Besides language barriers and cultural diversities, ethnocentrism may be the cause of conflict in intercultural communication. The notion of ethnocentrism is a sociological concept that states, that our customs, beliefs and attitudes are of central importance and a basis for judging all other groups (Samovar 194). Ethnocentrism derives from patriotism and an overwhelming pride of one’s culture. Basically, we become infatuated with our own culture, we tend to dismiss others without any sensible logic. For example, if our culture admires thin women, then we would tend to have negative reactions to cultures that venerate the stout female. Many serious students of intercultural communication believe that ethnocentrism is not only common among most cultures, but it is a major barrier to intercultural understanding (Samovar 195). Ethnocentrism can effect not only intercultural communication but it also affects the person that partakes in the act of judging another cultures values according to his or her own.

In conclusion, we come to realize that intercultural communication encompasses many problems. Culture involves the way people live, work, their thoughts and perceptions of the world. Intercultural communication is a symbolic, interpretive, and contextual process in which the degree of difference between people is large and important enough to create dissimilar interpretations and expectations about what are regarded as competent behaviors that should be used to create shared meanings (Koester , at el. 93). Language barriers represent one of the many obstacles, since each culture has its pronunciation, expressions, structure, and grammar rules. Moreover, cultural variations also exist in the cultural diversities, cultural norms and values. Furthermore, there are an infinite number of cultural diversities, which are at the root of intercultural miscommunication. Variations in values, social relationships, economy consists of only a few of these diversities. These differences can be the source of ethnocentrism, if one becomes over patriotic in regards to one’s own culture. Ethnocentrism is a major problem in intercultural communication that leaves a

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