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Journal of Intercultural Communication

Research
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subscription information:
http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/rjic20

An Introduction to Intercultural
Communication: Identities in a Global
Community (6th Edition)
a
Jennifer F. Wood
a
Associate Professor, Department of Communication and
Theatre , Millersville University of Pennsylvania , Millersville, PA,
USA
Published online: 09 Jun 2011.

To cite this article: Jennifer F. Wood (2011) An Introduction to Intercultural Communication:

Identities in a Global Community (6th Edition), Journal of Intercultural Communication Research,
40:2, 173-175, DOI: 10.1080/17475759.2011.581035

To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17475759.2011.581035

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 Journal of Intercultural Communication Research
Vol. 40, No. 2, July 2011, pp. 173–175

Review
An Introduction to Intercultural Communication: Identities in a Global
Community (6th Edition)
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FRED E. JANDT
Los Angeles, CA, Sage Publications, 2010
440 pp., ISBN: 9781412970105 (US$80.95)

In the intercultural communication classroom a journey is taken by both the students

and the professor as they interact with communication concepts and address
what Kim (2001) referred to as intercultural personhood: a way of life called for by
the increasingly intercultural realities of our world. Fred E. Jandt’s sixth edition of
his textbook, An introduction to intercultural communication: Identities in a global
community, is an excellent companion for the journey. Jandt defined his agenda for
this edition of the textbook to ‘‘facilitate students’ development of self-concepts that
value their histories and appreciate diversities’’ (p. xvii).
The four-part structure of the textbook complements instructional strategies that
seek to balance a learners’ conceptual understanding of intercultural communication,
their attitudes toward cultural differences, and skills required for intercultural
encounters (Kim & Gudykunst, 1990). Specifically, Part One, titled Culture as
Context for Communication, aids in balancing a learners’ conceptual understanding
of intercultural communication. The first section includes three chapters that deal
primarily with the definition of culture, defining communication as an element of
culture, and culture’s influences on perception. Chapter 1, The Dispute Over Defining
Culture, is effective in introducing terminology and clearly helping learners
distinguish between culture, subcultures, ethnicity, co-cultures, subgroups, and
race. The groundwork in this first chapter allows learners to analyze why discussions
of social class differences, ethnic identity, and skin color may be difficult. Chapter 2,
Defining Communication as an Element of Culture, builds on this by critically
exploring how cultural beliefs affect the process of communication. Finally, Chapter
3, Culture’s Influence on Perception, explores diverse populations and how high
context and low context influence forms of public communication. Along this part
of the journey, learners learn how to challenge diverse definitions and perceptions.
Parts two and three seek to aid learners in balancing their attitudes toward cultural
differences. Part two, Communication Variables, has three chapters that explore
barriers to intercultural communication, nonverbal communication, and language.
Learners are challenged in Chapter 4, Barriers to Intercultural Communication,
to consider how assuming cultural differences and/or cultural similarities can be a
barrier to intercultural communication. Chapter 5, Nonverbal Communication,
ISSN 1747-5759 (print)/ISSN 1747-5767 (online)
DOI: 10.1080/17475759.2011.581035
 174 Reviews
challenges learners to identify nonverbal symbols that have been identified with social
change. Then, Chapter 6, Language as Barriers, challenges learners to explore the pros
and cons of official language laws as well as translation problems. All three chapters
challenge learners to explore the relationship of language and culture in relation to
other issues such as identity and conflict.
Part three, Cultural Values, has four chapters emphasizing culture. Specifically,
Chapter 7, Dimensions of Culture, places emphasis on Hofstede’s cultural dimensions.
Chapter 8, Dominant U.S. Cultural Patterns: Using Value Orientation Theory,
emphasizes Kluckhohn and Strodtbeck (1961) values orientation theory. Although,
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learners are challenged to explore monochromic and polychromic cultures, the

comparative cultural patterns are primarily focused on Arab and U.S. cultural
patterns in Chapter 9, Comparative Cultural Patterns: Arab Culture. The status of
women in cultures worldwide and China’s one-child campaign are the primary
emphasis of Chapter 10, Women, Families, and Children. Chapter 11, Contact Between
Cultures, challenges learners to consider concepts such as cultural imperialism,
colonialism, and the diffusion of cultural icons. The eight chapters within these
sections effectively provide a foundation for learners to develop an understanding
of how they perceive communication and culture. Thus, they may begin to identify
and question their attitudes.
Finally, Part Four, titled Cultures Within Cultures, aids in balancing a learners’
development of skills required for intercultural encounters. Chapter 12, Immigration
and Acculturation, assists learners in exploring the challenges and opportunities
that immigration presents to a country. In addition, learners are challenged to
consider the various factors that contribute to a country’s immigration and
citizenship laws. Chapter 13, Cultures Within Cultures, assist learners in grappling
with dominant U.S. cultural patterns in various cultures. Chapter 14, Identity and
Subgroups, challenges learners to consider subgroups they identity with in terms of
values.
The textbook is accurately titled An Introduction to Intercultural Communication,
because it provides a foundation upon which learners are introduced to key concepts
of communication and culture, and the diverse interconnectivity between the two.
A key question for each person may be, ‘‘Who owns your personhood?’’ As each
individual addresses such a question, it brings to the forefront that each person’s
thinking may be guided by a different level of stereotypes, media images,
vocabularies, experiences, etc. The 14-chapter textbook provides a solid foundation
for learners to be pushed to develop intercultural communication competence (ICC).
Jandt (2010) summarized his approach as ‘‘to promote the skills of intercultural
communication competence by developing an understanding of how individuals
perceive and react to cultural rules’’ (p. xvii).
Chen and Starosta (1996) defined intercultural communication competence as, the
‘‘effective means whereby individuals can understand cultural commonalities and
move beyond cultural differences in order to reach the ideal goals advocated by
cultural dialogists and cultural critics’’ (p. 356). Jandt’s book definitely achieved
the agenda of assisting learners in both valuing their histories and appreciating
 Reviews 175
diversities. This value and appreciation also may serve as a foundation for
communication competence and conflict negotiation strategies.
A subset of intercultural research proposes communicative behaviors (i.e., norms
and strategies), such as communication competence and conflict negotiation
strategies, vary across racial and ethnic groups (Cox, 1994; Foeman & Pressley,
1987; Kochman, 1981; Ting-Toomey, 1999; Tung, 1988). Jandt’s approach may
serve as an additional starting point to continually acknowledging the varying
strategies. Each chapter offers discussion questions, key terms, and recommended
readings from Jandt’s 2004 Intercultural communication: A global reader. All in all,
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the textbook may be an effective guide to a person’s journey of developing

an understanding of how they perceive and react to cultural rules, thus, how they
address their intercultural personhood.

References
Chen, G. M., & Starosta, W. J. (1996). Intercultural communication competence: A synthesis.
Communication Yearbook, 19, 353–383.
Cox, T. C. (1994). Cultural diversity in organizations. San Francisco, CA: Berrett-Koehler Publishers.
Foeman, A. K., & Pressley, G. (1987). Ethnic culture and corporate culture: Using black styles in
organizations. Communication Quarterly, 35, 293–307.
Jandt, F. E. (2004). Intercultural communication: A global reader. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Kim, Y. Y. (2001). Toward intercultural personhood: An integration of eastern and western
perspectives. In L. A. Samovar, R. E. Porter, & E. R. McDaniel (Eds.), Intercultural
communication: A reader (pp. 436–447). Boston, MA: Wadsworth.
Kim, Y. Y., & Gudykunst, W. B. (1990). Teaching intercultural communication. In J. A. Daly, G.
W. Friedrich, & A. L. Vangelisti (Eds.), Teaching communication: Theory, research and methods
(pp. 145–155). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Publishers.
Kluckhohn, F. R., & Strodtbeck, F. L. (1961). Variations in value orientations. Evanston, IL: Row,
Peterson.
Kochman, T. (1981). Black and white styles in conflict. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.
Ting-Toomey, S. (1999). Constructive intercultural conflict management. In S. Ting-Toomey (Ed.),
Communicating across cultures (pp. 194–230). New York, NY: The Guilford Press.
Tung, R. L. (1988). Toward a conceptual paradigm of international business negotiations. Advances
in International Comparative Management, 3, 203–219.

JENNIFER F. WOOD
Associate Professor
Department of Communication and Theatre
Millersville University of Pennsylvania
Millersville, PA, USA
ß 2011 Jennifer F. Wood