Advance Search

The Many faces of competence: Reflections on intercultural communication competence in the post-modern era

Reflections on intercultural communication competence in the post-modern era

Melissa Steyn
University of the Witwatersrand
Keywords:
Copyright and Licensing:
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Share:

How to Cite

The Many faces of competence: Reflections on intercultural communication competence in the post-modern era. (2022). Communicare: Journal for Communication Studies in Africa, 15(1), 97-113. https://doi.org/10.36615/jcsa.v15i1.1918
  • Articles
  • Submited: November 2, 2022
  • Published: November 3, 2022

Abstract

This paper argues that postmodernism challenges the way in which intercultural communication competence has traditionally been conceptualized. The very framing of the notion as "competence" reveals its historical contingency and complicity with a particular interest group. Some of the assumptions which underpin the "received" versions of competence are examined, and are related to post-modem concerns of the nature of knowledge and truth, culture and personhood. In the course of the analysis, reference is made to the literature on competence, and suggestions are made for ways in which competence can fruitfully be explored that are more in keeping with the spirit of post-mocternism.

pdf
pdf

Article Metrics Graph

Article Views | PDF Downloads
Chart Graph | Range Graph

References

  1. ABE, H. & WISEMAN, R. L. 1983. A cross-cultural confirmation of the dimensions of intercultural effectiveness. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, vol. 7:53-68.
  2. https://doi.org/10.1016/0147-1767(83)90005-6
  3. ANDERSON, W. T. 1993. Reality isn.t what It used to be. San Francisco: Harper.
  4. ASANTE, M. K. 1987. The Afrocentric idea. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.
  5. BATESON, M.C. 1993. Joint performance across cultures: Improvisation In a Persian garden. Text & Performance Quarterly, vol.13:113-121.
  6. https://doi.org/10.1080/10462939309366037
  7. BERRY, J. 1992. Psychology of acculturation. In R. W. Brislin (Ed.). Applied cross cultural psychology. CA Sage.
  8. BUHRMAN, V. (in press) African views of healing. In M.E. Steyn & K.B. Motshabi (Eds.). Cultural synenergy in the new South Africa: Weav mg strands of Africa and Europe. Johannesburg: Knowledge.
  9. CARBAUGH, D. 1988. Comments on "culture" in communication inquiry. Communication Reports, vol. 1 :38-41.
  10. https://doi.org/10.1080/08934218809367460
  11. CARBAUGH, D. 1990. Culture talking about Itself. In D. Carbaugh (Ed.) Cultural communication and intercultural contact. NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
  12. https://doi.org/10.1515/semi.1990.80.1-2.15
  13. CASMIR, F. L. 1983. Phenomenology, and Hermeneutics: Evolving approaches to the study of inter- cultural and international communication. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, vol.7:309-324.
  14. https://doi.org/10.1016/0147-1767(83)90035-4
  15. CLIFFORD, J. 1992. Traveling cUltures. In L. Grossberg, C'. Nelson & P. Treichler (Eds.). Cultural studies. NY: Routledge.
  16. COLLIER, M. J. 1989. Cultural and intercultural communication competence: Current approaches and directions for future research. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, vol. 13(3):287-302.
  17. https://doi.org/10.1016/0147-1767(89)90014-X
  18. COLLIER, M. J. 1993. Conflict competence within African, American, and Anglo American friendships. In R. L. Wiseman & J. Koester (Eds.). Intercultural Communication Competence. Newbury Park: Sage Publications: 133-154.
  19. COLLIER, M. J., RIBEAU, S. A, & HECHT, M. L. 1986. Intracultural communication rules and outcomes within three domestic cultures. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, vol. 10:439-457.
  20. https://doi.org/10.1016/0147-1767(86)90044-1
  21. COLLIER, M. J. & THOMAS, M. 1989. Cultural identity in inter-cultural communication: An interpretive perspective. In W. B. Gudykunst & Y. Y. Kim (Eds.). Theorizing intercultural communication: International and intercultural communication. International and Intercultural Annual, vol. 12.
  22. CONQUERGOOD, D. 1991. Rethinking ethnography .... Communication Monographs, vol. 58:179-194.
  23. https://doi.org/10.1080/03637759109376222
  24. CRONEN, V. E., CHEN, V. & PEARCE, W. B. 1988. Coordinated Management of Meaning: A Critical Theory. In Y.Y. Kim & W. B. Gudykunst. Theories in Intercultural Communication: International and Intercultural Communication Annual. CA: Sage.
  25. CUI, G. & VAN DEN BERG, S. 1991. Testing the construct validity of intercultural effectiveness. International Journal of International Relations, vol. 15:227-241.
  26. https://doi.org/10.1016/0147-1767(91)90031-B
  27. DETWEILER, R.A. 1980. Intercultural interaction and the categorization process: A conceptual analysis and behavioral outcome. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, vol. 4:275-295.
  28. https://doi.org/10.1016/0147-1767(80)90005-X
  29. DENZIN, N. K. & LINCOLN, Y. S. (Eds.) 1994. Handbook of qualitative research. CA: Sage.
  30. DINGES, N. G., & LIEBERMAN, D. A. 1989. Intercultural communication competence: Coping with stressful work situations. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, vol. 13(3):371-386.
  31. https://doi.org/10.1016/0147-1767(89)90018-7
  32. FERGUS EN, K. E. 1-993. The man question. CA: University of California Press.
  33. FLAX J. 1992. The end of innocence. In J. Butler & J. W. Scott (Eds.). Feminists theorise the political. NY: Routledge.
  34. FINE, M. 1994. Working the hyphens: Reinventing self and other in qualitative research. In N. K. Denzin & Y. S. Lincoln. (Eds.). Handbook of qualitative research. CA: Sage.
  35. FRAZER N. & NICHOLSON, L.J. 1990. Social criticism without philosophy: An encounter between Feminism and Postmodemism. In FeminismlPostmodernism. NY: Routledge.
  36. https://doi.org/10.2307/827810
  37. HAMMER, M. R, GUDYKUNST, W. R, & WISEMAN R 1978. Dimensions of intercultural effectiveness: An exploratory study. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, vol. 2:382-392.
  38. https://doi.org/10.1016/0147-1767(78)90036-6
  39. HARVEY, D. 1990. The condition of post-modemity. MA: Blackwell.
  40. HAWKINSON, T. 1993. Intercultural effectiveness: Research findings and applications to training. Presented to SIETAR
  41. HECHT, M. L & RIBEAU, S. 1984. Ethnic communication: A comparative analysis of satisfying communication. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, vol. 8:135-151.
  42. https://doi.org/10.1016/0147-1767(84)90036-1
  43. HECHT, M. L, RIBEAU, S., & ALBERTS, J. K. 1989. An AfroAmerican perspective on interethnic communication. Communication Monographs, vol. 56: 385-410.
  44. https://doi.org/10.1080/03637758909390271
  45. HEGDE, R S. 1994. Conceptualization and measurement of communication competence: An Indian perspective. Paper presented at the Speech Communication Conference, New Orleans.
  46. HEGDE, R S. 1994. Swinging the trapeze: Communication competence and the experience of South Asian immigrant women. Paper presented at the Speech Communication Association Conference, New Orleans.
  47. HOOKS, B. 1994. Outlaw Culture: ReSisting representation. NY: Routledge.
  48. HOUSTON, M. 1992. The politics of difference: Race, class and women's communication. In L.F. Rakow (Ed.). Women making meaning:45-59. NY: Routledge.
  49. IMAHORI, T. T., & LANIGAN, M. L. 1989. Relational model of intercultural communication competence. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, vol. 13(3):269-286.
  50. https://doi.org/10.1016/0147-1767(89)90013-8
  51. JACKSON, M. 1989. Paths toward a clearing: Radical empiricism and ethnographic inquiry. Bloomington: Indiana UP.
  52. KOESTER, J., WISEMAN, R L., SANDERS, J. A. 1993. Multiple perspectives of intercultural communication competence. In R L. Wiseman & J. Koester (Eds.). Intercultural Communication Competence. Newbury Park: Sage Publications:3-15.
  53. LATHER, P .A. 1991. Getting smart: Feminist research and pedagogy within the Postmodern. NY: Routledge.
  54. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203451311
  55. MARTIN, J. N. 1993. Intercultural communication competence: A review. In Intercultural Communication competence. Newbury Park: Sage Publications: 16-29.
  56. MARTIN, J. N., & HAMMER, M. R 1989. Behavioral categories of intercultural communication competence: Everyday communicators' perceptions. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, vol. 13(3):303-332.
  57. https://doi.org/10.1016/0147-1767(89)90015-1
  58. MIYAHARA, A. 1994. Metatheoretical issues in conceptualization and measurement of Japanese communication competence. Paper presented at the meeting of the Speech Communication.Association, New Orleans.
  59. NAKAYAMA, T. & MARTIN, J. N. 1993. The white problem, or to-wards a postcolonial intercultural communication. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Speech Communication Association, Miami Beach.
  60. NOLAN, 1994. Lecture notes
  61. PEARCE, W.B. & KANG, K.W. 1987. Acculturation and communication competence. In D.L. Kincaid, (Ed.). Communication Theory: Eastern and Western Perspectives. NY: Academic Press.
  62. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-407470-5.50024-4
  63. PEARCE W. B. & KANG K. W. 1988. Conceptual migrations: Understanding "Travelers' tales for crosscultural adaptation. In Y. Y. Kim & W. B. Gudykunst (Eds.). Crosscultural adaptation: Current approaches. International and intercultural annual XI. CA: Sage.
  64. REDMOND, M. V., & BUNYI, J. M. 1993. The relationship of intercultural communication competence with stress and the handling of stress as reported by international students. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, vol. 17: 235-254.
  65. https://doi.org/10.1016/0147-1767(93)90027-6
  66. ROSALDO, R. 1989. Culture and truth: The remaking of social analysis. Boston: Beacon Press.
  67. RUBEN, B. D. 1989. The study of cross-cultural competence: Traditions and contemporary issues. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, vol. 13(3}: 229-240.
  68. https://doi.org/10.1016/0147-1767(89)90011-4
  69. SONN, J. (In press) White racism also means distorting African culture and values. In M. E. Steyn & K.B. Motshabi.(Eds.}. Cultural synergy in the New South Africa: Weaving strands of Africa and Europe. Johannesburg: Knowledge.
  70. SPITZBERG, B. H. 1989. Issues in the development of a theory of Interpersonal competence in the intercultural context. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, vol. 13(3}:241-268.
  71. https://doi.org/10.1016/0147-1767(89)90012-6
  72. SPITZBERG, B. H. 1994. A model of intercultural competence. In L. A. Samovar & R. E. Porter (Eds.). Intercultural Communication: A Reader. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
  73. SPITZBERG, B. H. & CUPACH, W. R. 1984. Interpersonal Communication Competence. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.
  74. SPITZBERG, B. H., & HECHT, M. L. 1984. A component model of relational competence. Human Communication Research, vol. 10(4}: 575-599.
  75. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2958.1984.tb00033.x
  76. STEPHAN, C. W., & STEPHAN, W. G. 1992. Reducing intercultural anxiety through intercultural contact. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, vol. 16:89-106.
  77. https://doi.org/10.1016/0147-1767(92)90007-H
  78. TAYLOR, E. W. 1994. A learning model for becoming interculturally competent. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, vol. 18(3}:389-408.
  79. https://doi.org/10.1016/0147-1767(94)90039-6
  80. TRINH T. M. 1991. When the moon waxes red: Representation gender and cultural politics. NY: Routledge.
  81. WISEMAN, R. L., HAMMER, M. R., NISHIDA, H. 1989. Predictors of intercultural communication competence. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, vol. 13(39}:349-370.
  82. https://doi.org/10.1016/0147-1767(89)90017-5
  83. YUM, J.O. 1994. Conceptualizations and measurement of communication competence: A Korean perspective. Paper presented at the Speech Communication Association.
How to Cite
The Many faces of competence: Reflections on intercultural communication competence in the post-modern era. (2022). Communicare: Journal for Communication Studies in Africa, 15(1), 97-113. https://doi.org/10.36615/jcsa.v15i1.1918

Send mail to Author

Send Cancel

Similar Articles

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.

Custom technologies based on your needs

  • ORCID
  • Crossref
  • PubMed
    • Clarivate