Characteristics of Intercultural Communication

There are several realities that characterize all communication, whether intercultural or not. They are true of communication in every context. 

 

First, everything that we do “communicates”—it is impossible for us to stop communicating.

 

Second, the goal of communication is always more than just to impart information—persuasion is behind everything we do. Even a simple “hello” is an act that requests a response or an acknowledgment of your existence and relationship with the person to whom you say, “Hello”.

 

Third, the communication process is generally far more complex than most people realize. Because we have been communicating for so long, and because we do it all the time, we have the tendency to take it for granted.

 

Fourth, we always communicate our messages through more than one channel, and we always communicate more than one message. At times, these “multiple” messages may contradict one another, causing our audience to respond negatively to our primary concern. At other times, they enhance and reinforce our message, helping to elicit a more positive response from our audience.

 

Fifth, and finally, if we seek to communicate effectively across cultural barriers, the foundational consideration for all our communication should be, “What can I do to build trust on the part of the audience?”

 

  

 

--- A. Scott Moreau, Evvy Hay Campbell & Susan Greener, 

Effective Intercultural Communication: A Christian Perspective. 2014.