Defining Intercultural communication

Lecture 1. Overview to Intercultural Communication

Тема 1.

Additional Reading

Compulsory Reading

The control questions

Additional Reading

Compulsory Reading

1. Martha Brill Olcott – The Kazakhs, Hoover Institution Press, Stanford University, Stanford, California, pp. 5-7;

1.Kazakhstan. Encyclopedic Reference Book, “Kazakh Encyclopedia”, Almaty, 2007, pp. 49-56;

1. История Казахстана с древнейших времен до наших дней, «Деуiр», Алматы, 2006, с.30-55.

1. What were the periods of Stone Age?.
2. What were the specifics of techniques and labour tools of the period?
3. Where there the locations of the archaeological monuments of the Stone Age period on the territory of Kazakhstan?
4. The essential features of the “Neolithic revolution”?.
5. Name the main features of the economy and lifestyle of ancient nomadic people (Sakas, Ghuns, Kipchaks).
6. What was the philosophy of Tengri religion?

1. Textbook, pp.1-9;
2. Martha Brill Olcott – The Kazakhs, Hoover Institution Press, Stanford University, Stanford, California, pp. 4-5;

1.Kazakhstan. Encyclopedic Reference Book, “Kazakh Encyclopedia”, Almaty, 2007, pp. 42-49;

1. История Казахстана с древнейших времен до наших дней, «Деуiр», Алматы, 2006, с. 4-29.

When cultural variables play a primary part of the communication process, the result is intercultural communication. Not only must we trace culture's socialzing patterns on each person, but recognize and respect how culture's imprint ac­counts for differences in communication style, world view, and personality. All too often, experts find messages and relationships halted, because one or both people in the relationship are not sure how to respond to a person who is per­ceived as dissimilar. Gudykunst and Kim apply the metaphor of stranger to these encounters with people perceived is "different from me." Inside our information processing functions is a need to explain the nagging uncertainty that accompanies interaction with someone from a contrasting group. The term perceived cultural difference reminds people that in the presence of diversity, such as language, values, thought, customs, and style, we often strive to resolve internal inconsistencies posed by the diversity. Effective intercultural communication occurs when the strive becomes a drive to reduce the uncertainty and anxiety of perceived differences. Adjusting, appealing to commonality, and cultural sensitivity are but a few functional, intercultural coping skills. Reinforcing bigotry, negative stereotyping, denial, and withdrawal illustrate dysfunctional pathways to intercultural communication.