跨文化交流跨文化交流

项目二Communication and Intercultural Communication

An idiom

Our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this planet . ——John F .Kennedy

Learning objectives:

In this chapter, students will learn how to: Understand the definition and components of communication Describe the characteristics of communication Summarize the definition of intercultural communication Evaluate the forms of intercultural communication

Chapter Outline

Communication and Intercultural Communication

Communication Culture and Communication

Intercultural Communication

Communication Defined

Components of Communication

Intercultural Communication

Defined

Forms of Intercultural Communication

Characteristics of Communication

Dynamic

Systemic

Symbolic

Irreversible

Transactional

Self-reflective

Contextual

Lead-in Case: She Has Three Hands

Read the case and answer the following questions:

Suppose you are the Chinese doctor, if you are communicating with the Canadian physiotherapist, will his words irritate you? How would you respond to the situation?

What caused their communication conflicts? What do you think of the different

communication styles of the two doctors?

1. The definition of communication 2. Components of communication

Text A: Communication

▲Pre-reading Task: Form groups of three or four and work together to write a let

ter to a penpal friend. Analyze the following elements involved in the process:

1. What meaning do you want to express?2. In what way would you like to deliver or organize your id

ea?3. By which channel are you going to send your message?4. Is there anything that might interfere with the process?5. How do you think the letter will be interpreted by people f

rom different cultures?

Western Perspective of communication Eastern perspective of communication

1. The definition of communication

Western Perspective of communication

In western cultures, communication is studied as the

means of transmitting ideas. Western cultures emphasize the instrumental function of communication; that is, effectiveness is evaluated in terms of success in the manipulation of others to achieve one’s personal goal.

Eastern perspective of communication Definitions of communication from many Asian countries stress harmony,

which is most notable in cultures with a Confucian tradition. Eastern cultures’ understanding would define communication as a process where all parties are searching to develop and maintain a social relationship.

2. Components of communication

A sender/source is the person who transmits a message.

A message is any signal that triggers the response of a receiver.

Encoding refers to the activity during which the sender must choose certain words or nonverbal methods to send an intentional message.

Encoding （编码）

Channel /Medium （渠道）Channel/Medium is the method used to deliver a message.

Message （信息）

Sender/Source （信息源）

Decoding （解码）Decoding is the activity during which the receiver attaches meaning to the words or symbols he/she has received.

Receiver （信息接收者）A receiver is any person who notices and gives some meaning to a message.

Feedback （反馈）The response of a receiver to a sender’s message is called feedback.

Noise （干扰）Noise is a term used for factors that interfere with the exchange of messages, including external noise ， physiological noise, psychological noise and semantic noise. Noise is inevitable.

(1)External Noise

Sounds that distract communicators: voices in the next room; annoying ring of someone’s cell phone in a meeting; etc.Other types of external noise that don’t involve sound:an overcrowded room or a smelly cigar (2) Physiological Noise

illnesses and disabilities

(3) Psychological Noiseforces with the sender or receiver that interfere with understanding: egotism; hostility; preoccupation; fear; etc.

(4) Semantic Noisecaused by using different languages; the use of jargon;different understanding of the message delivered; etc.

Picture AnalysisWhat are the components of communication reflected in the following picture?

Text B Characteristics of Communication

a. Communication is dynamic b. Communication is systematicc. Communication is symbolicd. Communication is irreversiblee. Communication is transactionalf. Communication is self-reflectiveg. Communication is contextual.

Pre-reading Task:Teacher: Who can guess what it is —a small animal with four legs that p

eople often keep as a pet and can catch mice easily? A Chinese student: It is called “ 猫” in Chinese. A French student: It is called “Chat” in French. A Japanese student: “Neiko” in Japanese. A Spanish student: “Gato” in Spanish. A German student : “Katze” in German A Russian student : “Kosta” in Russian.Answer the following questions:1. Do we use the same word to symbolize a certain object when we com

municate with those speaking different languages? 2. What kind of process is involved in communication?

a. Communication is dynamic

Communication is an ongoing activity. It is not fixed. A word or action does not stay frozen when you communicate; it is immediately replaced with yet another word or action.

b. Communication is systematic （系统性的）

Communication does not occur in isolation or in a vacuum, but rather is part of a larger system. We send and receive messages not in isolation, but in a specific setting. Setting and environment help determine the words and actions we generate. Dress, language, topic selection, and the like are all adapted to context.

c. Communication is symbolic （符号性的）

Symbols are central to the communication process because they represent the shared meanings that are communicated. A symbol is a word, action, or object that stands for or represents a unit of meaning. People's behaviors are frequently interpreted symbolically, as an external representation of feelings, emotions, and internal states.

d. Communication is irreversible （不可逆转的）

Communication is an irreversible process. We can never undo what has already been done. Although we may try to qualify, negate, or somehow reduce the effects of our message, once it has been sent and received, the message itself cannot be reversed.

e. Communication is transactional （交互式的）

A transactional view holds that communicators are simultaneously sending and receiving messages at every instant that they are involved in conversations.

f. Communication is self-reflective

Human beings have a unique ability to think about themselves, to watch how they define the world, and to reflect on their past, present, and future.

g. Communication is contextual （情境的）

All communication takes place within a setting or situation called a context. By context, we mean the place where people meet, the social purpose for being together, and the nature of the relationship. Thus the context includes the physical, social, and interpersonal settings.

The relationship between culture and communication is compared to the relationship between a map and a journey. How do you understand and interpret this simile?

If possible, interview a foreign visitor to your country. Ask him about how his cultural background influences his actual communication practices in China.

Text DPre-reading Task:Imagine you are organizing an international summer camp with children coming from different countries. What of the followings should be your main concerns: problems between children of different races. problems between children of the same culture. problems between children of different cultures. problems between children who share the same nationality but not the same race.

2. Forms of Intercultural Communication

a. International Communication b. Interethnic Communication c. Interracial Communication d. Intracultural Communication

1. Intercultural Communication Defined

Intercultural communication refers to communication between people whose cultural perception and symbol system are distinct enough to alter the communication event.

a. International communicationInternational communication takes place between nations and governments rather than individuals; it is quite formal and ritualized( 仪式化 ) .

United Nations Conference

b. Interethnic communication

Ethnic groups usually form their own communities in a country or culture. These groups share a common origin or heritage that is apt to influence family names, language, religion, values, and the like.

c. Interracial communicationInterracial communication occurs when the sender and the receiver exchanging messages are from different races .

d. Intracultural communicationIt is defined as communication between or among members of the same culture.

Homework and After-class activities

Go to the library or surf the Internet to get more vivid examples of the four forms of intercultural communication.

Now, let’s summarize the key points

of this chapter!