Multicultural Communication Theory Explained Communication, Culture and Diversity within a Nation

1. MULTICULTURAL
COMMUNICATION THEORY:
RESEARCH, PEDAGOGY AND
PRAXIS
Marquita L. Byrd, Ph.D.
San Jose State University
International Organization of Social Sciences and Behavioral
Research (IOSSBR) Online Conference
June 29, 2018
Educational/Behavioral Sciences

2. MARQUITA L. BYRD, PH.D.
AUTHOR OF MULTICULTURAL
COMMUNICATION THEORY
(MCC)
San Jose State University, Professor Emeritus
Specialist in communication, culture and
diversity
Ph.D. University of Missouri-Columbia
Research grounded in Communication Studies
and Intersectionality (Kimbrelé Crenshaw)
Certified Diversity Trainer, Humanext.

3. ABSTRACT
The goal of this author is to develop a conceptual-theoretical framework to guide research, pedagogy
and the practice of multicultural communication. Major ideas discussed in this paper include the
significance of multicultural communication and how it differs from intercultural communication.
Intellectual traditions informing the study of multicultural will be addressed in addition to imperatives for
study, assumptions of the framework, dialectics shaping the process, axioms and implications for future
research.
KEYWORDS: MULTICULTURAL, INTERCULTURAL, COMMUNICATION, CULTURE, CONTEXTS,
MULTICULTURAL COMMUNICATION (MCC)
Sections
Problem Statement
Solution
The Theory

4. THE PROBLEM IS
that research, pedagogy and practice of communication and culture within a
nation has no guiding theory, which leaves the field in chaos.

5. RESEARCH ON COMMUNICATION AND
CULTURE
Plagued with imprecise terminology
 Cross cultural
 Intercultural
 Multicultural
 Cultural Communication
 Interracial
This lack of precision adds to the breadth of research that must be read to determine the
context of the communication.

6. PEDAGOGY
 Almost all the texts are titled “Intercultural Communication”
Lessons about how cultures are different and some examples of
differences in America
 Those centered on America include Interracial and cross cultural
 Do not prepare for communication with the “stranger at home”
Neighbors from different races, cultures, sexual orientations, etc.
School teacher who is Muslim
Mailman who is Sikh and wears a turban
Woman minister
People using ASL at the bus stop
Senior citizen in the work place
Customers who speak difference languages
Classmate who is gender fluid
Transgender children
Gay parents and straight teachers
Interracial couples
African American professor
Nothing in an Intercultural class prepares students for communicating with the stranger at home.

7. Praxis
is the process by which a theory, lesson, or skill is enacted, embodied, or realized
Questions for practical applications:
 What philosophical perspectives are needed to live in a multicultural
setting?
 What skills are needed to be an effective multicultural
communicator?
 What are the benefits of successful communication in a multicultural
society?
 How can we reduce racism, sexism, classism, Queer negativity,
religious intolerance, ableism, and ageism (both elder and youth)
 How can we propel the agenda of social justice so that we have
social sustainability?
 How can we reduce the fear of the power dominant who don’t
understand the changing world?
 How can we embue “diversity” with an inclusive agenda?
 How can we foster the unconditional acceptance of all human
beings?

8. SOLUTION
Build a theory or conceptual framework for studying, teaching and practicing
communication within a nation.

9. Multicultural Communication Theory
MCC is critical theory: that aims to explain and
transform communication behaviors that oppress human
beings within a nation.
It has emerged in connection with social movements such as
feminism and critical race theory that identify varied dimensions
of the oppression of human beings in modern societies.
In both the broad and the narrow senses, MCC is a critical
theory that provides the descriptive and normative bases for
social inquiry aimed at increasing social sustainability within a
nation,
Definition: A theory of communication between and among individuals and groups who co-
exist in the same geo-political system.

10. DEVELOPMENT AND TYPE OF THEORY
Structuration was the method of developing the theory
Multicultural Communication (MCC) theory is a theory of communication within a
nation. It is based on the lived experiences of the author (who exists at the
intersection of race, gender, class, queerness, (dis)ability and age) and scholarship
in the field of communication studies. Neither the lived experiences nor the
scholarship is given primacy. Furthermore, individual and group agency is
considered as important as societal structural issues.

11. CENTRAL TENENT AND BASIC
ASSUMPTIONS OF MCC
Central Tenet: Geo-political system (context) is a major determinant
of communication among its members.
Basic Assumptions
(Statements considered
true without empirical
investigation)
1. All communication
takes place within a geo-
political system
2. One cannot not be
involved in multicultural
communication
3. Every communicator is
at the nexus of multiple
cultures
4. Human beings speak
from their own unique
social geography
5. Multicultural com is
more pervasive than
intercultural
6. Each demographic
group has a culture

12. DEFINITIONS
The Foundation

13. COMMUNICATION
Creation and sharing of meaning through the use of a
mutually shared set of symbols including verbal and
nonverbal cues. These interactions are governed by rules,
generated in the speech communities to which the
communicators belong.
Speech Community: group of people who use the same
language or dialect, follow the same language rules, and
identify people based on their ability to follow the language
rules.
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND

14. A WAY OF DESCRIBING A GROUP OF
PEOPLE
All of the characteristics of a
group of people that are
learned, not inherited through
DNA.
Race is a social construct
based on perceived similar
biological characteristics. It is no
learned.
Culture is learned

15. GEO-POLITICAL SYSTEM
 Governed by the same political system
 Common language
 Shared economy
 Combined histories
 National Identity
 Shared geography
 National Institutions: Military, Judicial, Educational, Social Services,
Social Organizations, Legal, Medical, Religious, Criminal Justice, Natural
Resources, Transportation, etc.

16. MULTICULTURAL VS. INTERCULTURAL

17. CONTEXT
the interrelated conditions in which something exists or occurs : environment,
setting
May include
1. Relationship among communicators
2. When and where the communication takes place
3. Occasion geographical location
4. History of the relationships between or among communicators
Impossible to correctly interpret a message without knowing
the context in which it occurred.

18. MULTICULTURAL
COMMUNICATION
Communication between and among
individuals and groups who co-exist in
the same geo-political system.
People living in the same geographical
area identified as a nation-state,
shared governance, economy,
common language.
Understand themselves to be in
competitions for resources such as
jobs, education, housing, money,
political influence.
Conflicts due to differences in race,
gender, class, sexual orientations,
ages, abilities, religions (demographic
variables)
 Multicultural Communication
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

19. INTERCULTURAL
COMMUNICATION
Communication between and among
people from different geo-political
systems, nations, societies,
international context.
Most often don’t see themselves as a
community.

20. Intercultural Context: Stranger From Abroad
Multicultural Context: Stranger At Home
Analogy: Communication Between Families As Opposed To
Communication Within A Family.
Intercultural
Multicultural
People from different countries or cultures who
do not consider themselves part of the same
nation. International context
People from different demographic and
cultural groups who consider themselves part
of the same nation. National context

21. SAME VARIABLES, DIFFERENT CONTEXTS
CONTEXT MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE !
Multicultural Context
 Different countries
 Expected to look and sound different
 Expected to have different worldviews,
values, communication styles, parenting,
family structures
 Expect differences, surprised to find
similarities.
 Stranger from abroad expected to go home
or somewhere
Intercultural Context
 Same country
 Expected to look and sound alike
 Expected to have same worldviews, values,
communication and parenting styles as the
power dominant
 Expect similarities and threatened by
differences
 Can’t get rid of the stranger at home

22. QUESTIONS TO
GUIDE RESEARCH
 What is the relationship between power and the way we communicate?
 Is there a relationships between self-identity and the way we talk to the stranger at home?
 How does identity shape the notion of “who” is the stranger at home?
 Can knowledge of social histories change acceptance of diversity?
 Can knowledge of own history influence attitudes towards others?
 How can I’m OK-You’re OK positions change the perception of the stranger at home
 Is there a relationship between self-liking and intolerance for people seen as different
 What demographic characteristics are most influential in multicultural communication
 Do topics change from generational to intergenerational conversations?

23. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE FUTURE
 Increase in research on multicultural communication within
the US
 More focused teaching in multicultural with clear learning
objectives
 Proliferation of courses
 Textbooks written specifically for multicultural
communication
 Development of teaching and training materials
 Improvement in multicultural communication and relationships
 Greater social sustainability

24. Criticisms
1.Presusmes dichotomy between communication
within a nation and communication between
people of different nations
2. Too broad/narrow
3. Paradigm rather than theory

25. SELECT THEORIES CONTRIBUTING TO MCC THEORY
Cultural Studies, John Hartly, 2003
Cybernetics, Shannon and Weaver 1966
Critical Race Theory, Derrick Bell 1990
Face Negotiation, Stella Ting-Toomey 1985
Feminist Standpoint Theory, Nancy Hartstock, 1991
Intersectionality, Kimberlé Crenshaw, J.D. 1989,
Living Systems Theory, Miller 1978
Marxism, Karl Marx 1848
Multiculturalism, Canadian Multiculturalism Act 1988
Multiculturalism and Local Governance, United Nation 1998
Multicultural Theory of Counselling Psychology, Vail Conference of Graduate Educators
of Psychology 1973
Multicultural Education, James Banks, circa 1980s
Social History, Henrietta James, 1979
Stages of Psychosocial Development, Erick Erikson 1972