Question

What are the advantages of a dialectical approach to intercultural communication?

Answer 1

The dialectical approach is an amalgamation of three other approaches namely, the social science, critical and interpretive approaches, which helps in the study of culture and communication. The social science, critical and interpretive approaches often function in interconnected manners, and sometimes in contradictory manners, but the dialectical approach of intercultural communication assures simultaneous acceptance of all the 3 approaches. A dialectical approach, with three other approaches, helps to broaden one's perception of the world. It helps to frame novel categories and to understand the complicated capacity of intercultural communication study.

There are 6 dialectic characteristics of intercultural communication. These are cultural-individual, personal-contextual, differences-similarities, static-dynamic, history/ past-present/future and privilege-disadvantage. The above mentioned dialectics are linked to 4 aspects of intercultural communication namely, culture, communication, context and power. Cultural-individual relates to the fact that all individuals have some communication patterns similar to their group members, and they also have communication patterns unique to themselves. Personal-contextual relates to the fact that social roles and social contexts influence the behavior of a person. One's social roles in terms of his or her social position or professional position may shape communication behavior. Differences-similarities highlights that people are similar as well as different from one another in a number of ways. Static-dynamic focuses on the fact that culture and communication patterns are static as well as dynamic. There is comparitive stability in some culture and communication patterns. But there are cultures, which are changing, so as the communication patterns. History/past-present/future relates to the importance of being alert about the current status of a culture as well as its history, as they influence intercultural communication. Privilege-disadvantage relates to conditions in which an individual is privileged and also disadvantaged, at the same time.

It is important to note that the dialectical approach has placed together the strengths of social science, critical and interpretive approaches to study intercultural communication. It has permitted a much wider perspective on the study of communication across nations. It has prevented one from being puzzled by dichotomies, that showcase the capacity to diminish rather than expand opinions about other cultures. It has aided in understanding many contradictory aspects of intercultural communication. Using the dialectical approach means analyzing problems from various other approaches, and have contradictory ideas, at the same time. But this helps in obtaining a total or integrated view of intercultural communication.