7. Cultural Influences on Intercultural Communication

1. 7. Cultural Influences on Intercultural Communication Theories of International Tourism

2. 0. Objectives • After completing this chapter you should be able to: • Understand the concept of communication • Explain the influence of culture on communication • Identify cultural differences in communication • Understand the concepts of ethnocentrism and stereotyping, • and their influences on communication • Learn about intercultural communication strategies • Identity ethical dilemmas in intercultural communication Theories of International tourism

3. Introduction Cultural differences influence the way people communicate across different cultures. The major cultural differences that affect intercultural communication are in verbal and non-verbal communication. Theories of International tourism

4. 1. The concept of communication Among early communication scholars, communication was defined as a process of conveying information form one person to another. Since the 1960s, communication theorists have defined communication as the interpretation of meaning through symbols and signs or as a meaning-making process heavily influenced by culture Lusting and Koester(1993) summarized these (post)modern definitions into a contemporary definition of communications as a ‘symbolic, interpretive, transactional, contextual process in which people create shared meanings’. Theories of International tourism

5. 2. What is intercultural communication? Intercultural communication is a communication process in which people from different cultures try to understand what others from different cultures try to communicate and what their messages mean. In a tourism context, hosts want to understand the tourists’ needs and deliver a product tourists want, and tourists want to communicate their needs to hosts to receive the product they want. Theories of International tourism

6. 3. Difficulties in intercultural communication 0. Introduction The difficulties in intercultural communication are caused by cultural differences. Tourists always experience communication difficulties in contact with hosts due to the cultural differences. Cultural differences cause tourist-host friction, misunderstanding, and often hostility. Theories of International tourism

7. 3-1. Verbal signals affecting intercultural communication Theories of International tourism

8. 3-2. Non-verbal signals affecting intercultural communication Theories of International tourism

9. 3-3. Relationship patterns in communication affecting intercultural communication Theories of International tourism

10. 3-3. Relationship patterns in communication affecting intercultural communication Theories of International tourism

11. 3-4. Conversation style Theories of International tourism

12. 3-5. Interaction style Theories of International tourism

13. 3-6. Values affecting intercultural communication Theories of International tourism

14. 3-6. Values affecting intercultural communication (continued) Theories of International tourism

15. 3-7. Time orientation as it affects intercultural communication Theories of International tourism

16. 3-8. Context orientation as it affects intercultural communication Theories of International tourism

17. 4. Is intercultural communication possible? Some differences may cause more problems than others. Others may be very attractive and draw attention. In order to make sense of the behaviors of those who are culturally different, and understand how to successfully deal with them, deep understanding of the foreign communication rules in needed. This, in turn, requires a broad knowledge of historical, political, economic, religious and educational practices of a foreign culture: the natives’ values, belief, attitudes, and thought patterns. Real and authentic communication is about the ability to see, acknowledge and respect the difference and uniqueness of other people rather than similarities or commonalities. Real communication is about the ability to see how different people are, so that they can appreciate their own and others’ uniqueness. Real communication is about the ability to open themselves and see multiple identities and perspectives. Theories of International tourism

18. 5. Ethnocentrism Ethnocentrism is a belief in one’s own cultural superiority; that the customs, traditions, beliefs and behavioral practices of one’s own culture are better than those of other cultures or at least ought to be. Other cultures are either ignored or treated as inferior. Theories of International tourism

19. 6. Stereotyping Stereotyping refers to the attribution of certain traits, labeling and perceptions of people on the basis of common characteristics, or judgments about others on the basis of their specific characteristics or group memberships. U.K: US Americans are stereotyped as brash, ignorant, self-centered, and obese. Germans are stereotyped as aloof, cold, precise, and punctual. Asian are stereotyped as being ‘exotic’, ancient, spiritual, mystical, and full of ancient wisdom. Negative stereotypes can create distrust, lead to discrimination, and result in rude and hostile behavior and impede social interaction. Theories of International tourism

20. 7. Prejudices Prejudice is defined as a bias for or against something formed without sufficient basis or being aware of the relevant facts of a case or event. Allport(1954) developed the Allport’s Scale of Prejudice and Discrimination That measures the degree of prejudice in a society. First stage: Antilocution Second stage: Avoidance Third stage: Discrimination Fourth stage: Physical Attack Fifth stage: Extermination Theories of International tourism

21. 8. Racism Racism is a belief that all members of a particular racial group possess specific characteristics or abilities that distinguish it as being either superior or inferior to another racial group(s). The term racial discrimination refers to ‘any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, color, descent, or national or ethnic origin which has the purpose or effect or nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural or any other field or public life’(Part 1 of Article 1 of the United Nation International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, 1966). Theories of International tourism

22. 9. Strategies for improving intercultural communication For intercultural communication to be successful, people need to open themselves to new experiences. They should become more flexible, willing to accept other viewpoints without judging or dismissing them. This kind of openness is very important to those working in the tourism industry. Tourists and hosts will be more likely to make up their own minds about how new things are. They will be encouraged to listen more carefully, to study and analyze each other more thoroughly, and to evaluate their own perspectives more thoughtfully. Theories of International tourism

23. 10. The ethics of intercultural communication A decision should be made about how much the tourists and hosts should change their behaviors to fit the beliefs, values and norms of those with whom they interact. “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” Although the potential benefits of intercultural communication and interaction with foreign individuals are great, certain outcomes are negative, for example, excessive consumption of natural resources, development of negative stereotypes or prejudice, or harassment. Theories of International tourism