This document discusses intercultural communication competence (ICC), which is defined as open and respectful exchange between individuals and groups with different backgrounds based on mutual understanding. ICC involves competence in communication, culture, and identity. It is important for managing diversity in society positively and establishing relations with others from different cultures. Developing ICC helps reduce risks like stereotyping, tension, and intolerance between cultural groups.

1. Intercultural
Dialogue
Paola Pierri
14 april 2010

2. ABOUT
Me
I work as a consultant in an NGO in the
field of social inclusion and immigrant’s
integration
My presentation
I am presenting the concept of
Interculture Communication Competence

3. ICC INTERCULTURE
COMMUNICATION
COMPETENCE
Managing increasing cultural diversity has
become a priority in recent years
How shall we respond to diversity?
What is our vision of the society of the
future?

4. WHAT IS ICC?
A DEFINITION:

5. WHAT IS ICC?
A DEFINITION:
“Intercultural dialogue is understood
as an open and respectful exchange
of views between individuals, groups
with different ethnic, cultural,
religious and linguistic backgrounds
and heritage on the basis of mutual
understanding and respect”

6. WHAT IS ICC?
A DEFINITION:
“Intercultural dialogue is understood
as an open and respectful exchange
of views between individuals, groups
with different ethnic, cultural,
religious and linguistic backgrounds
and heritage on the basis of mutual
understanding and respect”
White Paper on Intercultural dialogue – Council of Europe

7. HOWEVER
AN AMBIGUOUS
DEFINITION
ICC is composed by 3 ambiguous terms
‣ INTERCULTURAL
‣ COMMUNICATION
‣ COMPETENCE

8. COMPETENCE
An acquired personal skill that is
demonstrated in an individual's
ability to provide a consistently
adequate or high level of
performance

9. COMMUNICATION
It is a process of transferring information
from one entity to another which share a
repertoire of signs and semiotic rules.
Communication is commonly defined as
"the interchange of thoughts, opinions, or
information by speech, writing, or signs"
Wikipedia

10. CULTURE

11. CULTURE
Culture is…

12. CULTURE
Culture is…
“Culture or Civilization, taken in its wide
ethnographic sense, is that complex
whole which includes knowledge, belief,
art, morals, law, custom, and any other
capabilities and habits acquired by man
as a member of society.”

13. CULTURE
Culture is…
“Culture or Civilization, taken in its wide
ethnographic sense, is that complex
whole which includes knowledge, belief,
art, morals, law, custom, and any other
capabilities and habits acquired by man
as a member of society.”
Sir Edward Burnett Tylor – 1871

14. CULTURE AND
IDENTITY
The concept of “culture” is
linked to the concept of
“identity”
Who are you?

17. SOME BASIC PRINCIPLE

18. SOME BASIC PRINCIPLE

19. SOME BASIC PRINCIPLE

20. SOME BASIC PRINCIPLE
The individual is not an
homogeneous social actor.

21. SOME BASIC PRINCIPLE
The individual is not an
homogeneous social actor.
Identity as a skin

22. SOME BASIC PRINCIPLE
The individual is not an
homogeneous social actor.
Identity as a skin
Identity as a t-shirt

23. IDENTITY BUILDING IN A
MULTICULTURAL WORLD
Freedom to choose your own
culture is fundamental; it is a
central aspect of human rights
Simultaneously or in different
period of your life, you may
adopt different cultural
affiliations.

24. No one should be confined
against their will within a
particular group, community,
thought system or world view
You should be free to build up
your identity, renounce past
choices and make new ones (as
long as they are consistent with
the universal values of human
rights, democracy and the rule of

25. ..SO, WHY INTERCULTURAL
COMMUNICATION
COMPETENCES?
To have a new approach to manage the
diversity
To establish a positive relation with the
“others” in your work, your city, your
building, your’s children class, etc
To become an inclusive and competitive
society
…in many different field we need it!

26. WHATS THE MATTER?
ICC is about:
 linguistic knowledge
cultural diversity
management capacities
Training on immigration laws
and immigrant’s status

27. …BUT IS ALSO ABOUT:
 Empathy
 Cooperation
 Open mind
 Dialogue
..are there teachable?

28. IS ICC AN “OPTION”?
No!
The risks of non-dialogue
is too high

29. THE RISK IS…
 to develop a stereotypical
perception of the other
 to build up a climate of mutual
suspicion, tension and anxiety
 to use minorities as scapegoats
 to foster intolerance and
discrimination

30. ICC is difficult to
manage, first of all
because it asks for a
re-consideration
about us, our culture
our identity, our life

31. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
ATTENTION
http://www.interculturaldialogue2008.eu/
http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/intercultural/