HSUHK | CCCO

BJC2212 Intercultural Communication

Department
School of Communication
Semester
AY2011/12 Sem 2, AY2012/13 Sem 2, AY2013/14 Sem 2, AY2014/15 Sem 1, AY2014/15 Sem 2, AY2015/16 Sem 2, AY2016/17 Sem 1, AY2016/17 Sem 2, AY2017/18 Sem 1, AY2017/18 Sem 2, AY2018/19 Sem 1, AY2018/19 Sem 2, AY2019/20 Sem 1, AY2019/20 Sem 2, AY2020/21 Sem 1, AY2020/21 Sem 2, AY2021/22 Sem 1, AY2021/22 Sem 2, AY2022/23 Sem 1, AY2022/23 Sem 2, AY2023/24 Sem 1, AY2023/24 Sem 2, AY2024/25 Sem 1, AY2024/25 Sem 2
Method
Lecture 3 hours
Cluster
2 (Social Sciences)

Prerequisite

Nil

Exclusion

Nil

Module Description

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.

Module Intended Learning Outcomes (MILO)

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.

Module Content

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

Assessment Methods

1. Assignment(s) (20%)
2. Presentation / Project (30%)
3. Examination (50%)

Texts & References

Textbooks:
1. Martin, J. & Nakayama, T. (2018). Intercultural Communication in Contexts (7th ed.). McGraw-Hill.
2. Samovar, L. A., Porter, R. E., McDaniel, E. R., & Roy, C. S. (Eds.). (2014). Intercultural Communication: A Reader (14th ed.). Cengage Learning.

Reference materials:
3. Dodd, C. H. (1998). Dynamics of Intercultural Communication (5th ed.). New York: McGrawHill.
4. Jandt, F. E. (2016). An Introduction to Intercultural Communication: Identities in a Global Community (8th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
5. Johnson, F. L. (2000). Speaking Culturally. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
6. Kim, M. (2002). Non-Western Perspectives on Human Communication. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
7. Neuliep, J. W. (2018). Intercultural Communication: A Contextual Approach (8th ed.). Sage.
8. Baldwin, J. R., Means Coleman, R. R., González, A. and Shenoy-Packer, S. (2014). Intercultural Communication for Everyday Life. Wiley Blackwell.
9. Varner I & Beamer L. (2011). Intercultural Communication in the Global Workshop (5th ed). McGraw-Hill.