COM2603 ASSIGNMENT 1
SEMESTER 1 - 2022
UNIQUE NUMBER: 568446
DUE DATE: 18 MARCH 2022
, SECTION 1: INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
QUESTION 1
1.1 Identify and describe three barriers to intercultural communication in the above
scenario. Substantiate your discussion with examples from the scenario.
The first barrier that can be discerned in the above scenario is stereotypes. Martin et al.
(2013:34) defines stereotypes as "widely-held beliefs about a group of people and are a
form of generalisation". For example, the belief that African Americans are criminals and
violent, is an example of stereotyping.
Another barrier that is evident in this scenario is ethnocentrism. Ethnocentrism "is the
belief that one's own cultural group – usually equated with nationality or ethnicity – is
superior to all other cultural groups" (Martin et al 2013:33).
The (alleged) belief by the US president that his country is more advanced and is superior to
South Africa is an example of ethnocentrism.
The third barrier is Prejudice, defined as a negative attitude towards a cultural group based
on little experience. For example, “The president also claimed that the police seem to have
negative feelings towards African Americans, as in the majority of cases the shootings are
unjustifiable”; this is an example of prejudice.
1
SEMESTER 1 - 2022
UNIQUE NUMBER: 568446
DUE DATE: 18 MARCH 2022
, SECTION 1: INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
QUESTION 1
1.1 Identify and describe three barriers to intercultural communication in the above
scenario. Substantiate your discussion with examples from the scenario.
The first barrier that can be discerned in the above scenario is stereotypes. Martin et al.
(2013:34) defines stereotypes as "widely-held beliefs about a group of people and are a
form of generalisation". For example, the belief that African Americans are criminals and
violent, is an example of stereotyping.
Another barrier that is evident in this scenario is ethnocentrism. Ethnocentrism "is the
belief that one's own cultural group – usually equated with nationality or ethnicity – is
superior to all other cultural groups" (Martin et al 2013:33).
The (alleged) belief by the US president that his country is more advanced and is superior to
South Africa is an example of ethnocentrism.
The third barrier is Prejudice, defined as a negative attitude towards a cultural group based
on little experience. For example, “The president also claimed that the police seem to have
negative feelings towards African Americans, as in the majority of cases the shootings are
unjustifiable”; this is an example of prejudice.
1
