Intercultural
Communication Theory
Professor Hossein Dadfar
Communication
You cannot not communicate.
Non-communication is a form of
communication.
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What will be accomplish in this part?
•  How we define communication
•  Explore process and components of
communication
•  The 3Vs of communication modes
–  Verbal
–  Vocal
–  Visual
•  Your communication style
•  How to improve your communication skill
What is Communication
A simple definition of
interpersonal communication:
“intentional transmission of a
message (meaning) from one
individual to another”
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Communication
…is the exchange of messages between
people for the purpose of achieving
common meanings.
•  Communication is the process of sharing
our ideas, thoughts, and feelings with other
people and having those ideas, thoughts and
feelings understood by the people we are
talking with.
•  The key element is “understanding”
3
Communication is a cooperative
endeavor.
Communication requires both the
skillful sending and the skillful
receiving of messages.
Definition of Communication
•  To communicate is not to say,
to communicate is to be
understood
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Communication Strategies
Successful Communication
Strategies- 4WH Model
W
W
H
W
W
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Successful Communication
Strategies- 4WH Model
Who?
Why?
Know why you are communicating,
and what you want to accomplish
Know who your targets are
How
to communicate
effectively?
What ?
When?
Know what is expected of you and
when to go into details
•  Know when to speak and when to remain
silent and let others continue the discussion
Communication Strategies
(4WH Model)
•  Why, Who, What, When, and How
–  Why
• 
Know why you are communicating, and what
you want to accomplish
–  Who
• 
Know who your targets are
–  What
• 
Know what is expected of you and when to go
into details
6
Communication Strategies
•  Why, Who, What, When, and How
–  When
•  Know when to speak and when to remain silent and
let others continue the discussion
–  How
•  Know how to communicate effectively
Communication Models
•  Communication process model
•  UMPI model
•  3 Vs model
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Communication Model
Sending Channel
Stimulus
Message
Decoding
ê
Understanding
ê
Encoding
é
Encoding
é
Understanding
é
Decoding
Person
A
Person
B
Feedback Channel
Communication Process Model
Sender
(Meaning Encode)
Message
Medium
Receiver
Message
Decode Meaning
Noise
Culture
Feedback
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The Communication Process
•  Sender: initiator of message
•  Encoding: translating intended meaning into words
and gestures
•  Message: the combination of verbal & nonverbal
symbols expressed
•  Message channel - the conduit or medium that will
carry a message from the sender to the receiver.
•  Noise: anything that interferes with message-achieving
common meaning
•  Decoding - the translation of a message by a receiver.
•  Feedback - a verbal or nonverbal response by a
receiver to the sender’s message.
Information Richness of
Communication Channels
Low channel richness
Routine
High channel richness
Nonroutine
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The Essence of ICC Is ”UMPI”
Un
de
rst
a
nd
od
ing
g
kin
Ma
U
rsto
e
d
n
UMPI
I
g
cin
n
ue
nfl
Pe
rs
u
ad
in
g
Source: Dadfar (2002)
Direction of Communication
Downward
Lateral
Upward
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Formal Internal
Communication Network
Downward
Upward
Supervisor
Supervisor
Staff
Staff
Horizontal
Department
Department
3 Vs Modes of
Interpersonal Communication
Verbal-the words you say, the message itself
Vocal-how you say, the intonation,
projection and resonance of the voice that
carries the message the words
Visual-what people see
Total
100
Exercise: put your estimate of which element carries the most creditability in interpersonal
communication to pseudo a listener.
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Modes of Communication
• Verbal (Words)
✔  7%
•  Vocal Paralanguage
✔ 38%
(Pitch, tone, resonance)
•  Body Language
✔ 55%
Communication Modes: Communication
Verbal &Vocal
Pause and non-words
Language
Voice quality
Humour and
proverbs
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Why ICC
The most important thing in
communication is hearing what isn't
said
Peter F. Drucker 1909-2005, American management guru
Some Types of
Nonverbal Communication
Facial
Expression
Touching
Behavior
Gestures
and
Postures
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Non-Verbal
Communication
•  Facial expressions
(smiles…)
•  Hand gestures
•  Walking
•  Posture
• 
Colour symbolism
• 
Artefacts (jewellery…)
• 
Clothing
• 
Hairstyles
• 
Cosmetics
• 
Time symbolism
•  Space usage (proxemics)
• 
Graphic symbols
•  Touching
• 
Silence
•  Eye contact
•  Olfaction (e.g. perfume)
Visual- Non verbal Communication
Visual- Non verbal
Eye contact
Gesture and
facial expressions
Posture and
movement
Dress and
appearance
space
Physical touch
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Non-verbal Communication or
Bady language
Refers to messaging without words
Eye Contact
•  Duration
•  Direction
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Posture and movement
•  Body position
Facial expressions-Truth
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Space
•  Personal space
•  Public space
SPACE (Proxemics)
Intimate distance
18”
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skadad. Starta om datorn och öppna sedan filen igen. Om det röda X:et fortfarande visas måste du kanske ta bort bilden
och sedan infoga den igen.
Personal distance
Social distance
Public distance
18” to 4’
4’ to 8’
8’ to 10’
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Body language (Students’ Illustrations)
Germany:
Sweden:
Closed herself
off from
argumentation
uncertainty
Italy:
Austria:
Italy:
thinking
augmenting
”Ti spacco il culo”
Body language
Sweden:
uncertainty
Austria:
thinking
Germany:
Closed herself
off from
argumentation
Italy:
„Ti spacco il culo“
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3 Styles/Types of Communication
1. Passive Communication/ Nonassertive
•  Unwillingness to say what one thinks, feels,
or wants.
•  Frequently associated with anxiety about
others opinions
•  Creates distance rather than intimacy.
Nonverbal Signs
Nonassertive
•  Lack of eye contact; looking down or
looking away
•  Swaying from side to side
•  Whining and hesitancy when speaking
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2. Assertive Communication
•  Involves the expression of
thoughts, feelings, & desires
•  “I” statements
•  Giving yourself the right to be
who you are without infringing on
your partners rights to be who he/
she is.
Nonverbal
Assertive
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
Stand steady and straight
Face the person
Make and maintain eye contact
Speak in a clear, steady voice
Speak with assurance and confidence
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3. Aggressive Communication
•  Aims to hurt or put down
another person
•  Characterized by “you”
statements
•  Reinforces that partner is to
blame.
Nonverbal Signs
Aggressive
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
Leaning forward
Eyes glaring
Pointing a finger
Shouting
Clenching fists
Putting hands on hips and wagging the head
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Passive + Passive
Relationship is devitalized and
boring.
Both people lose.
Low level of intimacy.
Passive + Aggressive
Relationship is dominated by one
person.
I win, You lose outcome
Low level of intimacy
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Aggressive + Aggressive
Relationship is conflicted
Both lose.
Low level of intimacy
Assertive + Assertive
•  Relationship is vital and growing.
•  Both Win
•  High level of intimacy.
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Davies and Cain’s 6 Styles
(Among team members)
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
Aggressive
Dominating
Worrying
Talkative
Quietly confident
Hinting
How to Improve Your
Communication Skills
•  5 Skills of listening (Understanding)
•  5 Skills of talking (sending message,
making understood)
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Listening
Listening is the foundation of
good communication
The Goal of Listening is Important
Control vs. Discover
3 Types of Listening:
1.  Persuasive Listening
2.  Directive Listening
3.  Attentive Listening
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5 Skills that Improve Your
Listening Ability
1.  Attend
Give Full Attention
Stop other Activity
Put your concerns aside and give
your partner the floor.
2.  Acknowledge
Way to validate your partner’s
experience.
Can range from a simple nod of
your head or an “uh-huh” to a
brief statement (e.g., “that sounds
important”).
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3.  Invite more Information
Say or do something that
encourages your partner to
continue spontaneously talking
about whatever it is he or she
wants to tell you.
“Tell me more”
“Say more about that”
“What else can you tell me?”
4.  Summarize
Repeat in your own words what
you just heard your partner say.
Helps ensure the accuracy of your
understanding of your partner.
Do not just say “I understand what
you are saying” - Demonstrate that
you accurately understand.
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5.  Disclose Wants
“I want to be fair”
What you want for yourself, your
partner, your relationship – NOT
what you want from your partner
Talking Skills- 5 skills to use
1.  Speak for yourself:
Use “I”, “Me”, “My”, “Mine”
Indicates that you take responsibility for what
you say.
When you use “you” statements, you stimulate selfdefensiveness in others.
For example:
“You’re not listening”
“Now you’re angry”
“We don’t believe that”
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2.  Describe Sensory Data
Describe what you see, hear, taste,
smell.
Provides concrete examples of what
you observed at a particular time and
place.
3.  Express Thoughts
The world is filtered through our
belief system.
Saying what you are thinking –
believing, interpreting, expecting.
For example:
“I believe it is important”
“It seems possible to me”
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4.  Share Feelings
Stating your emotions directly.
For example:
“I’m really happy that we worked so
well together,
“I’m proud of you”
“I’m relieve to hear from you”
Successful Communication
Strategies- 4WH Model
W
W
H
W
W
30
Successful Communication
Strategies- AWH Model
Why?
Who?
Know why you are communicating,
and what you want to accomplish
Know who your targets are
How
to communicate
effectively?
What ?
When?
Know what is expected of you and
when to go into details
•  Know when to speak and when to remain
silent and let others continue the discussion
Eye Communication
1
Do you know where you when you are talking to another
person?
2
Are you aware where you look when you are listening to
another person?
3
Do you have a feeling for how long to maintain eye contact in
one-to-one conversation?
4
Do you know how long to maintain eye contact with specific
when presenting to a large group?
5
Are you aware where you look where you look when you look
away from a person?
6
Do you know what eye dart is and whether or not you have it?
7
Do you know what slow-blink is and why it occurs?
8
Do you realise that eye contact is the most important
behavioural skill in interpersonal communication
Yes
No
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Voice and vocal
Yes
1
Does your voice project to others or do you simply speak?
2
Do you know if you have a high nasal or low resonant voice,
or one somewhere in between?
3
Are you aware when your voice goes into a monotone, and for
what reasons?
4
Has anyone ever complimented you on your nice voice? (if so
why? If not, why not)
5
Does your telephone voice differ from your speaking voice?
6
Are you are of what impact your voice has over the phone?
7
Do you know how to put a smile in your voice?
8
When you hear a person answer a phone for an organization do
you think about what kind of image is covered?
9
Do you know that what impact of the tone your voice has
compared with the content of your message
No
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