1) What is Intercultural Communication ?

2) Importance of Intercultural Communication.

3) Do’s and Dont’s of Intercultural

Communication.

4) Dining Etiquettes of Different cultures.

5) Conclusion.
 Types of Cultural Communication

 Cross cultural communication

 International communication

Multicultural communication

 Intercultural communication
What is culture?
It is the system of shared beliefs, values, customs,
behaviours, and artifacts that the members of
society use to cope with their world and with one
another, and that are transmitted from generation
to generation through learning
 What is Intercultural Communication?

Intercultural communication refers to the

effective communication between people/
workers/ clients of different cultural
background. It also includes managing
thought patterns and non verbal
communication.
 Examples for Cultural differences

Arabic language is
written from right to
left and almost all
other languages are
written from left to
right
 Examples for Cultural differences

In America, people
shake hands ,and even
hug each other. But in
India we just join
hands to say namaskar.
 Need for Intercultural Communication

 Success of any International business

 Allows workers from different cultures to work
together as a group.
 Worldwide marketing campaign.
 An increase in international Business.
 Two trends of Intercultural Communication

 Globalization
 Multicultural Workforce
 GLOBALIZATION

 Globalization refers to the

reduction and removal of barriers
between national borders in order
to facilitate the flow of goods,
capital, services and labour
 MULTICULTURAL WORKFORCE

 The phrase "multicultural

workforce" refers to the changing
age, gender, ethnicity, physical
ability, and race, of employees
across all types and places of work
 Impact of Globalization- business sector

 e.g., Import and Export of food,

electronic goods, etc. to other
countries.
 Building a business friendly
environment with other nations.
 Impact of Globalization-Advancement in
Film Industry

 Spreading of multiculturalism,
collaborations
 For example: Endhiran Flim was
persuaded by animatronic technicians
from other countries also.
 Increase in international travel and tourism

 Greater international travel and

tourism.

 For example: In 2008, there were over

922 million international tourist
arrivals, with a growth of 1.9% as
compared to 2007.
 Worldwide sporting events

 Worldwide sporting events

such as FIFA World Cup , ICC
world cup and the Olympic
Games.
Multicultural workforce
 Social backgrounds
 Cultures
 Racial backgrounds
 Gender
 Age
 Regions
 Religion
 Need for managing

 Staff retention-less recruitment costs

 Working together – more productivity
 Resolving Conflicts
 Team Management

A workforce where people communicate

effectively is more productive
Importance of Intercultural Communication
Symbolic Exchange – language is a big factor in
intercultural communication. Symbols and signs can be
an option to bridge miscommunication brought about
by language.
Irreversible process – it is a permanent procedure in a
mutually dependent environment of intercultural
encounter.
Importance of Intercultural Communication
Different cultural communities – a cultural community is
comprised of interacting individuals with shared beliefs and
way of life.
Negotiate shared meanings - agree on general objective of
the intercultural communication encounter.
Interactive situation – the interactive scene involves the
physical setting like seating arrangement and psychological
features such as behavior, cognitive concepts, etc.
 DO’S OF INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION

 Avoid Assumptions, jokes which are misunderstood

 Use symbols, diagrams and pictures.
 Avoid using slang and idioms, choosing words that will
convey only the most specific denotative meaning;
 Investigate their culture's perception
 Take cultural and local differences into account.
 Say what you do and do what you say. Make sure that your
communication is line with the audience; use
understandable language.
 Find out what cultural factors
DONT’S OF INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
 Using the same approach world-wide.
 Considering traditional knowledge and practices
as ‘backward’.
 Letting cultural differences become a source of
conflict that hinder the process or work.
 Fail to ignore culturally-dependent enabling and
counteracting forces.
 Fail to take language barriers into account.
 DON’T’S OF INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION

For example:
-North Americans view direct
eye contact as a sign of
honesty
-Asians view direct eye
contact as a form of disrespect
 DON’T’S OF INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION

The thumbs up sign in

America and most of Europe
means that something is good,
or that you approve. This sign
is considered rude in many
Asian and Islamic countries.

Raising your hand up means

stop in America or England. In
some Asian countries this
gesture is used when asking for
permission to speak.
DIFFERENT DINING ETIQUETTES OF DIFFERENT
CULTURES

 Seating
 Eating
 Home/restaurant
 The food
 Conversation
 Body language
FORMAL ARRANGEMENT CHOPSTICKS IN CHINA
 CONCLUSION
Diversity is a challenge as well as an
opportunity which can have positive as
well as negative influence.

Acknowledging, understanding, accepting,

valuing and celebrating the differences
among people to create equal employment
opportunities.
Thank You
Strategies to Avoid Communication Breakdown
1. Apply positive self-talk and perception. Positivity is
the best encouragement. It welcomes good vibes and
pleasant outlook in all communication.
2. Use appropriate language. Tailor the words you will
use based on your audience or listener. Keep it simple
and understandable. For example, figurative language
(simile, metaphor) is usually used in literature and in
formal conversations, not in ordinary or casual
conversation.
Strategies to Avoid Communication Breakdown
3. Be open. Suspend your own judgment, ideas, and
beliefs. Give the speaker time to develop and express his
or her ideas or points before you conclude if the message
has any value, little value, or none at all.
4. Give and accept feedback. Feedback keeps the
communication going. Respond to what has been heard.
Keep an open mind and avoid overreacting emotionally
to a message or feedback.
Triad activity
Promote the importance of intercultural
communication. Form a triad and visualize the
importance of intercultural communication by
coming up with a slogan (like world peace, stop
global warming, no to terrorism, no smoking, etc.).
Finalize your advocacy on white poster paper so you
can show and explain it to the class.