Communication Between Cultures

by Samovar, Larry A.; Porter, Richard E.; McDaniel, Edwin R.

• ISBN13: 9780495007272
• ISBN10: 0495007277
• Edition: 6th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-03-06
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing

Summary

COMMUNICATION BETWEEN CULTURES continues with the features that have made it the best-selling text for the intercultural communication course. The new edition of this leading gives students an understanding and appreciation of different cultures and helps them develop practical skills for improving their communication with people from other cultures. It's renowned for being the only text on the market to consistently emphasize religion and history as key variables in intercultural communication. Packed with the latest research and filled with numerous, compelling examples that force students to examine their own assumptions and cultural biases, this book helps students understand the subtle and profound ways culture affects communication. The book is divided into four interrelated parts: Part I introduces the study of communication and culture; Part II focuses on the ability of culture to shape and modify our view of reality; Part III puts the theory of intercultural communication into practice; and Part IV converts knowledge into action.

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
Communication and Culture: The Voice and Echo	1	(34)
The Challenge of Intercultural Communication	1	(2)
Intercultural Contact	3	(1)
International Contact	4	(3)
New Technology and Information Systems	4	(1)
Evolving Populations	4	(2)
The Global Economy	6	(1)
Domestic Contact	7	(2)
Defining Our Terms	9	(2)
Intercultural Communication	9	(1)
The Dominant Culture	10	(1)
Co-culture	11	(1)
Essentials of Human Communication	11	(5)
Defining Communication	12	(1)
Principles of Communication	12	(4)
Culture	16	(4)
The Basic Functions of Culture	17	(1)
The Elements of Culture	18	(1)
Defining Culture	19	(1)
Characteristics of Culture	20	(7)
Culture Is Learned	21	(6)
Culture Is Shared	27	(1)
Culture Is Transmitted from Generation to Generation	28	(1)
Culture Is Based on Symbols	28	(1)
Culture Is Dynamic	29	(1)
Culture Is an Integrated System	30	(1)
Studying Intercultural Communication	31	(1)
Individual Uniqueness	31	(1)
Stereotyping	31	(1)
Objectivity	32	(1)
Preview of the Book	32	(1)
Summary	33	(1)
Activities	34	(1)
Discussion Ideas	34	(1)
The Deep Structure of Culture: Roots of Reality	35	(37)
The Deep Structure of Culture	36	(3)
Deep Structure Institutions Carry a Culture's Most Important Beliefs	37	(1)
Deep Structure Institutions and Their Messages Endure	37	(1)
Deep Structure Institutions and Their Messages Are Deeply Felt	38	(1)
Deep Structure Institutions Supply Much of Our Identity	38	(1)
Family	39	(13)
The Importance of Family	39	(1)
Definition of Family	40	(1)
Forms of Family	40	(1)
The Functions of the Family	41	(1)
Communication, Culture, and Family	42	(1)
Cultural Variants in Family Interaction	43	(1)
Gender Roles	44	(2)
Individualism and Collectivism	46	(3)
Age	49	(2)
Social Skills	51	(1)
History	52	(18)
United States History	55	(3)
Russian History	58	(1)
Chinese History	59	(2)
Japanese History	61	(3)
Mexican History	64	(2)
History of Islamic Civilization	66	(4)
Summary	70	(1)
Activities	71	(1)
Discussion Ideas	71	(1)
Worldview: Cultural Explanations of Life and Death	72	(37)
Worldview	72	(3)
Importance of Worldview	72	(1)
Manifestations of Worldview	73	(2)
Religion as a Worldview	75	(6)
Importance of Religion	75	(2)
Religion and the Study of Intercultural Communication	77	(1)
Selecting Religious Traditions for Study	77	(1)
Religious Similarities	78	(1)
Sacred Scriptures	78	(1)
Authority	79	(1)
Traditional Rituals	80	(1)
Ethics	81	(1)
Security	81	(1)
Six Religious Traditions	81	(26)
Christianity	82	(3)
Judaism	85	(3)
Islam	88	(7)
Hinduism	95	(4)
Buddhism	99	(5)
Confucianism	104	(3)
Religion: A Final Thought	107	(1)
Summary	107	(1)
Activities	108	(1)
Discussion Ideas	108	(1)
Culture and the Individual: Cultural Identity	109	(18)
The Need to Understand Identity	110	(1)
Defining Identity	111	(2)
A Typology of Identities	113	(6)
Racial Identity	113	(1)
Ethnic Identity	113	(2)
Gender Identity	115	(1)
National Identity	115	(1)
Regional Identity	116	(1)
Organizational Identity	116	(1)
Personal Identity	117	(1)
Cyber and Fantasy Identity	118	(1)
Acquiring and Developing Identities	119	(2)
Establishing and Enacting Cultural Identity	121	(2)
Cultural Identity and Intercultural Communication	123	(1)
Identity and Multiculturalism	124	(1)
Summary	125	(1)
Activities	126	(1)
Discussion Ideas	126	(1)
Alternative Views of Reality: Cultural Values	127	(37)
Perception	128	(2)
Defining Perception	128	(1)
Perception and Culture	129	(1)
Beliefs	130	(1)
Values	131	(1)
Studying Cultural Patterns	132	(3)
Obstacles in Studying Cultural Patterns	132	(2)
Selecting Cultural Patterns	134	(1)
Dominant U.S. Cultural Patterns	135	(5)
Individualism	135	(2)
Equality	137	(1)
Materialism	137	(1)
Science and Technology	138	(1)
Progress and Change	138	(1)
Work and Leisure	139	(1)
Competition	140	(1)
Diverse Cultural Patterns	140	(1)
Hofstede's Value Dimensions	140	(11)
Individualism/Collectivism	141	(4)
Uncertainty Avoidance	145	(1)
Power Distance	146	(2)
Masculinity/Femininity	148	(2)
Long- and Short-Term Orientation	150	(1)
The Kluckhohns and Strodtbeck's Value Orientations	151	(7)
Human Nature Orientation	151	(2)
Person/Nature Orientation	153	(1)
Time Orientation	154	(2)
Activity Orientation	156	(1)
Relational (Social) Orientation	157	(1)
Hall's High-Context and Low-Context Orientations	158	(2)
High Context	158	(2)
Low Context	160	(1)
Face and Facework	160	(2)
Summary	162	(1)
Activities	163	(1)
Discussion Ideas	163	(1)
Words and Meaning: Language and Culture	164	(30)
Language and Communication	164	(4)
Communicative Functions of Language	166	(1)
Conversation	166	(1)
Expression of Affect	167	(1)
Thinking	167	(1)
Control of Reality	167	(1)
Keeping of History	167	(1)
Socialization and Enculturation	168	(1)
Expression of Identity	168	(1)
Language and Culture	168	(5)
Verbal Processes	169	(1)
Word and Pronunciation Diversity	170	(1)
Language, Culture, and Meaning	171	(2)
Language and Thought	173	(2)
Contextualization	175	(1)
Culture and the Rules of Interaction	175	(7)
Directness and Indirectness	176	(1)
Maintaining Social Relationships	177	(2)
Expressions of Affect	179	(1)
Value of Conversation	179	(3)
Language Diversity in the United States	182	(1)
Languages of Co-cultures	183	(5)
Spanish-Speaking Americans	184	(1)
African-American English	184	(2)
Women and Language	186	(1)
Female vs. Male Communication Patterns	187	(1)
Understanding Diverse Message Systems	188	(4)
Try to Learn the Languages of Other Cultures	188	(1)
Understand Cultural Variations in the Use of Language	189	(1)
Remember That Words Are ``Culture Bound''	190	(1)
Be Sensitive to Diverse Coding Systems	191	(1)
Achieving Clarity	191	(1)
Summary	192	(1)
Activities	192	(1)
Discussion Ideas	193	(1)
Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Space, Time, and Silence	194	(35)
Nonverbal Communication in Everyday Life	195	(2)
Nonverbal Communication Is Universal	196	(1)
Judging Internal States	196	(1)
Creating Impressions	196	(1)
Managing Interaction	197	(1)
Defining Nonverbal Communication	197	(1)
Functions of Nonverbal Communication	198	(1)
Repeating	198	(1)
Complementing	198	(1)
Substituting	198	(1)
Regulating	199	(1)
Contradicting	199	(1)
Studying Nonverbal Communication: Guidelines and Limitations	199	(1)
Nonverbal Communication Is Often Ambiguous	199	(1)
We Are More than Our Culture	200	(1)
Nonverbal Communication and Culture	200	(1)
Classifications of Nonverbal Communication	201	(26)
Body Behavior	201	(7)
Facial Expressions	208	(1)
Eye Contact and Gaze	209	(3)
Touch	212	(2)
Paralanguage	214	(2)
Space and Distance	216	(3)
Time	219	(6)
Silence	225	(2)
Summary	227	(1)
Activities	228	(1)
Discussion Ideas	228	(1)
Cultural Influences on Context: The Business Setting	229	(27)
Culture and Context	229	(1)
Communication and Context	230	(1)
Communication Is Rule Governed	230	(1)
Context Specifies Communication Rules	231	(1)
Communication Rules Are Culturally Diverse	231	(1)
Assessing the Context	231	(6)
Formality and Informality	232	(1)
Assertiveness and Interpersonal Harmony	233	(2)
Status Relationships	235	(2)
Intercultural Communication in an Evolving Business Context	237	(1)
The Multinational Business Context	238	(15)
Business Protocol	238	(2)
Greeting Behaviors	240	(2)
Personal Appearance	242	(1)
Gift Giving	242	(1)
Management Styles	243	(2)
Negotiation Styles	245	(4)
Decision Making	249	(2)
Conflict Management	251	(1)
The Influence of Information Technology on International Communication	252	(1)
The Domestic Business Context	253	(1)
Summary	254	(1)
Activities	254	(1)
Discussion Ideas	255	(1)
Cultural Influences on Context: The Educational Setting	256	(28)
Culture and Education	258	(1)
Globalization	258	(1)
Multiculturalism	258	(1)
Cultural Diversity and Education	259	(5)
What Cultures Teach	259	(3)
How Cultures Teach	262	(2)
Education in a Multicultural Society	264	(11)
Challenges of Multicultural Education	265	(1)
Culture and Learning	266	(9)
Language Diversity in Multicultural Education	275	(2)
Degree of Diversity	275	(1)
Language and Identity	276	(1)
Limited English Proficiency Students	276	(1)
Multicultural Competency in the Classroom	277	(5)
Developing Multicultural Proficiency	278	(1)
Multicultural Classrooms	279	(1)
Multicultural Communication Competence	280	(1)
Multicultural Communication Strategies	281	(1)
Summary	282	(1)
Activities	283	(1)
Discussion Ideas	283	(1)
Cultural Influences on Context: The Health Care Setting	284	(27)
Culture, Health Care, and Communication	284	(2)
Culture and Health Care: Diverse Worldviews	286	(2)
Dualistic and Holistic Worldviews	286	(1)
Mechanistic and Non-mechanistic Worldviews	287	(1)
Health Belief Systems	288	(2)
Scientific/Biomedical System	288	(1)
Magico-Religious System	289	(1)
Holistic System	289	(1)
Alternative Health Care Systems	289	(1)
Cultural Diversity in the Causes of Illness	290	(2)
Scientific/Biomedical Causes	290	(1)
Magico-Religious Causes	290	(1)
Holistic Causes	291	(1)
Cultural Diversity in the Treatment of Illness	292	(3)
Scientific/Biomedical Treatments	292	(1)
Magico-Religious Treatments	293	(1)
Holistic/Naturalistic Treatments	294	(1)
Cultural Diversity in the Prevention of Illness	295	(2)
Religion, Spirituality, and Health Care	297	(2)
Health Care Considerations for a Culturally Diverse Population	299	(7)
Family Roles	300	(3)
Language Barriers	303	(1)
Nonverbal Messages	304	(2)
Formality	306	(1)
Becoming a Better Intercultural Health Care Communicator	306	(3)
Recognize Diverse Medical Systems	307	(1)
Recognize Ethnocentrism	308	(1)
Summary	309	(1)
Activities	310	(1)
Discussion Ideas	310	(1)
Becoming Competent: Improving Intercultural Communication	311	(52)
A Philosophy of Change	313	(1)
Language Is an Open System	313	(1)
We Have Free Choice	313	(1)
Communication Has a Consequence	314	(1)
Becoming Competent	314	(2)
Defining Intercultural Competence	314	(1)
Basic Components of Communication Competence	314	(2)
Potential Problems in Intercultural Communication	316	(22)
Seeking Similarities	316	(1)
Withdrawal	317	(1)
Anxiety	318	(1)
Uncertainty Reduction	318	(1)
Stereotyping	319	(4)
Prejudice	323	(3)
Racism	326	(3)
Power	329	(2)
Ethnocentrism	331	(2)
Culture Shock	333	(5)
Improving Intercultural Communication	338	(16)
Know Yourself	338	(3)
Employ Empathy	341	(3)
Cultural Differences in Listening	344	(2)
Develop Communication Flexibility	346	(1)
Understand Intercultural Conflict	347	(4)
Learn About Cultural Adaptation	351	(3)
Ethical Considerations	354	(3)
A Definition of Ethics	355	(1)
Relativism	356	(1)
Universalism	356	(1)
Guidelines for an Intercultural Ethic	357	(4)
Be Mindful That Communication Produces a Response	357	(1)
Respect the Worth of the Individual	358	(1)
Seek Commonalities Among People and Cultures	358	(2)
Recognize the Validity of Differences	360	(1)
Take Responsibility for Your Actions	360	(1)
Be Motivated	360	(1)
Summary	361	(1)
Activities	362	(1)
Discussion Ideas	362	(1)
EPILOGUE Where Have We Been? Where Are We Going?	363	(7)
Where Have We Been?	363	(2)
Where Are We Going?	365	(5)
International Problems	365	(1)
Technology	366	(2)
Ethnic and Cultural Identity	368	(2)
Notes	370	(36)
Photo Credits	406	(1)
Index	407