Intercultural communication competence: Identifying key components from multicultural perspectives

By Lily A. Arasaratnam, Marya L. Doerfel. 2005

355 citations recorded by the source corpus.

Abstract Intercultural communication competence (ICC) is an area of study that is becoming more relevant in the increasingly multicultural communities that we live in. Though much progress has been made in this area of research since Hall [(1959). The silent language . New York: Anchor Books], a satisfactory model of ICC and a scale that translates well into different cultures is yet to be developed. This paper presents a review of past research in ICC and describes a unique approach to identifying variables that contribute toward perceived ICC. Specifically, this study triangulates and updates past research on ICC by integrating the theoretical backgrounds of social psychology, interpersonal communication, and anthropology to construct a multidimensional understanding of ICC. Data were collected via face-to-face interviews with participants representing 15 different countries and responses were analyzed using semantic network analysis. A definition of intercultural communication was derived from the responses, and knowledge and motivation were identified as important components of ICC. Additions to a multidimensional definition of ICC include listening skills, prior cross-cultural experiences, having a global outlook as opposed to an ethnocentric one, and an other-centered style of communication. Limitations of the study and implications for future research are discussed.

Subfields: Communication, Language and Linguistics, Social Psychology

View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/950184b933c21790977c7652cc2e8f26d25a09cb

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In Communication

In Language and Linguistics

In Social Psychology

Citations in the corpus

Further Testing of a New Model of Intercultural Communication Competence (2006, methodology): “Listening was defined as interaction involvement (Cegala, 1981), cognitive and behavioral engagement in a conversation. Attitude toward other cultures was defined as a positive, non-ethnocentric disposition toward people from other cultures. Finally, motivation was defined as the desire to engage in”
Developing intercultural understanding and skills: models and approaches (2011, background): “Positive attitudes towards other cultures are also necessary, such as empathy, curiosity and respect (Arasaratnam and Doerfel 2005 ; Deardorff 2006b ; Heyward 2002 ; Hill 2006 ; Matveev and Nelson 2004 ).”
Understanding and assessing intercultural competence: A summary of theory, research, and practice (Technical report for the Foreign Language Program Evaluation Project) (2007, background): “The most recent developments in intercultural competence theory have emerged in the research of Arasaratnam and Doerfel (2005).”
Assessing Cross-Cultural Competence (2013, background): “…volunteers with experience in intercultural communication, and that resulted in the identification of five characteristics associated with ICC: empathy, intercultural experience and training, motivation, global attitude, and ability to listen well in conversation (Arasaratnam & Doerfel, 2005).”