without
residence in any particular territory. Hence, these principles may have
equal relevance when a tourist seeks help, where two well
-
established
independent corporations attempt to merge their operations, and where
politicians attempt to negotiate world peace
. Two factors have raised
the importance of this topic:
improvements in communication and transportation technology have made it possible for previously stable
cultures to meet in unstructured situations, e.g. the internet opens
lines of communication wit
hout
mediation
, while
budget airlines
transplant ordinary citizens into unfamiliar milieux. Experience proves
that merely crossing cultural boundaries can be considered threatening,
while positive attempts to interact may provoke defensive responses.
Misunderstanding may be compounded by either an exaggerated sensitivity
to possible slights, or an exaggerated and over
-
protective fear of
giving offence;
some groups believe that the phenomenon of globalisation has reduced cultural diversity and so reduc
ed the
opportunity for misunderstandings, but characterising people as a
homogeneous market is simplistic. One product or brand only appeals to
the material aspirations of one self
-
selecting ***** of buyers, and its
sales performance will not affect the va
st multiplicity of factors that
may separate the cultures.