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Samenvatting Intercultural communication
Intercultural communication (Hogeschool West-Vlaanderen)
Studocu wordt niet gesponsord of ondersteund door een hogeschool of universiteit
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, lOMoARcPSD|19413180
PPTX 1: What is culture?
“the collective programming of the mind which distinguishes the member of one human group from
another. Culture, is in this sense, includes systems of values, and values are among the building blocks
of culture” (Hofstede 1984)
“A learned, shared, compelling, interrelated set of symbols whose meaning provide a set of
orientations for members of a society. These orientations, taken together, provide solutions to
problems all societies must solve if they are to remain viable.” (David 1985)
“The society that people grow up in shapes their basic beliefs, values and norms. People absorb
almost unconsciously, a world view that defines their relationship to themselves, to others, to nature
and to universe” (Kotler 1991)
1. What do these definitions have in common?
- They are related to people’s everyday behaviour
- They refer to habits (so not one-time phenomena)
- Characteristic of a social group (not of individuals)
- Refers to learned aspects of social life (So not biological or inherited traits)
Conclusion: culture is a complex set of habits that characterize a social group.
2. Culture, a pyramid…
At the base of the pyramid, we have
human nature. Human nature stands
for the person who we are, we’re all
the same.
In the middle, we have our culture. Our
culture is not universal for everybody.
It is specific for a group of people. It
are the habits that characterize a social
group.
At the top of the pyramid, we have our
personality. It is the individual level of a
human being. It characterizes you as a
person.
Nurture = voeden, koesteren, verzorgen
3. Culture, an iceberg…
At the lowest point of the iceberg we have the
emotional level: the feeling. This levels stand
for the values, desires, expectations, myths,
tastes, assumptions… found in a culture. For
example: ………………………………………………….
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In the middle of the iceberg, we have the cognitive level: the thinking. These are the norms, habits,
attitudes, ideologies, roles, interpretations… found in a culture. For example:
……………………………………………………………
At the top of the iceberg, we have the observational level: the doing. Here we find how people in a
culture is dress, their laws, their rituals, the spoken and written language, punctuality… for example:
……………………………………………………………………………………..
4. What is culture the cultural onion
Cultures can be seen as an onion, with many different layers. These
different layers are usually divided in three categories. From the
outside towards the core.
1. Symbols Cultural symbols can represent any aspect of the
culture, including nationalism, belief systems, traditions,
language and values. A cultural symbol is a physical
manifestation that signifies the ideology of a particular
culture or that merely has meaning within a culture.
2. Heroes A culture hero is a mythological hero specific to some group (cultural, ethnic,
religious, etc.) who changes the world through invention or discovery. Although many culture
heroes help with the creation of the world, most culture heroes are important because of
their effect on the world after creation.
3. Rituals A ritual is a patterned, repetitive, and symbolic enactment of a cultural belief or
value. Rituals usually work to enhance social cohesion, because their primary purpose in
most cases is to align the belief system of the individual with that of the group.
4. Norms and values both written and unwritten standards for ‘correct’ and appropriate,
desired behaviours. Norms and values are slightly more difficult to notice, but can be taught
through close observation and sufficient effort.
a. Norms = what we usually do. For example, we wait until everyone descended the
train, before we get up ourselves
b. Values = determine about what we consider right or wrong.
The core values reside in the innermost layer, these are abstract and invisible. Children .
will learn them before the age of 7. They consequently influence our behaviour, but
unconsciously. This is the core where intercultural communication is situated. It deals with
the realization of our own cultural core values and recognizing other cultures’ core values
(which can be different).
Intercultural competence
Intercultural competence cannot be acquired in a short space of time. It is a lifelong process which
needs to be addresses explicitly. Critical reflexion is a powerful tool in achieving this competency.
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