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This module takes an approach to culture from a communication perspective. Students will know how culture is shaped by communication and reciprocally, how communication is influenced by culture. A communication approach to culture will facilitate an accurate and useful understanding of the world and the people in it. The objective of such an understanding is a pragmatic one: to achieve mutual respect among diverse groups.
Upon completion of this module, students should be able to:
a. identify the fundamental concepts of intercultural communication;
b. apply different approaches to studying intercultural communication and human behaviour;
c. evaluate the social, political, economic, and cultural factors that influence intercultural communication;
d. elaborate the role of communication in the process of cultural adaptation; and
e. analyze the social impact of intercultural conflicts and explore some suggestions for dealing with intercultural conflicts.
1. Why Study Intercultural Communication?
1.1 The Technological Imperative
1.2 The Demographic Imperative
1.3 the Economic Imperative
1.4 the Self-Awareness Imperative
1.5 The Ethical Imperative
2. The History of the Study of Intercultural Communication
2.1 The Early Development of the Discipline
2.2 Three Approaches to Studying Intercultural Communication
2.3 A Dialectical Approach to understanding Culture and Communication
3. Identity and Intercultural Communication
3.1 Identity and Language
3.2 Identity Development Issues
3.3 Social and Cultural Identities
4. Language and Intercultural Communication
4.1 The Study of Language: Thinking Dialectically
4.2 Cultural Variations in Language
4.3 Discourse: Language and Power
5. Nonverbal Codes and Cultural Space
5.1 Defining Nonverbal Communication
5.2 The Universality of Nonverbal Behavior
5.3 Defining Cultural Space
6. Understanding Intercultural Transitions
6.1 Types of Migrant Groups
6.2 Migrant–Host Relationships
6.3 Human Behaviour and Cultural Adaptation
7. Factors Affecting Intercultural Communication
7.1 Social Factors
7.2 Political Factors
7.3 Economic Factors
7.4 Cultural Factors
8. Intercultural Conflict
8.1 Two Orientations to Conflict
8.2 The Social Science Approach to Conflict
8.3 The Social Impact of Intercultural Conflict
8.4 Managing Intercultural Conflict
1. Assignment(s) (20%)
2. Presentation / Project (30%)
3. Examination (50%)
