Intercultural Communication

Instructor: Prof. An Ran

Office: B1-314
Office Phone: 39381028
Office Hour: By appointment
E-mail: sieanran@scut.edu.cn


Self-introduction


Dean of School of International Education
School of International Education
Ph.D in multicultural education
Professor, Ph.D supervisor
1. Tell me something about your understanding of
intercultural communication and adaptation.
2. What do you expect to learn from this course?

Watch a film

Your comments

Intercultural attitude
Intercultural understanding
Intercultural communication (verbal and non- verbal)
Intercultural adaptation
Intercultural training
Intercultural communication competence
Stereotypes and prejudice


Teaching Media/Language: English
General Course Statement:
This course will survey major topics in the field of intercultural
communication and provide some experiences in intercultural
encounter through discussions and exercises. The course is
designed to give you an introduction to the large area of
intercultural communication, and prepare you for more
in-depth knowledge and experience in dealing with people
from different cultures. At the end of the course, you are
expected to know how to get through the barriers of
intercultural interaction.

Texts:

Chen, G. M., & Starosta, W. J. (2005).
Foundations of intercultural communication.
Lanham, MD: University Press of America.


Suggested readings (attached)
Suggested Readings (attached):

http://www2.scut.edu.cn/interculture

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/01471767
The international journal of intercultural relations

Requirements:
You are required to
1. attend and participate the class meetings.
2. complete the following assignments:
a. an essay (details to be given).
b. one group presentation based on one issue of
intercultural communication (10-15 minutes; all kinds of
presentation style including debate, play, forum, talk show,
game show, role playing, etc., are acceptable).
c. Other assignments.
Policies & Expectations:
1. You must attend class in order to participate in exercises and
discussions. If you miss a class meeting, you will lose
attendance/participation course credit (points) as follows: 4
points per class missed.
2. Written assignments must be typed.
3. Presentation will be evaluated based on seven elements: how
(the process of preparation), what (the content), style (the
way you present yourself), cooperation (between you and
your teammate), time, costume, and setting. Four people in
one team.
Course Evaluation:
Final grades will be cumulative and based on

Essay 30%
Presentation 15%
Class Attendance 20%
Class Discussion 20%
Other Assignments 15%
SYLLABUS

Week 1
Introduction to Course
History of Intercultural Communication Study

Week 2
Culture & Communication
The Nature of Culture
The Communication Process
The Content of Intercultural Communication Study
Read: Chen: 1, 2

Week 3
Perception, Value
Stereotypes, Prejudice
Cultural Value Orientations
Read: Chen: 3

Week 4
Intercultural Adaptation
Culture Shock
U-Curve Pattern
W-Curve Pattern
A Dialectical Model
A Transformative Learning Model
Read: Chen: 8

Week 5
Intercultural Adaptation Continued





Week 6
Intercultural Training
Cultural Assimilation
Cultural Awareness
Read: Chen: 12

Week 7
Language and Culture
Characteristics of Language
Structure of Language
Language Changes and Variations
Relationship between Language &
Culture
Read: Chen: 4

Week 8 Proposal (1000 words)
Deadline: (April 30, 2014, 5pm.)

Week 9
Language Continued
Nonverbal Communication
Functions of NV Communication
Structure of NV Communication
Culture and NV Communication
Criticism of NV Comm. Study
Read: Chen: 5

Week 10
Intercultural Conflict Management
Cultural Influence on Conflict
Management
Determinant Factors of Conflicts
Read: Chen: 7
Week 11
Intercultural Communication
Competence
Approaches to the Study of
ICC Dimensions and
Components of ICC
Read: Chen: 11

Essay Writing
Due: essay (June 20, 2014,
before 5pm.)
Questions?
Rich (1974): Concept
Intercultural communication: focuses on the study of
interaction between people from different cultural
backgrounds.
International communication: focuses on the study of
interaction between representatives of different
nations.
Interracial communication: focuses on the study of
interaction between members of the numerically or
politically dominant culture and co-culture in the
same nation.
Interethnic or minority communication: focuses on the
study of interaction among co-cultures in the same
nation.

Anthropologist Edward T. Hall received his Ph.D. from Columbia University in
1942 and did fieldwork on intercultural relations with the Navajo, Hopi, Spanish-
Americans, and the Trukese.
From 1959 to 1963 he directed a communications research project at the
Washington School of Psychiatry where he studied nonverbal communication.
He taught at the University of Denver, Bennington College, the Harvard Business
School, the Illinois Institute of Technology, and Northwestern University.
Dr. Hall was a Fellow of the American Anthropological Association and the
Society for Applied Anthropology, and a member of the Building Research
Advisory Board of the National Academy of Sciences.
Question for discussion:

What are the contributions of E.T.Hall to
the study of intercultural communication?


The contributions of Hall to the study of intercultural communication.
1. Extended focuses from traditional anthropology to comparative culture study.
Observes the interaction of people from different cultures.
2. Shifts the study of culture from a macro perspective to a micro analysis. This shift
encourages the study of intercultural communication in terms of the practical needs
of the interactants in communication.
3. Developed a link between anthropology and communication studies. He shifted the
importance of qualitative methods of anthropology to the quantitative methods of
communication research.
4. Stated that communication is rule governed, analyzable, and learned variable,
which permits researchers in communication to theorize about cultural patterns of
interaction.
5. Stated holistic understanding. There are many other ways in which to formulate an
understanding of another culture such as use of voice, gestures, time and space.
6. Promotion of field experience in foreign countries as part of teaching materials.
Hall noted the importance of students learning about other cultures and
encouraged international students to socialize with one another.
7. Introduced intercultural communication to international business as well as foreign-
service officers.
8. Current etic and emic research methods are derived from Halls model.

Oliver (1962) Culture and Communication. It focuses on Asian philosophy
and communication behaviors. This book establishes a model for the
comparative study of communication behaviors between cultures.
Smith (1966) Communication and Culture. It is a collection of essays on
human communication covering thirteen types of communication studies. It
confirms the status of intercultural communication as a field of study.
The first college class in this field taught in 1966 at the University of Pittsburgh.
Development of intercultural communication studies from 1960 to 1970
Development of intercultural communication studies from 1971 to 1980
Indiana University awarded the first doctoral degree in intercultural
communication.
The International Journal of Intercultural Relations began publication in
1977.
Characteristics: Intercultural communication scholars pursued their own
directions and definitions, with few attempts at integration.
Development of intercultural communication studies from 1980s
Five collections published in 1980s advanced an agenda for the study of
intercultural communication:

Gudykunst's Intercultural Communication Theory: Current Perspectives
(1983)
Gudykunst and Kim's Methods of Intercultural Research (1984)
Kincaid's Communication Theory: Eastern and Western Perspectives
(1988)
Kim and Gudykunst's Theories in Intercultural Communication (1988)
Asante and Gudykunst's Handbook of International and Intercultural
Communication (1989)

Theory building and methodological refinement characterize intercultural
communication study during this decade.
In the 1980s, quantitative research methods dominated intercultural
communication study

From early 1990s, scholars resumed work in rhetorical, semiotic,
linguistic, and ethnographic methods of intercultural communication
research.

Now the two research orientations will co-exist, in the form of
triangulation, where in one form of study supplements the other.

Further, both of these orientations will be challenged by critical
scholars, who focus on correcting historical patterns of domination and
oppression.
Characteristics in Research
International Communication Association (ICA)
It has a division of intercultural communication.
Major Professional Associations
China Association for Intercultural Communication (CAFIC)
The International Association for Intercultural Communication Studies (IAICS)
Harbin, Beijing, Shanghai & Zhejiang,
Wuhan, Guangzhou
Your understanding of Halls contribution to
intercultural communication.
Homework
Assignment for the next presentation
Thank You!!