This chapter discusses various perspectives, theories and aspects of culture in order to lay the foundation for an approach to intercultural communication, competence and interaction discussed in succeeding chapters.

This book provides a generous amount of theory on intercultural communication and competence in the context of international or multicultural environments. It describes what diversity competence entails and demonstrates how the TOPOI model offers an approach to analysing and addressing potential...

Building on several notions and aspects of culture, this chapter takes a closer look at intercultural competence. It ends by arguing that diversity competence is a more appropriate term for the competence discussed here.

This chapter discusses two critical issues concerning diversity competence: power and ethics. These issues can, in practice, lead to intense challenges and dilemmas when living or working in an international, multi-ethnic or multi-religious environment.

This chapter focuses on diversity-sensitive communication, which refers to a mindful approach to the differences and similarities as they become apparent in interpersonal communication. The TOPOI model is introduced as a diversity-sensitive tool for identifying and responding to possible...

This chapter focuses on the TOPOI area Tongue, which concerns the verbal and non-verbal language in which people express themselves. The chapter discusses the most important differences in the area of verbal and non-verbal language that can surface in interpersonal communication.

This chapter focuses on the TOPOI area Persons, which represents the relationship level in communication, and entails the identities of the conversation partners and their mutual relationship. This area is extremely important for intercultural communication, since people, when it comes to...

This chapter focuses on the TOPOI area Organization, which is the institutional context in which interpersonal communication takes place. Different levels (macro, meso and micro) of the institutional context of communication are discussed.

This chapter focuses on the TOPOI area Intentions, which contains people's intrinsic motives when communicating. Two perspectives on people's deeper motives are discussed, trying to illustrate how behind all behaviour lies positive intention. The chapter also reflects on the ways in which people...

Previous chapters have discussed five TOPOI areas that play a role in communication by creating differences and misunderstandings. The question now is how to deal with situations and interactions that are characterized by interculturality. This chapter discusses communicative strategies or...