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examples of culture (Barry, 1980; Berry et al., 1992; Murdock, Ford, & Hudson, 1971).
Laypersons use the concept of culture to describe and explain a broad range of activities,

behaviours, events, and structures.

Culture has been defined in a variety of ways, because the concept of culture

encompasses a wide range of domains related to almost anything and everything associated
with human activities. Furthermore, contemporary cultures are rapidly changing and evolving,
making it difficult to define cultures. We define culture as a distinct information system shared by

a group and passed down through generations, which enables the group to meet basic survival
needs, pursue happiness and well-being, and derive meaning from life.

3.8.1. INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION

Intercultural communication is a form of communication in which information is shared
across cultures and social groups. It is used to describe a wide range of communication

processes and problems that naturally arise within an organisation composed of people from
various religious, social, ethnic, and educational backgrounds. In that regard, it aims to elucidate

how people from various countries and cultures act, communicate, and perceive their
surroundings.

Nonverbal communication is extremely important in intercultural situations, and its

importance in our global society is undeniable. Messages delivered through the verbal channel
convey the literal and contextual meanings of words, while messages delivered through the
nonverbal channel carry the undercurrent of identity ties and relational meaning. Nonverbal

communication accounts for two-thirds of all communication in our human relationships.
Because of the aforementioned fact, the chances of misunderstanding and disagreement
regarding nonverbal communication are high due to cultural differences. As a result, successful

interactions in such situations rely heavily on a clear understanding of nonverbal messages in
addition to verbal ones.

Nonverbal cues, which can occur with or without verbal communication, provide context
for interpreting and understanding how the verbal message should be understood. As a result,
they can either give clarity or lead to confusion. However, for three main reasons, they can

cause intercultural friction and misunderstandings. First, a single nonverbal cue can have
different meanings and interpretations in different cultures; second, multiple nonverbal cues are
sent at the same time; and third, a wide range of display rules must be considered, including

gender, personality, relational distance, socioeconomic status, and the situation.

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