Intercultural communication is a process of interaction between people from different cultural backgrounds. Communication in general can be viewed as a “process in which people mutually convey meaning” (Broszinsky-Schwabe, 2011, p. 27). Messages are sent by one person (the sender). The recipient or recipients receive the message and interpret it. If the sender and recipient have different cultural backgrounds, this can lead to a message being understood differently than intended. Cultural knowledge can be particularly important for understanding the message as intended, especially in the case of indirect communication. For example, depending on the culture, a “maybe” might mean an actual “maybe” or it might be a politely phrased refusal. In addition to verbal communication, nonverbal communication—that is, facial expressions, gestures, and body language—plays an important role in the course of a conversation. If these are misinterpreted, misunderstandings can arise. An intercultural context does not necessarily mean that there will be problems with mutual understanding. This is usually not the case. Nevertheless, engaging with intercultural communication can help avoid potential irritations or misunderstandings.
If the conversation partners possess intercultural competence, this can support successful communication in an intercultural context. Training courses on intercultural competence and intercultural communication are offered in Saxony-Anhalt by various providers. You can find more information on this topic on the page “Interculturality and Dealing with Diversity.”