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Relationship between Culture and Communication

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Culture and communication are closely connected because culture is formed via the ongoing and dynamic communication process…



Encyclopedia.com defines “culture” as the collection of beliefs, language, attitudes, folklore, habits, rituals and customs that unite and accord a common identity to a group of individuals in a particular point in time. The American philosopher and educational reformer John Dewey defines communication as the “sharing of experience till it becomes a common possession” thus modifying the disposition of both parties who partake in such a process.

All social units such as families, groups and organizations develop a culture. A two person type of relationship such as friendships or romantic relationships can also develop a culture over a certain period of time. Friends and partners can establish their own shared experiences, habits, speech patterns that make such a relationship diverse from others.

Culture and communication are directly intertwined. Their relationship is a very complicated one. This is because culture is formed by means of communication and communication practices are formed and maintained by means of culture. Human interaction takes place via the communication process and this also facilitates the creation, maintenance and sharing of beliefs, practices, rules, norms, roles and other cultural patterns.

When people interact with each other, in groups or in organizations, they use verbal and non verbal types of communication to understand each other and to understand the context in which they live. As a result of this human interaction, culture is formed.

So, in a way or another, we can say that culture is the "natural outcome" of human interaction and communication. Without communication and channels of communication, it would not be feasible to maintain and share cultural patterns from persons to persons over larger distances of space and time.

Thus, culture is formed, continuously modified, shared and learned via the communication process, and vice versa. It is also true that verbal and non-verbal communication practices are formed, maintained and shared and learned by means of culture. This happens because communication is an ongoing and dynamic process, without a specific beginning or end. People are always communicating even without actually talking, and, when they interact, they always bring with them previous communication experiences that they are likely to share with others.

As a conclusion, the relationship between culture and communication is a very intimate one. The two are closely connected because culture is formed via the ongoing and dynamic communication process, and culture per se is the one that shapes verbal and non-verbal communication practices.



Web References:

College of DuPage. (n.d.). Exploring Communication in the Real World. College of DuPage. https://cod.pressbooks.pub/communication/chapter/1-1-communication-history-and-forms/

Culture and Communication ." Encyclopedia of Communication and Information. . Retrieved April 01, 2026 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/media/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/culture-and-communication

Fiveable. (2026, March 4). 2.3 The Role of Culture in Communication – Intro to Communication Studies. https://fiveable.me/introduction-to-communication-studies/unit-2/role-culture-communication/study-guide/hD2rirNO8koerAMo

Gouinlock, J.S. (2026, March 20). John Dewey. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Dewey

Quimilat, M. (2025, April 24) How Culture and Communication Influence Each Other. Study.com. https://study.com/academy/lesson/how-culture-and-communication-influence-each-

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