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In the past, it was essential
for a person to leave his or her house in order to learn about other people and
their cultures. With the development of modern computer technologies, it has
become possible to communicate with the people from other cultures from the
comfort of one’s home. The dialogue and interaction in a virtual world enhance
intercultural understanding and communication. Although there are some limitations
to online intercultural communication, the benefits of communicating with
people from other cultures in the online environment outweigh those limitations.
Online environment presents a
great opportunity for communication with people from other cultures. Communication
with representatives of other cultures increases one’s cultural awareness that
enables one to understand customs and traditions of another culture and use
this information to communicate with the representatives of that culture.
According to Jandt (2010), “cultural awareness is identified as a critical
intercultural communication skill” (p. 213). Virtual worlds have created a new
channel of communication, which not only facilitates the exchange of cultural
information but also provides a means to establishing new friendships with
people who live in two different countries.
In an online
environment, people have an opportunity to communicate with others through
their culture, for example through poems, music, storytelling, and dance. The
former U.S. ambassador Cynthia P. Schneider said in the online video that, “The
quickest way to communicate something is through culture.” Increasing one’s
knowledge and understanding about other people’s cultures can potentially
eliminate negative stereotypes and prejudices toward the members of other
cultures.
Another advantage of online
intercultural communication involves a relatively high level of anonymity.
Fouts and King (2009) write that, “in a virtual world where physical harm is
not a factor and where issues such as gender, race, age and physical ability
are hidden from view on first sight, thus creating a level field in which
conversations can take place” (para. 3). Online environment provides an
opportunity to ask culturally sensitive questions that one would not dare to
ask in person. Therefore, online environment is a perfect place for learning
about other cultures and for practicing one’s intercultural communication
skills.
The main limitation of online
communication is the limited amount of nonverbal clues that communicators are
able to convey in a virtual world. Communicating using avatars does not allow transmitting
the necessary countless nonverbal clues that are only available in face-to-face
communication. Therefore, communicators in the virtual worlds rely mostly on
verbal communication. According to one study (cited in Alvarez-Torrez, Mishra,
& Zhao, 2001), in the virtual environment, “people pay much greater
attention to verbal cues than visual ones” (para. 3). Although non-verbal
communication may provide certain clues, it is mainly through the use of verbal
interaction that online communicators exchange cultural information.
Another drawback, or
limitation, of online intercultural communication is that the misconception
about cultures and their members causes some people to approach intercultural communication
with preconceived stereotypes. According to Alvarez-Torres, Mishra, and Zhao
(2001), “Humans often make assumptions about other people and stereotype them
based on superficial clues” (para. 1). Stereotypes often hinder communication,
thus preventing the sharing and understanding of information. In virtual
worlds, where there is less opportunity for feedback and nonverbal
communication, if a person does not get involved into verbal communication with
the members of other cultures, those stereotypes will prevail. Therefore, it is
essential that online communicators engage in verbal communication and preclude
stereotyping others.
Although communication in
virtual worlds has some drawbacks, the benefits of online communication certainly
offset these limitations. Communicating in virtual worlds has provided
communicators with an opportunity to share their cultures with other people.
While the communicators can both ask and answer culture-related questions, they
can enjoy the anonymity provided by the virtual online environment. Learning
about different cultures can reduce and even eliminate anxiety of intercultural
communication associated with negative stereotypes and prejudices. Knowledge
and understanding of other cultures increases tolerance and acceptance of other
people and their cultural traditions and customs. Understanding and awareness
of other cultures assist in creating and maintaining intercultural
relationships with the representatives of other cultures while enhancing the communicators’
intercultural communication skills.
References:
Alvarez-Torres, M.J., Mishra, P, & Zhao, Y. (2001). Judging a book
by its cover! Cultural
stereotyping
of interactive media and its effect on the recall of text information. Journal of
Educational
Multimedia and Hypermedia, vol. 10. Retrieved May 28, 2012, from
http://www.questia.com/googleScholar.qst?docId=5002415078
Fouts, J.S., & King, R.J. (2009). Understanding Islam through
virtual worlds (2008-2008).
(Video). Retrieved May 27, 2012,
from http://www.cceia.org/programs/archive/002/index.html
Jandt, F. E.
(2010). An introduction to intercultural
communication: Identities in a global
community (6th
ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
