In this day and age of globalization, there is an upsurge in interest in intercultural communication as there is increased cultural interaction amongst individuals and groups. Technology has helped bring the whole world together, thus enabling constant interactions either via conferences, international calls, and internet connectivity among other platforms. It is with this understanding that the email is gaining a lot of mileage as an effective means of intercultural communication across the globe. The email is one of the most commonly used forms of communication today, both in the formal and informal set ups. So mush is the email used in day to day communication that some companies have office policies where email is the official form of communication, as they try to go green and avoid printing memos and notices (Banks & Baker, 1991, p 105)
The issue of concern for this paper is to bring to light, how the use of emails is changing the nature of the relationships and dialogue between teachers and students in a multicultural environment. Robyn Thomas of La Trobe University Australia observed the changing trend in email exchanges with students from different cultural backgrounds and made striking observations of the nature of emails send by his students.
Thomas found out that email communication from students had not only significantly increased, but the intrinsic nature of the email, and in particular the sense of intimacy and immediacy that has produced a new language of work and also defines modern day multicultural communication, and as a result bringing about social change in the university.
While the email may have been initially blamed for lack of social cues such as body language, handwriting or even intonation, this has effectively been overcome by the use of emoticons which may include smiley face, and :o (Surprise), acronyms such as TIA (Thanks in advance) or 2L8 (too late) and also verbal emotions These are all recognized among people of in different areas in the world.
Taking cognisance of the changing nature of email conversations the question that we need to ask ourselves is How do we use email to improve our intercultural communication competency?
References
Banks & Baker. Intercultural encounters and miscommunication. In N. Coupland, H. Giles & J. Wiemann (Eds.), Miscommunication and problematic talk (pp. 103-120). London: Sage Publications. 1991
O’Sullivan (Understanding ways. Communication between cultures. Sydney: Hale & Ironmonger Pty. Limited. 1994, p 15
