Intercultural Encounters » (1st Edition)

Intercultural Encounters provides a brief, but broad introduction to the fundamentals of intercultural communication.

This book combines theory and knowledge from different disciplines to help prepare the reader to interact successfully with people who think, feel, and behave differently than they do. Brief commentaries from noted scholars in the field, exercises, activities, and discussion questions provide the reader with an opportunity to develop communication skills in today’s increasingly diverse world.

I. COMMUNICATION ACROSS CULTURES.

1. Intercultural Encounters.

Diversity in America.

Diversity Abroad.

Globalization and Technology.

Origins of Intercultural Contact.

Cultural Discord.

Communicating Competently Interculturally.

The Field of Study.

An Educational Exigency.

2. Culture: The Heart of Diversity.

Culture Defined.

Broad Version of Culture.

Narrow Version of Culture.

Culture is a Blueprint.

Culture’s Characteristics.

Cultural Universals.

Comparing Cultural Patterns.

Cultural Impact on Life.

3. Interpersonally Communicating.

Introduction.

Forms of Communication.

Oral Communication Defined.

Classes of Messages.

The Communication Process.

Communication’s Elements.

4. Communicating Across Cultures.

Introduction.

Cultures within Cultures.

USA Macroculture.

Americans are Us.

American Microcultures.

Membership in Multiple Microcultures.

Multiculturalism.

Communicating Interculturally.

Culture’s Impact on Communication.

Axioms about Intercultural Communication.

Related Concepts.

The Three Worlds of Communication.

II. COMPONENTS OF INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION.

5. Perceiving and Motivating.

Perception.

Perception Defined.

The Perception Process.

Motivation.

The Western View of Motivation.

The Easter View of Motivation.

6. Behavorial Guides.

Introduction.

Values: Cultural Standards.

Dominant American Values.

Beliefs.

Attitudes.

7. Cultural Antipathy.

Introduction.

Ethnocentrism.

Stereotyping.

Prejudice.

Causes of Prejudice.

Interventions.

8. Cultural Foundations: Social Institutions.

Introduction.

The Family.

Education.

Distance Education.

Religion.

Political Institutions.

9. Culturally Diverse Interpersonal Relationships.

Introduction.

Self-Disclosure.

Uncertainity Avoidance.

Face.

Social Stratification.

Interpersonal Intercultural Conflict.

The Conflict Process.

Conflict Management and Resolution.

III. TRANSMITTING INTERCULTURAL MESSAGES.

10. Communicating Verbally Interculturally.

Introduction.

Verbal Communication.

Types of Languages.

11. Verbal Diversity Among Americans.

Introduction.

Age.

Gender.

Black English.

Asian Americans.

Mexican Americans.

Regional Variations.

Non-English Speakers.

12. Communicating Nonverbally Interculturally.

Introduction.

Verbal and Nonverbal Communication.

Characteristics of Nonverbal Communication.

Functions of Nonverbal Behavior.

Body Movement.

Eye Contact.

Physical Appearance and Clothing.

Physical Touch.

Paralanguage.

Space.

Time.

Environment.

Monitoring Nonverbal Behavior.

IV. ACHIEVING COMPETENCE IN INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION.

13. Adapting to Diversity: Culture Shock.

Introduction.

Culture Shock.

Causes of Cultural Shock.

Stages in Cultural Shock.

W-Curve Theory.

Acculturation.

Coping on a Short Term Basis.

Assimilation and Pluralism.

14. Coping Competently with Strangers.

Introduction.

Intercultural Communication Competence.

Achieving Intercultural Competence.

Listening.

Language.

Indirectness.

Restricted Codes.

Nonverbal Behavior.

Intercultural Relationships.

Personal Orientation.

Training to Work Abroad.

Ethics in Intercultural Encounters.