China’s exploitation by Western powers, etc. The point we are trying to make is that
when you engage in intercultural communication, there will probably be a power
imbalance that could influence the exchange. Something as seemingly minor as lim-
ited second-language ability can create a power differential.Power in Intercultural Communication
Power in intercultural communication conversations can manifest itself in a variety of
ways. In interpersonal exchanges, the amount of power you have or do not have
influences with whom you talk, what you talk about, and how much control you
have when talking. Power gives people the ability to impact what is appropriate and
what is not, including topics of discussion, which level of formality to use, how to
dress and behave, and even what to think or believe. The phrase from George
Orwell’sAnimal Farmthat“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal
than others”is often used metaphorically to illustrate that even in a society based on
individual equality, those with power usually exert greater influence.
The level of power you have during any conversation is contingent on the
person(s) you are interacting with and the resources you control. In intercultural com-
munication exchanges these two factors take on added significance because the
sources of power are culturally based. What may be seen as a source of power in one
culture may have no bearing on power in another culture. For example, in England,
the level of English used can often be seen as a sign of potential power because it
signals one’s class and social station. In some cultures, power and status are associated
with one’s family name. Level of education can also be a source of power. In the
United States, older white males have historically enjoyed more power in social inter-
actions than women or minority groups.
In the United States, there is a strong cultural message that one needs to have and
exercise power. Children grow up being told they“need to stand on their own two
feet,”to be the“masters of their own fate”or“captain of their ships.”Not only do
they want power and think they deserve it, but they do not want other people to
have power over them. In the United States, people often leave home as soon as pos-
sible to elude their parents’influence, and teachers, police, and bosses are made the
brunt of jokes because they have power over us. Power is incorporated into the slo-
gans of minority groups, such as gray power, black power, and gay power. In short,
people in the United States are taught that they need to have power. In contrast to
the United States, many cultures do not seek individual power and believe that power
exists outside of them, that power resides in fate, nature, or God. Power is not some-
thing they have. Muslims use the phraseinshallah,“God willing”or“If God wills it.”
Among Hindus, power exists in one’s karma, and in Mexico, a strong belief in fatal-
ism often replaces power.
In the context of intercultural communication, it is important that you become
aware of the different cultural approaches to power and try to mitigate its influence
as much as possible. Measures to reduce the impact of power differentials can be as
mundane as your posture and as complex as your vocabulary. We have previously pos-
ited that in any intercultural communication encounter, one person is probably using
his or her second language. In these cases, as mentioned above, the individual using
his or her first language enjoys a degree of power over the other person. This can be
even more pronounced on those occasions when someone from a culture that has
high face concerns is using their second language.Power 399Copyright 2017 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).