Topic 3: Towards Intercultural Praxis
Let’s begin
Aside from the clashes of meanings brought about by different cultural frameworks, there are bigger issues in intercultural communication that stem from a lack of understanding of other cultures. These include anxiety, ethnocentrism, stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination. We consider these to be bigger issues as they do no only stem from and result in misunderstood meanings; rather they impact negatively on relationships between cultures and, at their worst, may be the source of intercultural conflicts with serious socio-political consequences.
Watch/Read
1. Sorrels, K. (2016). Intercultural communication globalization and social justice (Second edition). Sage.
From https://canvas.umn.edu/courses/137772/files/8254102/download?download_ frd= 1
2. SpringboardSchools. (2008, July 14). The lunch date [Video]. YouTube.
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epuTZigxUY8&t=5s
Think
Link 1:
1. Sorrells proposes a re-imagination of intercultural communication in the age of globalization. How is it a re-imagination and why is it necessary to propose it?
2. What did she say about intercultural praxis? What are the important considerations in intercultural praxis?
Link 2:
1. What does the short film suggest the older White woman had been taught about Black American men? And what does the short film suggest the Black American man had been taught about White Americans?
2. What assumptions did the white woman make about the Black American in the diner? What assumptions did the Black American make about the woman? What actions did each of them take based on their assumptions about each other? How did the characters’ assumptions about each other affect their ability to communicate their internal states?
3. Consider the man behind the counter who watched the event unfold. What do you think does he stand for in that example of a cultural clash that is reflective of the bigger cultural collisions in our society?
4. What barriers in intercultural communication are evident in the interaction between the two characters in the short film?
5. Choose one of the two main characters and propose how Sorrells’ framework for intercultural praxis can be applied to improve the character's communicative encounter.