Blackwell Reference Online

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Communication in its simplest form refers to the ongoing process of sharing and understanding meaning (→  Communication: Definitions and Concepts ; Communication: History of the Idea ). Many intercultural communication problems stem from the different ways that messages are composed, transmitted, and interpreted. Human beings depend on a variety of philosophical, social, psychological, and institutional standards or criteria of conduct to arrive at reasonable, appropriate, and meaningful modes of communication. Asia is very heterogeneous. Each Asian culture has its unique philosophical traditions, ethics, and morals for appropriate social behaviors and conduct. Confucianism, however, is one of the most prevalent practices in Asian cultures. Although communication is unique within each Asian culture, systematic similarities in communication (e.g., indirect, implicit, polite, and formal communication) have been observed across the Asian cultures ( Gao et al. 1996 ). Human communication modes (→  Communicator Style ) can be understood from multiple perspectives. The purpose of this article is to explore the phenomenon by examining the current literature from Asian perspectives (→  Communication as an Academic Field: East Asia ). Specifically, this entry discusses certain Asian communication modes, their fundamental core concepts, and the overarching philosophical frameworks of Asian ... log in or subscribe to read full text