Chapter 4: Barriers to Intercultural Communication

1. Chapter 4: Barriers to Intercultural Communication

2. This is the first of three chapters meant to help you recognize and avoid intercultural communication breakdowns.

3. Focus on Theory • Berger and Calabrese (1975) uncertainty reduction theory assumes that our primary communication goal during the initial phase of interaction is reduce uncertainty • Gudykunst applied this theory to intercultural communication by developing the concept of the “stranger”—people in other groups who act in ways different from one’s own culture

4. Six Barriers (stumbling blocks) to Intercultural Communication (Barna, 1997) • Anxiety • Assuming similarity • Ethnocentrism • Stereotypes & Prejudice • Nonverbal misinterpretations • Language

5. Anxiety • Feeling nervous • Focus on nervous feeling rather than totally present in the communication interaction • Example: worry that other people may speak too fast or use words you don’t understand • Find yourself making mistakes or saying awkward things • Affect your ability to communicate your ideas to others

6. Assuming Similarity • When you don’t have any information about a culture, it’s natural to assume there are no differences • Each culture is different and unique to some degree • For example, cultural differences in showing emotions • Assuming difference instead of similarity can lead to not recognizing important things that cultures share in common

7. Ethnocentrism • 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 • Cultural Relativism means that we must try to understand other peoples’ behavior in the context of their culture before we judge it • We recognize the arbitrary nature of own cultural behaviors • Cultural nearsightedness: Take one’s own culture for granted and neglecting other cultures • Example: Use of the term “Americans” to refer to U.S. citizens

8. Ethnocentrism (cont’d) • Cultural nearsightedness results in making assumptions that simple things are the same everywhere • Example: Taking husband’s last name when married • Eurocentric ethnocentrism • Example: Basing curriculum only on Western history, music and art • Observation of Christian holidays, i.e. Christmas.

9. Stereotypes • First used in 1922 to describe judgments made about others on the basis of ethnic group membership • Today more broadly refers to judgments made on the basis of any group membership

10. Stereotypes • Is cultural sensitivity stereotyping? • Is racial profiling stereotyping?

11. Stereotypes • Negative effects on communication • Cause us to assume they are true. • Continued use reinforces the belief (Arabs: wealthy, barbaric, sex maniacs, terrorists) • Impede communication • Self fulfilling prophecy

12. Prejudice • The irrational dislike, suspicion, or hatred of a particular group, race, religion, or sexual orientation (Rothenberg, 1992) • Examples: The Roma (referred to as “Gypsies” from Egypt, p. 91). Korea & Japan United States – Irish & Chinese immigrants.

13. Case Study of Barriers to Intercultural Communication: U.S. and China • The status of Taiwan • Tibet • Human Rights and Free Speech • Broadcast Media and the Internet • Energy & Sustainability • Economic issues – currency undervaluation & U.S. debt.