ENGLISH/ INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION - Essay Example

Diversity has a depth and dimension that surpasses the obvious differences among people. Americans honor the obvious differences among people. They honor diversity within our state and in the whole of America and Europe, recognizing the unique characteristics and individual contributions of each of their citizens to their state’s success and development. Bend it Like Beckham is a movie showing how culture and gender differences can affect an individual’s way to achieving her dreams. Surface-Level Culture, Intermediate-Level Culture, and Deep-Level Culture Surface-level culture is a type which is superficial and tends to rely on written rules and legal documents, conduct business first, and value expertise and performance.

In the movie, this is depicted by the Indian family’s adaptation to the laws and regulations in England which was the country where they reside. Intermediate-level culture lies on the median level and separates the surface-level and deep-level culture. The latter, deep-level culture, shows people emphasizing on personal relations, place high value on trust, focus on nonverbal cues, and accent the need to attend to social needs before other matters. The attitude and belief of the Bharma family regarding marriage with a fellow successful Indian and learning how to cook traditional Indian cuisine shows the deep relationship between the individuals and their culture that thought they were on a different territory; they still manage to keep their home traditions and believe at heart.

Intercultural Communication: Meaning Characteristics Intercultural Communications is defined as language interactions between individuals and groups perceiving themselves as belonging to different cultures. The dominant feature of all international operations, such as the interactions between Americans and Indians in the movie, is that they are conducted in a social system different from one in which organization is based. This new social system affects the responses of the persons involved. People, as characterized by Jess and Jules in the movie, often see the situation around them from their own perspective.

They tend to sometimes fail to recognize the key differences between their own and other’s cultures. Even if they do, they tend to conclude that the impact of those differences insignificant. In effect they are assuming that the two cultures are similar that they actually are.Process Consciousness: Underlying Principles In order to integrate the imported and local systems, individuals should develop cultural empathy. This awareness of differences across cultures, an understanding of the ways in which those differences can affect relationships and an appreciation of the contributions each culture makes to overall success.

Individuals have to be conscious of their differences in cultures which may not be accomplished in –a short time since it is a continuous process of understanding and adaptaing to some changes. The movie exhibited the progress as to how the opposing views and cultural barriers were overcome in the end.Family and Gender Socialization In the case of Jess Bharma’s parents who happened to be very traditional and conservative, they have their set of goals set for their children which are based on the same goals and beliefs they grew up with.

This was another barrier to their easy adaptation to the cuture which occurred simply because they are predisposed to believe that their homeland conditions are the best.The traditional notion that women should be limited to the four corners of the house with the ultimate position as a housewife is now long gone. Single or married women, with or without kids, are continuously striving to flourish their own career profiles for their self-fulfillment and also to help in the financial capacity of the household.

REFERENCES:Stella Ting-Toomey and Leeva C. Chung, Understanding Intercultural Communication, Los Angeles, California: Roxbury Publishing, 2005.