Concept Application Blog-Intercultural Transitions

Concept Application Blog-Intercultural Transitions

By Jesse McManus

            There are many aspects to intercultural communication, and depending on the background of an individual, one might be able to learn to effectively communicate between cultures if this information is shared.  Intercultural transitions are an important part of entering into any, but more specifically, the American society.  Intercultural transitions are best understood when “we consider both the individual migrant groups and the contexts in which they travel” (Martin & Nakayama, 2013, P. 320).  To break this down simply, we must look at whether a specific migrant group is “voluntary or involuntary”. Examples of voluntary migrants would be defined as either a sojourner or an immigrant.  A sojourner is a migrant that travels for a short or limited time and for a specific purpose, while an immigrant is a person to migrates to a new culture to permanently settle.  Next, an important part of intercultural transitions would be the migrant-host relationship.  In our textbook, the author states, “Migrant-host relationships exist in multiple tensions:  The migrants want to cherish and retain their own culture as well as value their host culture.  The host culture also may be motivated to accept or reject the migrants” (Martin & Nakayama, 2013, P. 323).  This is important to recognize because it leads us to assimilation, separation, and integration.  Assimilation is defined as a migrant giving up his or her own cultural heritage and adopting the host culture.  Separation can be defined as a migrant keeping his or her own culture while interacting minimally with the host culture.  Integration can be seen when a migrant interacts both with his or her own culture as well as the host culture.  These ideas lead to cultural hybridity, which is described as “migrants and their family (combining) these different modes of relating to the host society-at times assimilating, integrating, and separating” (Martin & Nakayama, 2013, P. 329).  This concept is important because it can help us to understand cultural identity as well as how a migrant group adapts to new culture, which in turn will allow those who understand to be better equipped to communicate between cultures.

            The concept of intercultural transitions is very important in understanding African-Americans, and more specifically, the first and second generation African-Americans whose cultural behaviors are strongly rooted in African cultural behaviors.  If we understand whether or not specific migrants in this cultural group were voluntary or involuntary, we will understand the reasons for their migration such as economic, political, or even danger.  We will also understand if they were long or short term migrants, or whether they planned to stay indefinitely or just temporarily, which would help communication if we understood the stress and struggle that is associated with being immersed in a new culture, even for a short time.  Another important part of understanding African-Americans is to reveal the relationship they have with America.  It is necessary to know whether or not this particular group has mainly assimilated, separated, integrated or if a combination of these behaviors has been established.  This is important because if we understand the relationship between African-Americans and America, it will give us insight into how much of our own culture we can use in effectively communicating.  These ideas of intercultural transitions are all key to understanding identities and ultimately effective intercultural communication.

            To effectively understand this cultural group, I will be interviewing an African-American man in my Navy unit, as well as others.  I will not only be focusing on the sub-topics of intercultural transitions that I have discussed above.  I will also be asking a series of questions based on the U-Curve model, which features anticipation, culture shock, and adjustment; and the W-Curve model, if applicable, and lastly the phenomenological model, which will shed light on in depth experiences.  This will allow me to understand more of how this cultural group behaves.  These ideas all tie together with intercultural communication and I will be asking a series of questions based on personal experience with trying to communicate with a new culture, or even a culture that is not new but instead not the main culture that is established.  Having in depth, real human experiences recorded about the adaptation process to a new culture (U-Curve), and back to the original culture (W-Curve) if possible, I will have the necessary knowledge needed to effectively participate in intercultural communication with the African-American cultural group.  In turn, having this understanding will give me the tools necessary to effectively communicate with other cultural groups as well.

References

Diouf, S. (2005). The african-american migration experience . Retrieved from http://www.inmotionaame.org/home.cfm;jsessionid=f8301365591382752568789?bhcp=1

Martin, J.N., & Nakayama, T.K. (2013). Intercultural Communication in Contexts (6th ed.) New York, NY: McGraw Hill.