Байболатова А. Е., Ахметова А.Е.

Региональный социально – инновационный университет

Intercultural communication and intercultural competence

The term intercultural communication is defined as situated communication between the representatives of different linguistic and cultural origins. The following statement is derived from the fundamental definitions: communication is the active relationship between people through language, and intercultural means that this communicative relationship is between people of different cultural backgrounds where culture is the structured demonstration of human behavior in social life in frames of national or local context, for instance, political, linguistic, economic, institutional and professional. Intercultural communication is identified as both a concept and a competence. Intercultural competence is the dynamic possession by individuals of qualities which lead to effective intercultural communication. It can be defined in terms of three primary attributes: knowledge, skills and attitudes.

Intercultural communication is a dynamic field incorporating social, economic and political contexts which are constantly changing.

Analysis of the scientific literature [1], [2], [3] shows that the term intercultural is chosen over the synonymous word cross-cultural because it is straightly linked to language use. According to the researcher Daniele Travisani (2005), intercultural communication properly refers to the study of the interaction between people from different cultures, while cross-cultural communication specifically refers to the comparison of how people from different cultures communicate. It is stressed that cross-cultural communication is a static differential image depicting differences in communication patterns across different cultures, while intercultural communication studies dynamic interactional patterns, what happens when people from at least two different cultures meet and interact, and what frames are generated from this interaction, for instance understanding vs. misunderstanding, agreement vs. disagreement, cultural adaptation vs. cultural isolation, emerging of “third cultures”, conflict vs. cooperation, intercultural team cohesiveness vs. team misunderstandings, intercultural project success vs. project failure, emotional improvement vs. emotional deterioration, and any other relational outcome.

For successful undertaking intercultural communication learners should acquire intercultural communication. That’s why it is necessary to deal with this term taking account the concept “intercultural communication”.

Intercultural competence focuses on social issues, thought patterns, moral values. It also deals with understanding different cultures, languages, customs and traditions of people from various countries. So, the intercultural competence has complex structure. In particular, structural components of intercultural competence have been dealt with several aspects.

The first and foremost aspect is context. A judgment that a person is competent is made in both a relational and situational context. Situational speaking competence is defined differently for various cultures. For instance, as a part of non-verbal communication the eye contact means confidence in western cultures whereas, in Asian cultures too much eye contact shows disrespect.

The second aspect is appropriateness. Under this component proper behavior is understood. This means that people’s behavior is acceptable for the expectations of any given culture.

The third aspect of intercultural competence is effectiveness. Effectiveness represents the behavior that leads to the desired outcome being achieved.

The fourth and the main constituent of this competence is knowledge. It is connected with the vast information a person has to have on the people’s culture he is interacting with. This is essential so that a person is able to interpret and understand culture-general and culture-specific knowledge.

The last one is motivation which partially means emotional associations as people communicate interculturally. Feelings in terms of reaction to thoughts and experiences tightly connected with motivation. Intentions are thoughts that guide people’s choices; in addition it is a goal that directs individual’s behavior. Thus, these two entities play a considerable part in motivation.

Literature:

1. Travisani Daniele. Negoziazione interculturale. Comunicare oltre le barriere culturali. Translated title: Inlercultural Negotiation: Communication Beyond Cultural Barriers. Milan, Franco Angeli, 2005, ISBN 9788846466006.

2. Brislin R. W. Cross-cultural research in psychology.// In: Annual Review of Psvchology. 34: 1983, 363-400.

3. Махкамова Г.Т. Концепция формирования межкультурной компетенции студентов факультетов английского языка. – Т.: Фан, 2010