Intercultural Communication Theory Essay

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Intercultural Communication

ANALYSIS & REPORT FORMAT Use format headings address answer overarching question 'Did working a volunteer contribute detract intercultural exchange communication?': Introduction Outline event, organisation worked, tasks undertaken, occurred, undertook activity worked day - background nationality

Intercultural communication

Overview of intercultural communication theory

Intercultural communication in the simplest form involves sharing information across cultures and social groups. It involves synonymously understanding the actions, language, beliefs and values of individuals from different social groups or cultures. Steinfatt and Millette (2009, p. 41)

, adaptation in intercultural communication is important since it ensures a continuous interplay of the two cultures thus allowing them to share beliefs, values, etc. And appreciate the eminent differences.

Kincaid (1988, p. 98)

argues that for intercultural communication to be effective, there must be cultural convergence which means that the two cultures must converge at a particular point in time and diverge at another. This convergence allows for intercultural adaptation where one communication channel adapts to another and thus they can achieve effective communication outcomes. As posited by The theory suggests that when an individual from a new culture chooses to retain the identity of their origin, then operational difficulties arise and communication is impossible. However, when the personalities are predisposed to each other through being open-minded, emotional empathy and cognitive conformity, intercultural communication can continue with ease. Therefore, there are several catalysts of intercultural adaptation and these include integrating the two different cultures, recognition of relations within the different cultures, and appreciating the thoughts, perceptions, beliefs, and values of the different cultures without necessarily driving a change perspective Bohman, 1999, p. 17()

The co-cultural theory suggests that co-cultural communication occurs when members of an underrepresented group communicates with a dominant group.

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Co-cultural communication is easier to achieve because the minority group often chooses to relate with the dominant group and vice versa. The strategic ways in which these co-cultural groups communicate is because the two groups are looking for a unique identity that complements their current identify Fleming (2002, p. 20)

Community engagement via voluntary work has been shown in different studies to increase awareness of intercultural aspects and thus lead to better intercultural communication. In one study, it was found that community engagement, specifically voluntary work, leads to learning the local practices, beliefs, and values, and allows the learner to contextualize their experience Lauring, 2011, p. 236.

However, the study found that this depends on the degree of investment of the learner in the community, participation in community events, and community perception.

Analysis

During my voluntary work assisting in events coordination, I found that intercultural communication was of extreme importance. In my discussion with the two students from China who were also volunteering at the event, it emerged that they valued the volunteering experience because it allowed them to participate in the event in a way that they could share their experience with Australians and thus learn about the Australian community. This, as suggested by Lauring (2011, p. 242)

, is an important aspect of cultural learning because it is demand-driven since the volunteer is the one interested in the social act and thus the volunteer is keen….....

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