CMST 240 Intercultural Communication

Search Words

Search Words Helpful for Intercultural Communication Research

Search words helpful for intercultural communication research (note: these are just a few examples... there are many, many more!)
Some Examples of Cultural Affiliations Some Examples of Cultural Norms Some Examples of Communication  
gender / sex

direct vs. non-direct communication style

non-verbal (haptic/kinetic)  
age ideas of time (short-term/ long term orientation; monochronic/polychronic; linear/circular) eye contact  
race / ethnicity individualism/collectivism tone of voice  
physical ability / disability / neurodiversity power and hierarchy/equality conflict avoidance/conflict style  
religion masculinity/femininity slang  
socioeconomic class fixed habits/ambiguity humor  
national indulgence/restraint media use  
regional attitude towards silence/noise code-switching  
dominant / non-dominant courtesy assimilation / accommodation  
documented / non-documented modesty proxemics (distance between people)  
skin color beauty artifactual communication (objects, clothing, hairsytle, jewelry..etc.)  
language / dialect societal roles (age, class family..etc.) writing  
educational type or level work active listening  
profession cooperation / competition body language  
family sin    
politics birth / death    
hobby / sport health / sickness    
  relationships / marriage    
  child rearing    
  apologies / compliments    

 

Search Strategies

Make a list of a variety search words

  • Think of synonyms: different words and phrases people use when they discuss your topic
  • Consider broader and narrower words 
  • Also think of alternate spellings and abbreviations
  • collect more search words through your research

Search Strategies 

  1. Gather possible search words
    1. use words in your assignment prompts and readings as search words
    2. brainstorm synonyms for search words. Example: hunger = famine, starvation
    3. brainstorm broader search words. Example: a broader search word for "hunger" = food insecurity
    4. brainstorm narrower search words. Example: a narrower search word for "developing countries" = Bangladesh
  2. Strategize: Use different words and different search tools
    1. plan to search in different search tools (try several library databases, the internet..etc.)
    2. in each tool:
  • First, try broad searches, such as: famine
  • Then, combine words to narrow and focus searches, such as famine "third world" "genetically modified foods"