Discussion on Cultural Adaptation in the Book Basic Concepts of Intercultural Communication

豐羽 繆書勤

Cultural adaptation is not a transient phenomenon， instead， it is a process in which individuals and cultures adapt （Bennett， 1998）. There are too much elements undergo cultural adaptation， for example， language， religions， foods， etc. The compound words in a particular language， the blending beliefs with traditional and foreign values， and the variety of foods， all these phenomena can reflect cultural adaptation.

1. Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity

In this section， the author Bennett describes development model of intercultural sensitivity （DMIS Model）， which expresses attitudes and behavior of people in cultural difference. The DMIS consists of Ethnocentric Stages and Ethnorelative Stages.

Figure 1： Development of Intercultural Sensitivity （Bennett， 1998）

In denial stage， people are isolated from other culture， in which stage they can not accept behaviors or customs from other culture. People at the defense stage show ability to accept cultural difference， but they do not appreciate these difference. They presents negative attitude to it. In the stage of minimization， people can recognize and accept cultural differences such as foods， which at superficial level. But they still regard people are all the same at deep level such as religion， and view of world. People at the acceptance stage are easy to accept and explore cultural differences. They already have awareness of that people are individuals with different cultures and values. In the adaptation stage， people not only can accept cultures of their own and others， but also can modify their own behavior which combine with other cultures. In the last stage of integration， people become a multicultural person， who integrate different cultures as a appropriate one for themselves. （Bennett， 1998）

2. Cultural Adaptation Problems

In Barna's article， she explores six communication adaptation problems that people might meet in intercultural communication， which are communication challenges. （Barna， 1998） These six adaptation problems are assumption of similarities， language difference， nonverbal misinterpretations， preconceptions and stereotypes， tendency to evaluate， and high anxiety.

The first problem is that assumption of similarities. Some people ignore the fact that all values and beliefs of people are differ from each other. The second problem is language differences. It is easy to imagine that people using different language have difficulties to communicate and adapt with each other for the reason that language represent cultures and interactive behaviors. The verbal misunderstanding， nonverbal misinterpretation is another problem. The misinterpretation of nonverbal symbols such as gestures， postures， and other body language is another important fact causing communication barrier. （Barna， 1998）

The fourth stumbling block， preconceptions or stereotypes may cause some wrong attitude towards a particular culture， which will lead to obstacles in cultural adaptation. The fifth communication challenge to understanding among persons of differing cultures is the tendency to evaluate. It judges others' behaviors， attitudes or actions just into right or wrong， which through the standard that their own culture is the 'right' one. The last problem is high anxiety， which also be perceived as stress. （Barna， 1998）

By knowing these six stumbling blocks， it tries to help people to avoid them in intercultural communication， achieving intercultural communication freely.

This paper looks at the various definitions and models of cultural adaptation prevalent in the book of Milton J. Bennett Basic Concepts of Intercultural Communication. It aims at giving brief concepts of cultural adaptation to readers.

Cultural adaptation is an important part of intercultural communication. Cultural adaptation can also occur within a society like a melting pot， in which people come from different backgrounds and share their perspectives and cultures. This paper hopes give readers a brief overview of cultural adaptation's definition， developing stages， causes， strategies， and sequent socio problems.

References：

[1]Barna，L.M.（1998）Stumbling Blocks in Intercultural Communication in M.J.Bennett's Basic Concepts of Intercultural Communication： Selected Reading.U.S.Intercultural Press.

[2]Bennett，J.M.（1998）Transition Shock： Putting Culture Shock in Perspective in M.J.Bennett's Basic Concepts of Intercultural Communication： Selected Reading.U.S.Intercultural Press.