LL250: Intercultural Communication
Prof. Bauer-Ramazani                                                             Name _________________                                                                               

The Challenge of Intercultural Communication: Interaction in a Diverse World
Worksheet for Chapter 1

Directions: Use the information in this chapter to support your answers to the following questions.

I. Intercultural communication
What is culture? How/where does it affect us? Define the term and give examples.





II. The Importance of Intercultural Communication
1. What kinds of people are considered aliens, and what have been responses to this in the 20th century?





2. In what way are intercultural encounters today different from those in the past?


3. Give examples of intercultural contacts in our global economy.




III. Points of Contact

• International contacts
  
  1. What new developments in technology and information systems have increased the points of intercultural contact internationally?
  
  
  
  
  5. In what ways have changes in population (growth, redistribution), the environment, and the new economic order increased the potential of intercultural conflict?
  
  
  
  
  
  How have these changes increased the need for effective intercultural communication?

Domestic Contacts
1. What is the definition of dominant culture? What is the dominant culture in the U.S.?




2. Define co-culture and give examples of co-cultures. How can their interactions with the dominant culture be characterized?




What strain/stress have these interactions caused?



What has increased the conflict between co-cultures and the dominant culture? What has resulted from this conflict?


What communication problems have arisen in various co-cultures?




IV. Studying Intercultural Communication

1. T / F Intercultural contacts are usually harmonious.

2. Identify components of the surface structure of culture.


Identify components of the deep structure of culture. Why do deep structure components cause more intercultural communication problems?





A. Individual uniqueness

1. Each human being is unique but also shaped in behavior by _______________________________________________________________________.


B. Objectivity

1. T / F We are all biased in our intercultural interaction.

2. Why is it not possible for us to be objective in studying other cultures?

 

©2004  Christine Bauer-Ramazani, Saint Michael's College. Last updated: Sunday, July 09, 2017