The interactions between individuals happen through communication. Verbal communication includes components like sound, words, speaking and language. People assign semantics to words and language develops as the tool of communication among people of a community and then as tool of intercultural communication. It is believed by many that language has developed from gestures and sounds. The messages that are communicated by gestures or touch or facial expressions and so on are known as nonverbal communication. Face-to-face interaction associates environmental conditions where communication happens, physical characteristics and behaviors. These kinds of communication are abundant in our community.
Intercultural communication means the communication among people belonging to different cultures. To reduce the chances of misunderstanding the meaning, intercultural communication is the need of the day. The ‘Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis’ explains that language determines our culture. They opine that language shapes cognition and culture. Other scholars, however, say that language merely reflects the culture. Intercultural communication is jeopardized by differences in language. Linguistic conventions might lead to misconstruing. In certain Asian cultures, negation is not used as question-answer sequences are not. However, the importance of intercultural communication makes language fluency a necessity. The diversities in cultural norms come into consideration in the case of nonverbal communication. It is culture bond and has ambiguity. Understanding would require deciphering nonverbal communication as well.
The technological advancement and globalized economy has given rise to multiculturalism and the demographics of nations have been altered owing to migration. International bonds and subcultures have changed the nature of nation states. This situates intercultural communication in a much more omnipotent position. A society having a uniform communication tool would lead to successful communication blurring the demarcating lines among cultures.
References
Lustig, W. Myron, & Koester Jolene. (2006) Intercultural Competence: Interpersonal Communication Across Cultures. Boston: Pearson Education Inc.
