Communication Between Cultures

two ideas into an intercultural context. We advocate a three-point perspective that

acknowledges individual uniqueness, the ability to exercise free choice, and the

increasing interdependence of contemporary society. Support for this idea is found

in Evanoff’s communicative approach to intercultural communication ethics:

The communicative approach recognizes that while we are situated in a particular culture and

socialized in certain norms, we are nonetheless able to reflect back on those norms and

change them if necessary. We are also able to critically reflect on the norms of other cultures

and to selectively adopt (or reject) those norms that seem plausible (or implausible) to us.^62

The central message we are trying to convey is that if we are going to live in this

crowded, interconnected world, we need to recognize our individual roles within that

world and hold ourselves accountable for our own actions. Recall, as we have endeav-

ored to demonstrate throughout this book, that people and cultures are inextricably

linked. As the English anthropologist Gregory Bateson rhetorically queries,“What

pattern connects the crab to the lobster and the orchid to the primrose and all the

four of them to me? And me to you?”^63

A Final Appeal

We have come to the end of our journey. Normally, textbook authors like to con-

clude with some insightful quotation of a long-dead and usually forgotten philosopher

or perhaps offer a bit of life-changing advice to carry into your future. As we have

already offered our quotation, we now make a final appeal.

Never in history has there been such mixing of peoples and cultures. Nor will this

mixing and blending soon slow. Driven by economic deprivation and political tyr-

anny, people will continue to migrate to nations that hold the promise of security

and a more productive life. Employment is now on a global basis—you have just as

much chance of working in London as you do in Kansas City. While globalization

has created a truly international economy, political states remain separate. This has

produced a novel conundrum—nations are economically interdependent but sepa-

rated by political and nationalistic interests. The economic ties lessen the likelihood

of large-scale conflict, which leaves only dialogue to resolve the political disputes.

Thus, the requirement for intercultural skills will increase during your lifetime.

With this in mind, we ask for your assistance in bringing about greater intercul-

tural awareness, understanding, and communication competence. The requirement is

clear, and the rewards are self-evident. Good luck!

Summary

• Venturing into a new culture can cause anxiety and emotional distress, resulting in
  mental and physical fatigue.


• Culture shock is a mental state that can occur when moving from a familiar to
  an unfamiliar environment and finding that established patterns of behavior are
  ineffective.


• According to the U-curve model, cultural adaptation has four phases—honeymoon,
  disillusionment, recovery, and adjustment. Culture shock can occur during the
  disillusionment stage.

406 CHAPTER 11• The Challenges of Intercultural Communication: Managing Differences

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