Achieving synchrony: A foundational dimension of intercultural communication competence

Building an Inclusive Climate for Intercultural Dialogue: A Participant‐Generated Framework

“…Second, our research goes beyond existing intercultural competence research, which tends to focus on individual characteristics or specific knowledge, skills, or attitudes that lead to more successful interactions. While such individual characteristics provide useful insights that inform intercultural dialogue, a number of scholars (Arasaratnam, ; Holmes & O'Neill, ; Kim, ; Liu, ; Martin, ; Ting‐Toomey, ; Wang & Kulich, ; Yep, ) have identified limitations to a focus on individual competence and have called for moving beyond the list approach to intercultural competency. Chen and Starosta (), in describing the future challenges for intercultural communication competence research, suggested that we need to develop alternative approaches that focus less on individual competences and that rather highlight the “we” of intercultural competence and relational harmony.…”

Frozen

“…In our analysis, we will use the notion of synchrony as well as interactional rhythm in order to analyze the other-than-verbal aspects. Here we take the work by Kim (2015) as well as the work by Pfänder et al (2017) and Zima (2017) as points of reference. These works are informed by an interactional and conversation analytic perspective, thus they view synchronicity as an interactional achievement that can be observed and is directed at working on different levels of the constitution of interaction (managing the relationship, establishing reciprocity, and organizing the overall interaction).…”

“…These works are informed by an interactional and conversation analytic perspective, thus they view synchronicity as an interactional achievement that can be observed and is directed at working on different levels of the constitution of interaction (managing the relationship, establishing reciprocity, and organizing the overall interaction). Kim (2015) conceptualizes synchronicity in communication and interaction as "an interactional state that occurs when the participants' non-verbal behaviors, including kinesic behaviors (such as facial, hand, and bodily movements) and paralinguistic behaviors (such as the volume, pitch, and speed of vocal speech utterances) are coordinated smoothly both in form and timing" (p. 28). Synchronicity then results in "perceived relational 'entitativity' (Lakens 2010), the sense of being together as a unit in a solid communicative relationship" (Kim 2015, p. 28).…”

Migration and identity

“…Particularly, Y.Y. Kim (1994Kim ( , 2001Kim ( , 2008Kim ( , 2015 has put forth an elaborate and comprehensive theory to make sense of these changes. Kim understands human beings as an "open system" capable of adapting and acclimating themselves to novel, if not strange, environments.…”

“…Kim understands human beings as an "open system" capable of adapting and acclimating themselves to novel, if not strange, environments. She proposes that this occurs through a "stress-adaptation-growth dynamic" (Kim 2001(Kim , 2008(Kim , 2015, whereby upon exposure to various life stressors individuals begin to "acculturate" themselves to their new environs by "deculturating" certain elements of their cultural practices and adapting new ones (Kim 1994). Kim explains that "once strangers enter a new culture, the cross-cultural adaptation process is set in full motion.…”