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Intercultural communication competence

Intercultural communication is competent when it accomplishes the objectives in a manner that is appropriate to the context and relationship. Intercultural communication thus needs to bridge the dichotomy between appropriateness and effectiveness:[20]

• Appropriateness. Valued rules, norms, and expectations of the relationship are not violated significantly.

• Effectiveness. Valued goals or rewards (relative to costs and alternatives) are accomplished.

Competent communication is interaction that is seen as effective in achieving certain rewarding objectives in a way that is also related to the context in which the situation occurs (Lustig & Koester, 2010). Dm14qk (talk) 20:02, 2 November 2014 (UTC)

The components of intercultural competence

People must be aware that to engage and fix intercultural communication there is no easy solution and there is not only one way to do so. Let's explore into some of these components of intercultural competence. ^[1]

• Context: A judgement that a person is competent is made in both a relational and situational context.This means that competence is not defined as a single attribute, meaning someone could be very strong in one section and only moderately good in another. Situationally speaking competence can be defined differently for different cultures. For example eye contact shows competence in western cultures whereas, Asian cultures find too much eye contact disrespectful.

• Appropriateness: This means that your behaviours are acceptable and proper for the expectations of any given culture.

• Effectiveness: The behaviours that lead to the desired outcome being achieved.

• Knowledge: This has to do with the vast information you have to have on the person's culture that you are interacting with. This is important so you can interpret meanings and understand culture-general and culture-specific knowledge.

• Motivations:This has to do with emotional associations as they communicate interculturally. Feelings which are your reactions to thoughts and experiences have to do with motivation. Intentions are thoughts that guide your choices, it is a goal or plan that directs your behaviour. These two things play a part in motivation.

• Actions: Actual performance of the appropriate and effective behaviours. ^[2] Dm14qk (talk) 20:02, 2 November 2014 (UTC)

Basic tools for improving intercultural competence

The following are ways to improve communication competence:

• Display of interest: showing respect and positive regard for the other person.

• Orientation to knowledge: Terms people use to explain themselves and their perception of the world.

• Empathy: Behaving in ways that shows you understand the world as others do.

• interaction management: A skill in which you regulate conversations.

• Task role behaviour: initiate ideas that encourage problem solving activities.

• Relational role behaviour: interpersonal harmony and mediation.

•Tolerance for ambiguity: The ability to react to new situations with little discomfort.

•Interaction posture: Responding to others in descriptive, non-judgemental ways. ^[3]

Dm14qk (talk) 19:57, 2 November 2014 (UTC)

Intercultural communication can be linked with identity, which means the competent communicator is the person who can affirm others’ avowed identities. As well as goal attainment is also a focus within intercultural competence and it involves the communicator to convey a sense of communication appropriateness and effectiveness in diverse cultural contexts. ^[4] The capacity to avoid ethnocentrism is the foundation of intercultural communication competence. Ethnocentrism is the inclination to view one’s own group as natural and correct, and all others as aberrant. ^[5] Connor (talk) 03:05, 4 November 2014 (UTC)

Important factors that are valuable for intercultural competence

– Proficiency in the host culture language: understanding the grammar and vocabulary.

– Understanding language pragmatics: how to use politeness strategies in making requests and how to avoid giving out too much information.

– Being sensitive and aware to nonverbal communication patterns in other cultures.

– Being aware of gestures that may be offensive or mean something different in a host culture rather than your own home culture.

– Understanding a culture’s proximity in physical space and paralinguistic sounds to convey their intended meaning. ^[6] Connor (talk) 03:05, 4 November 2014 (UTC)

Traits that make for competent communicators

– Flexibility.

– Tolerating high levels of uncertainty.

– Reflectiveness.

– Open-mindedness.

– Sensitivity.

– Adaptability.

– Engaging in divergent and systems-level thinking. ^[7] Connor (talk) 03:05, 4 November 2014 (UTC)

Nonverbal Communication

Nonverbal communication is behaviour that communicates without words—though it often may accompanied by words. Nonverbal behaviour can include things such as

• facial expressions and gestures
• clothing
• movement
• posture
• eye contact

and other similar things. When these actions are paired with verbal communication a message is created and sent out. A form of nonverbal communication is kinesic behaviour. Kinesic behaviour is communication through body movement—e.g., posture, gestures, facial expressions and eye contact. The meaning of such behaviour varies across countries. A form of kinesic nonverbal communication is eye contact and the use of the eyes to convey messages. Overall, nonverbal communication gives clues to what is being said verbally.

Nonverbal communication and kinesic is not the only way to communicate without words. Proxemics, a form of nonverbal communication, deals with the influence of proximity and space on communication. Another form of nonverbal behaviour and communication dealing with intercultural communication is paralanguage. This refers to how something is said, rather than the content of what is said—e.g., rate of speech, tone and inflection of voice, other noises, laughing, yawning, and silence. Paralanguage will be later touched on in the verbal section of intercultural communication.

Nonverbal communication has been shown to account for between 65% and 93% of interpreted communication. Minor variations in body language, speech rhythms, and punctuality often cause mistrust and misperception of the situation among cross-cultural parties. This is where nonverbal communication can cause problems with intercultural communication. Misunderstandings with nonverbal communication can lead to miscommunication and insults with cultural differences. A handshake in one culture may be recognized as appropriate, whereas another recognizes it as rude.

Nonverbal communication can also be used without the use of verbal communication. This can be used as a coding system for people who do not use verbal behaviour to communicate in different cultures, where speaking is not allowed.

Something that usually goes unnoticed in cultures and communication is that clothing and the way people dress is used as a form of nonverbal communication. Objects and materials, as well as clothing, can be used as a form of nonverbal communication. Object language or material culture refers to how we communicate through material artifacts—e.g., architecture, office design and furniture, clothing, cars, cosmetics, and time.

Ap14bq (talk) 22:47, 2 November 2014 (UTC)

Verbal Communication

Verbal communication consist of messages being sent and received continuously with the speaker and the listener, it is focused on the way messages are portrayed. Verbal communication is based on language and use of expression, the tone in which the sender of the message relays the communication can determine how the message is received and in what context.

Factors that effect verbal communication:

• Tone of voice
• Use of descriptive words
• Emphasis on certain phrases
• Volume of voice

The way a message is received is dependent on these factors as they give a greater interpretation for the receiver as to what is meant by the message is. By emphasizing a certain phrase with the tone of voice, this indicates that it is important and she be focused more on.

Along with these attributes verbal communication is also accompanied with non-verbal cues. These cues make the message clearer and give the listener an indication of what way the information should be received.^[8] Example of non-verbal cues

• Facial expressions
• Hand gestures
• Use of objects
• Body movement

In terms of intercultural communication there are language barriers which are effected by verbal forms of communication. In this instance there is opportunity for miscommunication between two or more parties.^[9] Other barriers that contribute to miscommunication would be the type of words chosen in conversation. do to different cultures there are different meaning in vocabulary chosen, this allows for a message between the sender and receiver to be misconstrued. ^[10]