DEFINITION ANALYSIS OF THE PHENOMENON OF INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION

Abstract

In the article the urgency of intercultural communication problem as a mean of understanding mental characteristics of different cultures is presented. The aim of the article is to perform definition analysis of the notion «intercultural communication». Analysis and systematization of scientific literature, comparative analysis and definition analysis of the «intercultural communication» notion were chosen as the leading methods. The logic of definition analysis of «intercultural communication» notion has been revealed. The aspects that are basic in the process of analytical research are presented, specifically: 1) the definition of intercultural communication as an integrative phenomenon that examines different aspects of interaction between the representatives of different cultures; 2) intercultural communication as a socially determined communicative process of informational interaction in the context of cultural exchange, which is carried out with the aim of mutual understanding. It is identified that intercultural communication, as an integrative phenomenon, contains knowledge of philosophic-cultural, socio-psychological, communicative and linguistic directions. The variability of approaches to the definition of the studied concept is revealed. Definitions of the «intercultural communication» concept are represented and its characteristic features are highlighted, specifically: the process of verbal and non-verbal communication of people from different cultures; the set of skills that provides the effectiveness of communication of people that belongs to different national and ethnic communities; the establishment of connection between people from different cultures; the acceptance of ways of thinking and behavior of different cultures; the ability to perform effective communicative interaction in the intercultural contexts; the social phenomenon; the interaction on micro-, meso- and microsocial level; the process of communication between the members of different cultural communities. It is noted that intercultural communication ensures effective interaction between different cultures and their representatives.