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Contents
Preface xv
Part I Foundations of Intercultural CommunicationChapter 1 Studying Intercultural Communication 1
The Peace Imperative 4The Economic Imperative 5
The Workplace 6
The Global Economy 6
The Technological Imperative 9Technology and Human Communication 9
The Demographic Imperative 11Changing U.S. Demographics 11
Changing Immigration Patterns 12
The Self-Awareness Imperative 18The Ethical Imperative 19
Ethical Judgments and Cultural Values 19
Becoming an Ethical Student of Culture 21
Summary 24Building Intercultural Skills 24Activities 25Endnotes 26
Chapter 2 Intercultural Communication 29Building Block 1: Culture 31
Culture Is Learned 32
Culture Involves Perception and Values 33
Culture Involves Feelings 34
Culture Is Shared 35
Culture Is Expressed as Behavior 35
Culture Is Dynamic and Heterogeneous 36
Building Block 2: Communication 38
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Culture and Communication 41Communication, Cultural Worldviews, and Values 41
Communication and Cultural Rituals 51
Communication and Resistance to the Dominant Culture 52
Building Block 3: Context 52Building Block 4: Power 53Barriers to Intercultural Communication 55
Ethnocentrism 55
Stereotyping 56
Prejudice 59
Discrimination 62
Summary 64Building Intercultural Skills 64Activities 65Endnotes 65
Chapter 3 History and Intercultural Communication 68From History to Histories 71
Political, Intellectual, and Social Histories 71
Family Histories 72
National Histories 73
Cultural Group Histories 74
The Power of Other Histories 75
History and Identity 76Histories as Stories 76
Nonmainstream Histories 77
Intercultural Communication and History 85Historical Legacies 87
Summary 89Building Intercultural Skills 89Activities 90Endnotes 91
Chapter 4 Identity and Intercultural Communication 93Understanding Identity 95
Identities Are Created through Communication 95
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Identities Are Created in Spurts 96
Identities Are Multiple 96
Identities Are Influenced by Society 96
Identities Are Dynamic 99
Identities Are Developed in Different Ways in Different Cultures 99
Social and Cultural Identities 100Gender Identity 100
Sexual Identity 101
Age Identity 102
Racial and Ethnic Identity 103
Physical Ability Identity 107
Religious Identity 108
Class Identity 110
National Identity 112
Regional Identity 113
Personal Identity 113
Identity Development 114Minority Identity Development 114
Majority Identity Development 116
Characteristics of Whiteness 118
Multicultural Identity 122Multiracial People 122
Global Nomads 124
Identity and Adaptation 125
Living “On the Border” 126
Post-Ethnicity 128
Summary 128Building Intercultural Skills 129Activities 129Endnotes 130
Part II Intercultural Communication ProcessesChapter 5 Verbal Issues in Intercultural Communication 135
The Study of Language 138The Components of Language 138
Language and Perception 141
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Cultural Variations in Language 143Attitudes toward Speaking, Writing, and Silence 144
Variations in Communication Style 146
Influence of New Media Use on Communication Style 150
Variations in Slang and Humor 151
Variations in Contextual Rules 152
Communicating across Differences 153Language and Power 154
Language and Social Position 154
Assimilation Strategies 155
Accommodation Strategies 157
Separation Strategies 158
Moving between Languages 159Multilingualism 159
Translation and Interpretation 163
Language Politics and Policies 166
Summary 169Building Intercultural Skills 169Activities 170Endnotes 170
Chapter 6 Nonverbal Communication Issues 173Defining Nonverbal Communication 174
Comparing Verbal and Nonverbal Communication 175
What Nonverbal Behavior Communicates 177
Cultural Variations in Nonverbal Behavior 179Nonverbal Codes 180
Cultural Variation or Stereotype? 189
Defining Cultural Space 192Cultural Identity and Cultural Space 193
Changing Cultural Space 197
The Dynamic Nature of Cultural Spaces 198
Summary 199Building Intercultural Skills 200Activities 200Endnotes 201
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Contents ix
Part III Intercultural Communication in Everyday LifeChapter 7 Popular Culture and Intercultural Communication 204
Popular Culture and Intercultural Communication 205What Is “Popular Culture”? 206U.S. Popular Culture and Power 210
Global Circulation of Images/Commodities 210
Popular Culture from Other Cultures 211
Cultural Imperialism 212
Consuming and Resisting Popular Culture 215Consuming Popular Culture 215
Resisting Popular Culture 217
Representing Cultural Groups 219Migrants’ Perceptions of Mainstream Culture 219
Popular Culture and Stereotyping 221
Summary 224Building Intercultural Skills 224Activities 225Endnotes 225
Chapter 8 Culture, Communication, and Conflict 228Characteristics of Intercultural Conflict 231
Ambiguity 231
Language Issues 232
Contradictory Conflict Styles 232
Conflict Types and Contexts 232Types of Conflict 233
The Importance of Context 234
Influences on Conflict Management 234Cultural Values Influences 235
Family Influences 235
Two Approaches to Conflict 236
Intercultural Conflict Styles 238
Gender, Ethnicity, and Conflict 240
Religion and Conflict 240
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Managing Intercultural Conflict 241Productive versus Destructive Conflict 241
Competitive versus Cooperative Conflict 242
Understanding Conflict and Society 243Social and Economic Forces 243
Historical and Political Forces 245
Societal Responses to Conflict 247
Peacebuilding 249
Forgiveness 250
Summary 251Building Intercultural Skills 251Activity 252Endnotes 252
Chapter 9 Intercultural Relationships in Everyday Life 255Benefits of Intercultural Relationships 256Challenges in Intercultural Relationships 259
Motivation 259
Differences in Communication Styles, Values, and Perceptions 260
Negative Stereotypes 260
Anxiety 261
Affirming Another Person’s Cultural Identity 262
The Need for Explanations 262
Foundations of Intercultural Relationships 264Similarities and Differences 264
Cultural Differences in Relationships 265
Relationships across Differences 272Communicating in Intercultural Relationships 272
Intercultural Dating 275
Intercultural Marriage 276
Online Relationships 280
Society and Intercultural Relationships 283Summary 285Building Intercultural Skills 285Activity 286Endnotes 286
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Part IV Intercultural Communication in Applied SettingsChapter 10 Intercultural Communication in
Tourism Contexts 290Intercultural Communication and Tourism 293
Characteristics of Tourist-Host Encounters 293
Social, Historical and Economic Contexts of Tourism 294
Attitudes of Hosts toward Tourists 295
Communication Challenges in Tourism Contexts 297Language Challenges 298
Social Norms and Expectations 298
Culture Shock 301
The Search for Authenticity 302
Cultural Learning and Tourism 303Tourism, Intercultural Communication, and New Media 305Political and Environmental Impacts on Tourism 306Summary 307Building Intercultural Skills 308Activities 309Endnotes 309
Chapter 11 Intercultural Communication and Business 311The Domestic and Global Economy 312
Domestic Growth 312
Global Growth 313
Power Issues in Intercultural Business Encounters 315Communication Challenges in Business Contexts 317
Work-Related Values 317
Language Issues 321
Communication Styles 323
Business Etiquette 325
Virtual Communication 326
International Negotiation 327
Intercultural Relationship Building 328
Diversity, Prejudice, and Discrimination 329
Intercultural Communication Training in Business 332
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Social and Political Contexts of Business 332Summary 334Building Intercultural Skills 334Activities 335Endnotes 335
Chapter 12 Intercultural Communication and Education 338Educational Goals 340Studying Abroad 342Culturally Specific Education 346Intercultural Communication in Educational Settings 349
Roles for Teachers and Students 349
Grading and Power 350
Admissions, Affirmative Action, and Standardized Tests 351
Communication, Education, and Cultural Identity 354Social Issues and Education 356Summary 360Building Intercultural Skills 360Activities 360Endnotes 361
Chapter 13 Intercultural Communication and Health Care 364The Importance of Communication in Health Care 365Intercultural Barriers to Effective Health Care 370
Historical Treatments of Cultural Groups 371
Prejudicial Ideologies 372
Religion and Health Care 373Cultural Influences on Approaches to Medicine 375
Power in Communication about Health Care 376Imbalances of Power in Health Communication 377
Health Care as a Business 378
Intercultural Ethics and Health Issues 379
Summary 380
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