A model of culture-based communication

Abstract

Both humans and Virtual Agents interact in intercultural environments. Both humans and Virtual Agents need to behave appropriately according to environment. This paper proposes a dynamic modular model of culture-based communication, which reflects intercultural communication processes and can be used in the design of life-like training scenarios. Culture is defined as a semiotic process and a system, which builds upon Self and Other identities and which is sustained and modified through communication and cognitive-emotive mechanisms such as reciprocal adaptation, interactive alignment and appraisal. Communication is defined as an opportunity for meeting of Otherness. Since culture covers many different aspects of social life, people are practicing intercultural-communication on daily basis and Human-Virtual Agent interaction is seen as a form of intercultural communication.