ICS MODULE 1-3
Module 1
“Intercultural communication is the
communication between sources and receivers from different cultures
Communication
Definition: is a symbolic, interpretive, transactional, contextual process in which people
create shared meanings. (=the exchange of meanings)
Symbols= objects, words, actions
(we use them to communicate with others)
Arbitrary symbols: symbols that are chosen at random to convey certain meaning (ex: peace
sign) (language)
Non-arbitrary symbols: have a direct, usually causal relationship to the things that they
indicate. (ex: smoke is a sign of fire)
Communication is contextual:
Physical context (communicating at a restaurant or a very busy place)
Social context (=the occasion ex: funeral or party)
Interpersonal context (ex: talking to your boss is different from talking to your
friends)
Culture
Definition: is the collective programming of the mind, which distinguishes the members of
one group from people of another.
, A = Artefacts of culture
B = Norms and values
C = Basic assumptions
• “Culture is a learnt set of shared interpretations
about beliefs, values, norms and social practices,
which affect the behaviors of a large group of
people.”
Visible/surface culture: things that we can see easily and of which members of the culture
are aware. (ex: things that u notice during the first days in a new country; food, facial
expressions)
Invisible/deep culture: things that members of the culture are not consciously aware of,
and for which it takes some time for other people to understand these things (ex: values,
assumptions, norms)
Collectives or types of cultures:
National culture
Corporate culture (ex: profession culture, religious culture, gender culture)
Cultural programming
Human nature: universal, shared by everyone
(ex: feelings)
Culture: not derived from our genes, it is
learned (norms, values, perceptions)
Personality: specific to each and every
individual
Intercultural communication depends on
Awareness that communication may be limited
Ability and willingness to operate in different cultures
Competence in languages
Ability to work within constraints of other communication system
Module 1
“Intercultural communication is the
communication between sources and receivers from different cultures
Communication
Definition: is a symbolic, interpretive, transactional, contextual process in which people
create shared meanings. (=the exchange of meanings)
Symbols= objects, words, actions
(we use them to communicate with others)
Arbitrary symbols: symbols that are chosen at random to convey certain meaning (ex: peace
sign) (language)
Non-arbitrary symbols: have a direct, usually causal relationship to the things that they
indicate. (ex: smoke is a sign of fire)
Communication is contextual:
Physical context (communicating at a restaurant or a very busy place)
Social context (=the occasion ex: funeral or party)
Interpersonal context (ex: talking to your boss is different from talking to your
friends)
Culture
Definition: is the collective programming of the mind, which distinguishes the members of
one group from people of another.
, A = Artefacts of culture
B = Norms and values
C = Basic assumptions
• “Culture is a learnt set of shared interpretations
about beliefs, values, norms and social practices,
which affect the behaviors of a large group of
people.”
Visible/surface culture: things that we can see easily and of which members of the culture
are aware. (ex: things that u notice during the first days in a new country; food, facial
expressions)
Invisible/deep culture: things that members of the culture are not consciously aware of,
and for which it takes some time for other people to understand these things (ex: values,
assumptions, norms)
Collectives or types of cultures:
National culture
Corporate culture (ex: profession culture, religious culture, gender culture)
Cultural programming
Human nature: universal, shared by everyone
(ex: feelings)
Culture: not derived from our genes, it is
learned (norms, values, perceptions)
Personality: specific to each and every
individual
Intercultural communication depends on
Awareness that communication may be limited
Ability and willingness to operate in different cultures
Competence in languages
Ability to work within constraints of other communication system
