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Running head: INTERCULTURAL REFLECTION
Intercultural Reflection Essay
Sarina Jackson
June 27, 2015
COM-40164 – Intercultural and International Communication
Ottawa University
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INTERCULTURAL REFLECTION
Intercultural Reflection Essay
In the next few pages this essay will address the following: It will identify and explain
interpersonal, collective and/or institutional discrimination. It will explain how the choices we
make about popular culture influence the formation of our cultural identity? It will explain how
different attitudes toward work might lead to intercultural communication conflicts and identify
how the author plans to become more interculturally savvy in communication. Lastly it will
address whether or not it is possible for two people to communicate effectively if they do not
speak the same language? These are subject matters that can affect the ability to have effective
intercultural communication.
Discrimination (Interpersonal, Collective and institutional)
Discrimination whether interpersonal, collective or institutional can have a negative
effect on intercultural communication and in some cases be a barrier. This behavior is one that
results from “stereotyping or prejudice—overt actions to exclude, avoid, or distance oneself from
other groups” (Martin & Nakayama, 2014, p. 62). Discrimination occurs in both non-verbal and
verbal communication; it can be blatant or indirect. It can range from the exclusion from
conversation, loss of opportunity, physical violence and eradication (Martin& Nakayama, 2014,
p. 63).
Interpersonal discrimination occurs when we allow stereotypes to create a barrier that
prevents another group from advancing in some way based on individual differences. Race,
religion, sexual orientation and obesity are sometimes used to set individuals apart. Hunte’s
study in the American Journal of Epidemiology identified that there was evidence to show a
relationship existed between obesity and interpersonal discrimination. Participants reported, their
perception of how often they were treated with less courtesy or respect than other people; how
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they received poorer service and how often they believed others acted as if they were not smart,
afraid of them, dishonest, or not as good as they were. They also documented how often they
were called names or were insulted felt threatened or harassed (p. 1234).
Institutional or collective discrimination occurs when a structure puts in place polices
real or assumed that favor one group over others. To further explain this look at Company A who
has a policy that dictates all internal transfers to new jobs are lateral moves regardless of the pay
range the new position. However external applicants for the same job are hired in at the base rate
or somewhere within the range of the new position. A case can be made that Company A
discriminates against internal applicants and does allow equal wages for equal work.
Popular culture choice vs. Culture Identity
Popular culture is another area that can affect ones’ cultural identity and therefore it has
an indirect effect on how we communicate with others. As with discrimination we can choose to
take part in popular culture, we can avoid or limit our exposure. If not careful we risk allowing
popular culture to overwrite, religious cultural or historical cultural values and other more
substantiated influences that helped to mold our cultural identity with new values base on
popular culture. As television shares the lives of individuals that have typically led more modest
lives and now are exposed to a more circular world their identity changes. Anything that we
allow in has the ability to change our cultural identity, similar to how we learn new things.
When we learn something new we allow new information to enter our brains, we process
it and we may act upon it according to Dean and Jolly in Student Identity, Disengagement and
Learning study (p. 231). We attempt to pattern our lives after people, things or events that we
see and begin to idealize things that should not be idealized. Popular culture can be viewed as
learning experience. Good ones facilitate positive growth, bad ones while they may facilitate
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growth they may increase negative reaction, like stress. The other option that we have is to
refuse the influence and allow other aspects of our lived to cultivate our cultural identify.
“People often resist particular forms of popular culture by refusing to engage in them” (Martin &
Nakayama, 2014, p.218).
Work attitudes vs. Intercultural Communication Conflicts
Communication is part of every aspect of our lives and touches everything we are
involved in play, home and even at work. Our influences and views in other aspects of our lives
can help build a work attitude that is similar or dissimilar to others. It is the dissimilarities in
attitudes that can lead to intercultural communication conflicts. When those in communication
do not agree, when values do not match conflict arises. Martin & Nakayma list several
combinations that may cause conflict if parties are on opposite ends of the spectrum.
When team work is required and everyone must contribute to the team effort, a worker
that is focused on individualism and not collectivism will cause conflict. When the need to get a
job done does not hold the same value between workers (work and material gain) conflict will
arise. When one side favors producing a quality product that cost more to produce vs. cutting
cost and producing the same product more efficiently but losing some of the quality conflict will
arise.
Any time you have opposing view on the same subject conflict will arise. Differences in
language, management styles, communication and cultural background can influence attitudes
toward work and cause conflict as well.
Becoming More Interculturally Savvy in Communication
As I continue my course work interacting with students from all over the United States, I
will keep in mind that the point of view comes from a cultural place that may be completely
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different than mine, formed by religious, historical and cultural spaces among other things.
Rather than being judgmental and allow stereotypes to cloud my opinion and guide my actions, I
will work to understand the differences that guide others and by doing so I will become more
interculturally savvy in communication. This idea of understanding is something that can be
transferred into everyday life, work, play, church and so on. Most miscommunication comes
from a lack of understanding. There are no distinctive steps just the willingness to stop, listen
and think to ensure comprehension the communication that I am receiving and be conscious of
the communication that I am sending.
Language Barriers in Effective Communication
In order to have effective communication barriers have to be removed so that relationship
can be formed. If two individuals are speaking different language there is limited universal
nonverbal communication that can assist in the communication exchange. Non verbal language
assist in communications but we must be mindful that not all non verbal langue is universal
“Gestures and body language are a kind of symbolic communication that can be perceived as
strange or even aggressive behavior by those unfamiliar with the movements (Iversen,
Mangerud, Eik-Nes & Kjelsberg, 2013, p. 66)
Conclusion
In conclusion, Intercultural communications are based on a “mutual exchange of values
and life models” that creates the connection between various entities. Intercultural
communication is that tool designed to help bridge the gap between those entities and allow
coexistence inspite of the different cultures with the goal to minimize or eliminate
communication conflicts (Hes, Chluska, 2015, p. 17).
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References
Hes, A., Koubová, M., & Chlumská, T. (2015). Changes in value structures and the
importance of intercultural communication in modern society. Communication Today,
6(1), 1623
Hunte, H. R. (2011). Association between perceived interpersonal everyday discrimination and
waist circumference over a 9year period in the midlife development in the United States
cohort study. American Journal of Epidemiology, 173(11), 12321239.
doi:10.1093/aje/kwq463
Iversen, V. C., Mangerud, W. L., EikNes, T. T., & Kjelsberg, E. (2013). Communication
problems and language barriers between foreign inmates and prison officers. Journal of
Immigrant & Refugee Studies, 11(1), 6577. doi:10.1080/15562948.2013.759042
Lund Dean, K., & Jolly, J. P. (2012). Student identity, disengagement, and learning. Academy
Of Management Learning & Education, 11(2), 22824
Martin, J., & Nakayama, T. (2014). Experiencing intercultural communication: an introduction.
(5th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill
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