跨文化交际重要性

The Importance of Studying Intercultural

Communication

Recently, we have already studied the intercultural communication. Speak to the importance of studying intercultural communication, we may first talk about what is intercultural communication.

Theoretically speaking, intercultural communication is a broad concept which has broad application: it may refer to communication between different races, nations or countries and between different political and economic systems; it may refer to communication between different genders, age groups, occupations, social classes or educational levels; it may also refer to communication between different regions of one country. In the meantime, the intercultural communication have three forms: interracial communication, interethnic communication and intercultural communication.

The worldwide interest in intercultural communication grows out of tremendous changes in technology, economy ,immigration pattern and the emergence of multiculturalism. The advanced new technology and the increase of cultural migration, also the economic globalization and the growth of the word population are the main reasons for increasing intercultural communication.

With the globalization of the world economy and wide use of the internet which is tearing down national boundaries, intercultural communication has become part of our daily life. As a result, understand other culture is indispensible and need for intercultural knowledge and skills that lead to intercultural communication competence become essential in our society. The importance of studying intercultural communication cannot be overstated.

First of all, we can increase our cultural awareness by studying intercultural communication. Because such awareness is the first step to intercultural communication competence. Simply, intercultural awareness can be viewed as a cognitive process of understanding other’s values, attitudes, beliefs and outlooks.

Second, It can reduce communication barriers and facilitate adaption to global and domestic workplace diversity by studying intercultural communication. Different cultures have different communication styles, so it is not enough to have a good communication only knowing the grammar and vocabulary of a language. Therefore, when communicating with others from

other cultures, we must need an understanding of each other’s culture as well as a language in common. Understanding these cultural backgrounds and differences is very essential if we are have effective intercultural communication between colleagues from different cultural backgrounds, and if we want to ensure that a team is a working harmoniously.

Third, we can help to reduce the communicative conflicts by studying intercultural communication. Conflict is inevitable in all social and personal relationships. It can connotes a state of lack of agreement or collision between two forces or systems. This state can be expressed either openly or subtly. We need to learn to be tolerant of external differences so that we do not let these differences impede communication. Harmonious relationships are necessary in all aspects of human effort if people are to get along with another and accomplish the requirement of life and society.

In addition, intercultural communication can also widening people’s vision and improving intercultural competence. From other’s culture, we can get something we don’t have in our own culture.

Finally, intercultural communication is an important mean of expressing yourself because it exists different ways of expression and so different kind of communication depending on the culture you belong to . The way of communicating will not be the same as other countries and it is important to know some values of other cultures and so of other ways of communicating for, first of all, avoiding some misunderstandings and then knowing better some aspects of different cultures .

That is why intercultural communication is an essential exercise to do; a person who come from a certain country does not necessarily get the same ideas about time, death, identity, as an other one from a different country because each person has its own identity . First, a national identity, defined by a surname, a first name, citizenship, and a "personal" identity perceived as what are your activities, your opinions about issues or your experience in life . Sometimes, your own identity can be modified or influenced by different factors, for example religion, your environment, your family.