ABSTRACT
In this essay, Gust A. Yep challenges the Eurocentric conceptualization of intercultural communication competence, which assumes the U.S. American, White, middle-class culture as the center, or “ideal order,” against which other cultures are measured and judged. He critiques the prevalent proclivity to view intercultural communication as interpersonal encounters with the Other. He then reviews the current competence research literature and discusses five critical issues in reconsidering intercultural communication competence: (1) the hegemonic definition of culture; (2) power; (3) ideology; (4) history; and (5) the centrality of culture. He finally argues for a non-Eurocentric reconceptualization of intercultural communication competence through genuine dialogue with multiple and often marginalized voices.
