The document discusses several key aspects of intercultural communication theory including human nature, communication, social engineering, linguistic relativity, identity, and group membership. While people share core human traits, theories of intercultural communication show that beliefs, communication styles, and identities vary greatly across cultures. Deeper analysis of these communication theories reveals more cultural diversity than the statement "people are pretty much the same" implies.

1. “At bottom, people are pretty much
the same the world over”.
Lucy Blackett & Shannon Eustace

2. Theories of Intercultural
Communication
Social Engineering
Socialisation
Linguistic Relativity
Communication Networks
Accommodation
Direct and Indirectness
Identity
Personal Identity
Group Identity
Gender, Age and Social Class

3. Human Nature
“The inherent character or nature of human beings; the sum of
traits, characteristics, and predispositions attributed to or
associated with human beings” (OED, 2009)
This suggests that people are all the same if you are referring to
the core meaning of human, as we all share these traits.
Everybody has:
A religious belief
Emotion
Sexuality
Oxford English Dictionary, 2009

4. Communication
“The imparting or exchanging of information by
speaking, writing, or using some other medium” (OD,
2009)
Communication is both verbal and non-verbal and
surrounds all language.
David Crystal, 2012
Oxford Dictionaries, 2009

5. Social Engineering
Socialisation
The adaption of certain behaviours due to the surrounding culture.
Example 1: children’s toys
Example 2: discipline techniques
Linguistic Relativity – Sapir-Whorf
Linguistic characteristics and cultural norms influence each other.
Convergence Theory - Kincaid
Linguistic characteristics and cultural norms will only influence each other if
communication is unrestricted.
If communication is restricted, the cultural system will diverge towards diversity.
Hoijer, 1954
Kincaid, 1988
Walsh, n.d.

6. Communication Networks
Communication systems vary between groups and are heavily cultural dependant.
Many communication techniques are used to help cultures interact easily with each other,
without conflict.
Accommodation
Accommodation - people converge their language/behaviour towards the second speaker
so that they sound/act similar to each other.
Accommodation is used to uphold politeness in conversation.
Direct vs. Indirect Speech
North Americans find indirect speech tricky and direct speech more polite.
East Asians find indirect speech more polite and direct speech rude.
Bailey, 2000
Tuner & West, 2010

7. Identity
Personal
‘Characteristics that define us as unique individuals’ (Gudykunst, 2004)
Identity and Language
Gender based lexis
Social class
Age group
Group
Characteristics shared by members of a social group.
Positive aspects of group membership: belonging, protection, ease of communication,
security.
Gudykunst, 2004
Tajfel, 1978
Tannen, 1990

8. Conclusion
“At bottom, people are pretty much the same world over.”
The above statement is only valid when referring to the larger aspects
of intercultural communication: human traits, gender identity in
children and importance of group membership.
The validity of the statement decreases when focusing on deeper
analysis of the theories of intercultural communication: individual
beliefs and characteristics, communication between cultures and
identity with language.

9. Bibliography
BOOKS:
Bailey. B., 2000. Discourse and Society. In: I. Piller, 2011. Inntercultural Communication: A Critical Introduction. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press
Crystal. D., 2012. The Main Dimensions of Language Study. English Language. Suffolk One, unpublished
Gudykunst. W. B., 2004. Bridging Differences: Effective Intergroup Communication. 4th ed. Thousand Oaks, California: Sage
Hoijer. H., 1954. Language In culture. Chicago: Chicago University Press
Kincaid, D. L., 1988. The convergence theory of intercultural communication. In: Y. Y. Kim and W. B. Gudykunst, ed. 1988. Theories In Intercultural Communication. Newbury Park, CA: Sage. pp. 280298.
Tajfel, H., 1978. Differentiation Between Groups: Studies in the Social Psychology of Intergroup Relations. London: Academic Press
Tannen. D., 1990. You Just Don’t Understand: Women and Men in Conversation. London: Virago Press
Turner. L. H. and West. R., 2010. Introducing Communication Theory: Analysis and Application. 4th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill
WEBSITES:
Oxford Dictionaries, 2009. Communication. [Online] Available at: < http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/communication > [Accessed 15th November 2013]
Oxford English Dictionary, 2009. Human Nature. [Online] Available at: < http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/274634?redirectedFrom=human+nature#eid > [Accessed 15th November 2013]
Walsh. E., n.d. Discipline Techniques. [Online] Available at <www.kidspot.com.nz> [Accessed 4th December 2013]

10. Bibliography
BOOKS:
Bailey. B., 2000. Discourse and Society. In: I. Piller, 2011. Inntercultural Communication: A Critical Introduction. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press
Crystal. D., 2012. The Main Dimensions of Language Study. English Language. Suffolk One, unpublished
Gudykunst. W. B., 2004. Bridging Differences: Effective Intergroup Communication. 4th ed. Thousand Oaks, California: Sage
Hoijer. H., 1954. Language In culture. Chicago: Chicago University Press
Kincaid, D. L., 1988. The convergence theory of intercultural communication. In: Y. Y. Kim and W. B. Gudykunst, ed. 1988. Theories In Intercultural Communication. Newbury Park, CA: Sage. pp. 280298.
Tajfel, H., 1978. Differentiation Between Groups: Studies in the Social Psychology of Intergroup Relations. London: Academic Press
Tannen. D., 1990. You Just Don’t Understand: Women and Men in Conversation. London: Virago Press
Turner. L. H. and West. R., 2010. Introducing Communication Theory: Analysis and Application. 4th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill
WEBSITES:
Oxford Dictionaries, 2009. Communication. [Online] Available at: < http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/communication > [Accessed 15th November 2013]
Oxford English Dictionary, 2009. Human Nature. [Online] Available at: < http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/274634?redirectedFrom=human+nature#eid > [Accessed 15th November 2013]
Walsh. E., n.d. Discipline Techniques. [Online] Available at <www.kidspot.com.nz> [Accessed 4th December 2013]