Barriers on Intercultural Communication in the New Era

Abstract：Intercultural communication is a process that people from different cultural ethnic groups exchange ideas with each other.Until now，intercultural communication has been a heated issue among communication research in anthropology，culturology and ligusitics.As the appearance of new era，intercultural communication plays a crucial role in many fields.The paper mainly focuses on the barriers and practical solutions on intercultural communication in the new era on the basis of the TV reality show “Where Are We Going，Dad？”，taking qualitative research method as the main method.

Keywords：new era；intercultural communication；barriers； practical；solutions

Ⅰ Introduction

1.New era

In the age of digitalization，it is very convenient of people to watch movies，videos and TV shows online.With the widespread social media among people，people can achieve the aim of communicating with each other via WeChat，Sina microblog，QQ，Twitter，Facebook etc.

While in the ancient times，the original form of communication could be Speech Communication.As we all know，the social communication activities has experienced the era of Speech Communication，Letter Communication，Press Communication，Telecommunication.

2.Barrier

Barrier is a term to describe something that is in the way.Of course，barrier is a common phenomenon in our life.Intercultural communication can be one of the instance.During the process of communicating with foreign countries，especially the process of introducing traditional Chinese culture to foreign countries，it has more or less barriers.

Ⅱ Intercultural Communication Review

As is known to all，intercultural communication originated from America，during the World War II.It has become an independent discipline until the book of “The Silent Language”（Hoare，1959） was published，which was a milestone in the world.After the issue of this book，non-verbal communication has become an important part of intercultural communication research.The communication research can be divided into two parts：theoretical communication and practical communication.In fact，intercultural communication is a branch of practical communication.The theoretical mode of intercultural communication cannot exist without the discipline of communication.

In 1948，Harold Dwight Lasswell put forward the well-known communication mode in his book The Structure and Function of Social Communication.Namely，Who says What to Whom in Which Channel with What effect，which has laid a solid foundation for this discipline of communication.

Ⅲ The Analysis on the TV Reality Show：“Where Are We Going，Dad？”

1.Background Information

Originally，it was a kind of TV show from Korea and was introduced to Hunan Satellite TV，which has developed into a parent-child interactive reality show.Its premier time was on October 11th，2013.Each season lasted for about 100 minutes.

The process of recording one season is as follows：First，pick up the suitable children for the right roles from famous actors children.Their average age should be less than 6 years old，but more than 4 years old.There must be four boys and one girl for the original form in Korea.And boys always have a good performance.Second，the director sent an invitation to actors and defined the name-list for the show.It may spend about eight months on this task.Third，choose the best place for acting.The place should be untapped and shouldnt be far away from the city，lest the children cannot stand the long journey.

As for the implications of the reality show is that it wants to show an encyclopaedia of life education for parents who were born in 1980s.In the new era，together with the quick-paced society，it is difficult for parents and children to have the opportunity to share family happiness.It aims to call for more and more parents could spend time with their children and care for their children from time to time.

2.Barriers on Intercultural Communication

Language is a useful tool involving intercultural communication，which is also the biggest barrier in the process.However，learning a kind of language needs your painstaking efforts as well as perseverance.Therefore，there are many visiting scholars every year to pay a visit on the universities abroad.Also，there are many foreign students who are actually exchange students to come to China to study the traditional culture of China.To achieve such a goal，the first step is that you need to have a good command of a certain language.

As the saying goes，“Interest is the best teacher.” People usually take up something that they are interested in.Some people prefer watching movies in the cinema rather than at home for the different feelings.Some others would like to shop online instead of shopping at the shopping mall because of its convenience.Still a few people like to watch TV series substitute for the TV reality show.

In the new era，everyone is a microphone with various social media wherever and whenever they are.So does the reality show.Until now，the reality show has finished the fifth season altogether.The fans are looking forward to watching the next season.Thats to say，as for most Chinese，this reality show enjoy a great popularity.And it can be held on top search to attract peoples attention.

3.Practical Solutions

（1）Improve the Intercultural Communication Competence

The intercultural communication competence refers to the ability to exchange information effectively and decently between a person and another person who has cultural background，which is contrary to you （Roger，E.M，&Steinfatt，T.M.1999）.In order to improve intercultural communication competence，there are many research and trainings on intercultural communication.Most of Americans are not interested in this kind of TV reality show.Specifically，they are not familiar with Chinese，let alone the reality show.If their intercultural communication competence can be improved，more understandings of the TV reality show can be achieved.

（2）Overcome Ethnocentrism

Ethnocentrism refers to people think that the culture，differing from their own culture，is inferior on their own cultural stance.Ethnocentrism may leads to ethnic and gender discrimination.There are two practical solutions to overcome ethnocentrism.The first solution is that people should broaden their horizons and try to change their attitude towards the new matters.Taking courses of intercultural communication can be regarded as the second practical solution.In the courses，people should experience various cultures and have more activities to make them feel at home when it comes to a new cultural environment.

（3）Overcome Prejudice and Discrimination

Prejudice is a kind of attitude without sufficient reasons towards members of other groups.Discrimination is treating people differently based on ethnic，gender or other characteristics，which may bring negative effects to society.

Although there are laws to prohibit discriminating different ethnics and genders，discrimination is everywhere in daily life.Gender discrimination is a global issue （Rogers & Steinfatt 1999）.People should have a right attitude towards prejudice and discrimination，embracing other cultures.

Ⅳ Conclusion

By analyzing the barriers on intercultural communication based on the TV Reality Show，this paper not only discussed the background information of the TV reality show，which is known to the Chinese people，but also reviewed the origin of intercultural communication，which can be of great significance to this modern society.

By understanding the barriers on intercultural communication based on the TV Reality Show，this paper focused on the common views of audience.On one hand，people may realize the importance of language.Mastering a kind of language，it is definitely time-consuming and labor-consuming.On the other hand，the directors of the TV Reality Show should rack their brains to pick up something interesting that is suitable for most of us，which is better to spread around the world.

References

[1]Hoare.The Silent Language[M].Beijing：Peking University Press，2001.

[2]Whorf，B.L.Language，Thought and Reality：Selected Writings of Benjimin Lee Whorf.J.B.Carroll （Ed.）[M].Cambridge，MA：MIT Press，1940/1960.

[3]Samovar，L.A.，& Porter，R.E.（Eds.）.Intercultural communication：A reader （3rd ed.） [M].Belmont，CA：Wadsworth.

[4] Rogers，E.M.，& Steinfatt，T.M.Intercultural communication[M].Prospect Heights，IL：Waveland，1999.

作者簡介

全可可，男，汉族，江西抚州人，硕士在读，传播学，视听艺术传播，成都理工大学，四川省成都市。

通讯作者：全可可。