Intercultural Communication

Intercultural communication is the interactive process of creating shared meanings between people from different cultures. This communication inevitably takes place in a cultural context, with significant psychological, relational, and physical influences. To negotiate meanings, the participants in such interactions are often required to suspend judgments, exhibit cultural humility, and mutually adapt to each other's norms. Culture is learned through communication, and in turn, reveals the individual's cultural identity to others. Humans both create and express culture by communicating. This entry describes key perspectives of intercultural communication, provides a brief statement on the origins of the field, describes its role domestically and globally, and examines its significance to various professions.