Intercultural competence

Presenting balanced coverage of skills and theory, Intercultural Competence provides readers with the knowledgeable background and necessary skills to succeed in today's multicultural environment.

Blending both the practical and theoretical, this thoroughly researched book offers readers an enjoyable read and contemporary coverage of the impact of technology on intercultural communication and cutting-edge interpersonal scholarship. Intercultural Competence provides a discussion of important ethical and social issues relating to intercultural communication and encourages readers to apply theory through vivid examples to better prepare them to interact in intercultural relationships.

Preface.

I. COMMUNICATION AND INTERCULTURAL COMPETENCE.

1. Introduction to Intercultural Competence.

Imperatives for Intercultural Competence

Communication

The Challenge of Communicating in an Intercultural World

2. Culture and Intercultural Communication.

Culture.

Why Cultures Differ.

Intercultural Communication.

3. Intercultural Communication Competence.

The United States as an Intercultural Community.

Competence and Intercultural Communication.

Basic Tools for Improving Intercultural Competence.

II. CULTURAL DIFFERENCES IN COMMUNICATION.

4. Cultural Patterns and Communication: Foundations.

Defining Cultural Patterns.

Components of Cultural Patterns.

Characteristics of Cultural Patterns.

Cultural Patterns and Intercultural Competence.

5. Cultural Patterns and Communication: Taxonomies.

Hall's High- and Low-Context Cultural Taxonomies

Hofstede's Cultural Taxonomies

The GLOBE Cultural Taxonomy

Cultural Taxonomies and Intercultural Competence.

6. Cultural Identity and Cultural Biases

Cultural Identity.

Cultural Biases.

Identity, Biases, and Intercultural Competence

III. CODING INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION.

7. Verbal Intercultural Communication.

The Power of Language in Intercultural Communication.

Definition of Verbal Codes.

Language, Thought, Culture, and Intercultural Communication.

Verbal Codes and Intercultural Competence.

8. Nonverbal Intercultural Communication.

Definition of Nonverbal Codes.

Cultural Universals in Nonverbal Communication.

Cultural Variations in Nonverbal Communication.

Nonverbal Messages in Intercultural Communication.

Synchrony of Nonverbal Communication Codes.

Nonverbal Communication and Intercultural Competence.

9. The Effects of Code Usage in Intercultural Communication.

Preferences in the Organization of Verbal Codes

Cultural Variations in Persuasion

Cultural Variations in the Structure of Conversations

Effects of Code Usage on Intercultural Competence

IV. COMMUNICATION IN INTERCULTURAL RELATIONSHIPS.

10. Intercultural Competence in Interpersonal Relationships.

Cultural Variations in Interpersonal Relationships

The Maintenance of Face in Interpersonal Relationships

Improving Intercultural Relationships

Interpersonal Relationships and Intercultural Competence

11. Episodes, Contexts, and Intercultural Interactions.

Social Episodes in Intercultural Relationships.

Contexts for Intercultural Communication.

Episodes, Contexts, and Intercultural Competence.

12. The Potential for Intercultural Competence.

Intercultural Contact

The Ethics of Intercultural Competence.

The Perils and Prospects for Intercultural Competence.

Resources.

Intercultural Films.

Online Resources.

Notes.

Credits.

Author Index.

Subject Index.