According to Anteneh (2012), the controversial concepts of culture and communication, as the two key components, often causes conceptual difficulties and make the study of intercultural communication a highly complex activity for researchers. It is because these two core concepts are difficult to define and their association needs a thorough understanding. More interestingly, these concepts are among the most searched concepts on the web engines. These concepts are extensively defined more than most other popular constructs in social studies in spite of the significant differences among scholars in conceptualizing the terms.
Although quite a few significant studies and research have been carried out, culture in its different representations is unique to each moment, situation, group and individual. In this sense, communication is also unique to each situation; neither culture nor communication are unchanging concrete realities. Scholars agrees culture and communication have been defined and re-defined repeatedly, as they are concepts that are intimately linked with what is intrinsically human.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction:
2. Discussions:
3. Conclusion:
Objectives and Topics
The primary objective of this work is to explore the intrinsic and inseparable relationship between culture and communication, positing that they are two sides of the same coin. The study investigates how these concepts are defined, how they influence one another, and how cultural frameworks shape human interaction and societal dynamics.
- Conceptual definitions of culture and communication.
- Theoretical frameworks of cultural variability (e.g., Hall, Hofstede, Schwartz).
- The role of cultural dimensions in interpersonal and organizational communication.
- The impact of context, time perception, and power dynamics on communication styles.
- The synthesis of culture as a product of communication and vice versa.
Excerpt from the book
Discussions:
Anteneh (2012) noted , Culture is a central concept in intercultural communication. It is a term which means many things to many people and thus has been defined in many ways. Definitions of culture range from all inclusive which assume culture as everything to narrow definitions which equate culture with opera, music and ballet. Regarding the available definitions, Kroeber and Kluckhohn (1952) listed more than 150 definitions of culture they found in anthropology publications. Hall (1959) also explained the voice and echo association between culture and communication as culture is communication and communication is culture.
Anteneh also quoted Hall (1959), culture and communication are two sides of a coin. The definitions of culture have expanded and diversified since Hall’s conceptualization of culture but they still have their own limits and unresolved conceptual divergence. As a result, even most recent conceptualizations about culture (e.g. hybridity (Bhabha, 1990, 1994), transculturality (Ortiz, 1995; Welsch, 1999), or cosmopolitanism( Hannerz, 1996; Vertovec& Cohen, 2002) hardly resolve the puzzle of reaching agreement on the culture concept. For simplicity of understanding, a number of scholars (e.g., Martin & Nakayama, 2007; Hall, 1992; Reuter &Hörning, 2004) employed various approaches to summarize and explain the diversity in conceptualizing and studying culture in intercultural communication.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the core conceptual difficulties in defining culture and communication and outlines their complex, deterministic, and interactive relationship.
2. Discussions: This section provides a detailed analysis of various theoretical models, including high/low context cultures, Hofstede’s dimensions, and other anthropological frameworks used to classify cultural differences.
3. Conclusion: The final chapter synthesizes the findings, reaffirming that culture and communication are inseparable and mutually constitutive components of human existence.
Keywords
Culture, Communication, Intercultural Communication, High-context, Low-context, Power Distance, Individualism, Collectivism, Uncertainty Avoidance, Cultural Variability, Anthropology, Organizational Culture, Social Interaction, Cultural Practice, Symbolism
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core premise of this work?
The work argues that culture and communication are fundamentally inseparable, functioning as "two sides of the same coin" that define human diversity and interaction.
What are the primary themes discussed?
Central themes include the definition of culture, theoretical frameworks for cultural classification, the impact of cultural dimensions on communication, and the role of knowledge in intercultural understanding.
What is the main research question or goal?
The goal is to explore how culture and communication interact and to demonstrate that neither can be fully understood without the other.
Which scientific methods are utilized in this text?
The text employs a literature-based theoretical approach, reviewing and synthesizing seminal works from anthropology, sociology, and intercultural communication studies.
What topics are covered in the main section?
The main section covers various cultural dimensions such as Power Distance, Masculinity, Time orientation (Monochronic vs. Polychronic), and Trust models, alongside critiques of existing theories.
Which keywords best characterize the study?
Key terms include Intercultural Communication, Cultural Variability, High-context/Low-context cultures, and the nexus between social practice and symbolism.
How does the author define the "voice and echo" association?
The author uses this metaphor to illustrate that culture is communication and communication is culture, emphasizing their reflexive nature.
What are the limitations of Hofstede's work mentioned in the text?
Critics cited in the text highlight Hofstede's methodological issues regarding sample representativeness, his potential Western bias, and the risk of reducing individuals to cultural stereotypes.
How does the concept of "cultural practice" influence communication?
Cultural practice is defined as the understanding and adaptation of symbols, which is directly linked to knowledge; this determines the level of communication and interaction between different groups.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Abayneh Tilahun (Autor:in), 2021, Culture and Communication as Two Sides of the Same Coin, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1157948
