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Computer-aided Cross-cultural Communication

Consistent with the study of Cross-cultural communication, debates about relationship maintenance, interdependence, commitment, barriers, and Computer-aided communication (CAC) in an intimate online friendship relationship are getting significant among social scientists and researchers all over the world. With the growing importance given to this topic (Amant, 2002; Walther, 2011), it has caught the attention of not only among scholars but also among language students as well. Such is the case that led to the conceptualization of this article.

Paramount in the review, it set forth concepts that focused on relationship maintenance, commitment, interdependence, relational barriers and Computer-aided Communication (CAC). As stipulated by Canary and Stafford (2002), when one or more of these strategies are missing in a substantial and consistent manner in a certain form of relationship, it will likely illustrate signs of anguish among intimate partners. Further, maintaining friendship involves consistent effort. Strategies like online chats and balanced conversations can help build a solid or quality intimate friendship that will withstand the test of time. On this premise, scholars (i.e. Canary and Stafford, 2002) have identified key conceptual components of intimate friendships: (1) it is an individual who should feel an overall enjoyment of the other person’s company; (2) the foundation of friendship is based on interdependence between two individuals; (3) for a friendship to exist, there must be interaction over a period of time; and (4) it is a kind of relationship that developed through voluntary interaction with particular person. This can be gleaned further on the studies by Ye (2006) about online relationship, Dindia’s (2003) relational maintenance, Triandi’s (1989) Individualist and Collectivist Values, Kyle’s (2015) communication style and Walther’s (2003) Computer-aided Communication which are highly supportive of the concepts about friendship across cultural boundaries.

Furthermore, this literature elucidated how research on friendship centered on the characteristics of a relationship and various online communication behaviors but little is known about the process used in maintaining online friendship when CAC is used as a means for communication. In the traditional face-to-face scenario, relationship and its maintenance can be repeatedly stressed and be comprehensively examined. Although the processes and strategies of initiating and maintaining relationship is important, people spend time in maintaining this kind of relationship. In the study of Leake and Black (2005), it was pointed out that nearly three-fourths of the world’s cultures can be labeled as collectivist and the rest is individualist, hence, intimate online friendship will always be affected culturally speaking.

The review found limited empirical support linking online communication behaviors and relational factors especially in online intimate friendship. It is unclear as to what extent friendship cultural factors may influence the relational communication in Internet-based relationships, including communication behaviors used for sustaining an intimate online friendship at a satisfactory status. This, therefore, needs certain consideration that led to the conceptualization of the current study. Overall, the cited literature served as landmark that paved the way for the current study. However, such literature was generally based on physical and face-to-face interaction which created certain gap that needs to be addressed. Hence, this study ventured into this kind of exploration. With the premises posed in the current paper, CAC could help an individual person who seek intimate online friendship exercise relationship maintenance, interdependence, commitment and break certain forms of relationship barriers even if they belong to different cultural backgrounds and, as such, can sustain the relationship.

This article boils down to the concept of cross-cultural communication as the focal point of the current proposition affecting online relationship maintenance strategies, commitment, interdependence and in breaking certain forms of relationship barriers. Further, it will bring the idea of an emerging cross-cultural communication pattern that redefines Cross-cultural communication. As such, it looks at how people from different cultural backgrounds communicate, in similar and different ways among themselves, and how they endeavor to communicate across cultures (Gudykunst, 2002). In relation to Computer-aided Cross-cultural communication theory, the researcher underscored the statement that says “people from different cultural backgrounds communicate, in similar and different ways among themselves, and how they endeavor to communicate across cultures”. Indeed, the current theory amplified the words “different ways” as it connotes practicality, sensibility and efficiency. Why practical, sensible and efficient? Given the concept of internationalization where people are now living in one global village and where technology is always connected in almost everything we do; it can be assumed that people will be left behind or expire in isolation if he/she will not accept the benefits provided by modern communication technology. Why cogitate distance as reason for isolation when CAC can make the necessary connection? Why stay alone when technology can provide better companion? And, why limit our interaction with just one person or a segment of the society when there is an enormous opportunity for us to rich out different kinds of people around the globe in just one click of the mouse? Indeed, CAC can facilitate the indispensable interaction while providing all kinds of methods available for communication. The ever increasing growth of CAC has brought complex points involving a re-definition of relationship maintenance, interdependence, commitment and in breaking some forms of relationship barriers. Discussions about cross-cultural communication have shown that language, culture and communication researchers have adapted “change” by remaining open to the countless possibilities of the computer and the Internet for efficient and reliable communication. This idea was geared towards responding to the call of the times due to the latest advancements in communication brought by the communication technology. There is no doubt that in communication it continuously benefits every individual who use the computer and the Internet. Along with this assumption comes specific concern about language and technology as used in human interaction. Thus, this theory crystallized the idea how CAC can help re-shape the modern concept of Cross-cultural communication. CAC is a communication tool that can bridge all kinds of people across the globe. And, with Computer-aided Communication (CAC), this writer is proposing the genesis of Computer-aided Cross-cultural communication.

Bibliography

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