INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
Is Intercultural communication a vital tool in communication?
Intercultural communication is a skill one requires to communicate with people from different cultures. It is a vital skill for anyone working across countries so that they may have an understanding of other cultures and also avoid having misunderstandings with each other. Some of the global impacts on culture has been brought about by the current global occurrences such as the Covid 19. Cultural events have been cancelled, cultural practices suspended and even artists are unable to make ends meet.
CHARACTERISTICS OF INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
The respect for other cultures is present.
Awareness of other cultures is created.
Knowledge of different cultural codes is gained.
There are social skills to bridge differences.
Contact is made between persons.
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION IN WORPLACES.
Intercultural communication plays a major role in the normal functioning of an organization. In the work environment, culture affects the behavior and values of the employees. How they relate and respond with their fellow colleagues is all determined by culture.
UNESCO.
It promotes culture while trying to engage with the international community to set clear policies and working in order to support governments. The Kenyan culture has been influenced by UNESCO through for example The Maasai Culture. this concept of culture has brought about aspects of mutual assistance, effort and mutual responsibility.
A DIVE INTO INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION.
The spread of Intercultural Communication has brought a lot of new changes in the world. People travel each day to different countries in search of better opportunities. This can be in terms of jobs or even education for students wishing to pursue higher and quality education.
HOFSTEDE’S DIMENSIONS OF CULTURE
Hofstede’s describes culture in six dimensions
- Individualism-the extent to which people feel indepedent other than interdependent.
- Power Distance- the extent to which the less powerful members of organizations or institutions accept and expect power to be distributed unequally.
- Masculinity- the extent to which the use of force is endorsed socially.
- Uncertainty Avoidance- deals with society’s tolerance for uncertainty.
- Long term orientation- deals with change.
- Indulgence- deals with the good things in life
In my opinion i would introduce this dimensions to organize the people in my society by helping them understand the differences in culture across and come up with ways businesses can be done across different cultures.
In conclusion, i believe i can become a good intercultural communicator by improving my communication skills. These include: paying attention to non verbal cues, proactively listening and also repeating or confirming what was being said.
