Intercultural Exam Notes

Chapter 6- Language and Intercultural Communication

Key Terms
Metalanguage: Form of language used for the description of analysis or another language
Co-Cultural Groups: Non-dominant groups that exist in a national culture (Chinese, African
American)
Dominant Groups: Groups that have majority of the power (whites, males, heterosexuals)
Lingua Franca: A commonly shared language that is used as a medium of communication
between people of different languages
Translation: Involves the process of producing written texts, rather than spoken language
Interpretation: Involves the process of analyzing spoken language, rather than written text
Language and Perception- 3 Views
Nominalist position feels that our perception is not shaped by the language we speak
Relativist position argues that our perception is determined by the language we speak (Sapir
Wholf view)
Qualified relativist position argues that language influences how we perceive.
Communication Style
High- Context Communication: A style in which most of the information is contained in the
contexts and nonverbal cues rather than expressed in words
Low- Context Communication: A style in which much of the information is conveyed in words
rather than non-verbal contexts
Code Switching: A technical term in communication that refers to the phenomenon of changing
languages, dialects or accents
Direct A direct communication style is one in which verbal messages reveal the speakers true
intentions, needs, wants, and desires.
Indirect An indirect style is one in which the verbal message is often designed to camouflage the
speakers true intentions, needs, wants, and desires.

Co- Cultural Communication

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The co-cultural communication theory, proposed by communication scholar Mark Orbe

(1998), describes how language works between dominant and non-dominant groupsor
co-cultural groups.

Orbe has identified three general orientations: non-assertive, assertive, and aggressive.

Within each of these orientations, co-cultural individuals may emphasize

assimilation, accommodation, or separation in relation to the dominant group.
These two sets of orientations result in nine types of strategies

Language and Power

Co-cultural groups may use one of three orientations to dealing with dominant groups
assimilation, accommodation, or separation (page 237)
Accommodation strategies: adaptation to dominant group
Assimilation strategies: ways in which co-cultural group tries to become like the dominant
groups
Separation strategies: the extent to which co-cultural groups try to remain separate from
dominant groups
Translation and Interpretation
Translation: Involves the process of producing written texts, rather than spoken language
Interpretation: Involves the process of analyzing spoken language, rather than written text
Chapter 7- Nonverbal Communication and Cultural Contexts
Key Terms
Paralinguistic: The study of vocal behaviour, and how something is said (Vocal qualities, pitch,
tone, rate etc)
Proxemics: The study of how people use personal space (eye contact, contact culture)
Expectancy violations theory: The view that when someones nonverbal behavior violates our
expectations, these violations will be perceived positively or negatively depending on the
specific context and behavior.
Cultural space: The particular configuration of the communication that constructs meanings of
various places.
Nonverbal Communication
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Nonverbal communication differs from verbal communication in two ways:

1. It is more unconscious
2. It is learned implicitly.
- It can reinforce, substitute for, or contradict verbal communication
- Sometimes cultural differences in nonverbal behaviors can lead to stereotyping of others
and overt discrimination.
- Two ways of changing cultural spaces are travel and migration.
- Cultural space influences cultural identity and includes:
Homes: Not just a physical location, Meanings vary on cultural and individual levels
Neighborhoods: Changes over time, based on users and resident experiences/interactions

Regions: Identification based on what an area means to those who live in it

Nations: Defined by a common idea of cultural references

Chapter 8- Understanding Intercultural Transitions

Key Terms
Migrant groups: An individual who leaves the primary cultural contexts in which they were
raised and moves to a new culture context for an extended period
Functional Fitness:
Cognitive Dissonance:
Liminality:
Transnationalism:
Migrants
The four types of migrants are:
1.

Sojourners

2.

Immigrants: Immigrants are voluntary migrants

3.

Short-term refugees

4.

Long-term refugees

Refugees are involuntary migrants

There are five modes of hostmigrant relationships:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Assimilation
Separation
Integration
Marginalization
Hybridity.

Perspectives on Adaptation- 3 Approaches

1. A social science approach to adaptation emphasizes individual influences and outcomes
and includes the AUM model, the transition model, and the integrative model.
2. An interpretive approach emphasizes the lived experience and includes the U-curve
theory, the W-curve theory, and phenomenological studies.

3. A critical approach emphasizes the contextual influences on adaptation: social

institutions, and political, historical, and economic structures.

Chapter 9 Pop Culture and Intercultural Communication

Key Terms
Encoding: The process of creating a message for others to understand.
Decoding: The process of interpreting a message.
Hegemony: the domination of a culturally diverse society by the ruling class, who manipulate
the culture of that society the beliefs, explanations, perceptions, values, and mores so that
their ruling-class worldview becomes the worldview that is imposed and accepted as the
cultural norm;
Stereotype: a thought that can be adopted about specific types of individuals or certain ways of
doing things
Cultural Imperialism: Domination through the spread of cultural products.
Pop Culture
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We learn about other cultures through popular culture.

Popular culture is popular because of its wide dissemination and easy access to many
people.
Popular culture can serve as a public forum.
Cultural texts are not the same as cultural identities.
People can seek out or resist popular culture.
Cultural groups are often represented in ways that can play into stereotypes.
Issue of cultural imperialism must be considered