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International career aspirations: Can multicultural personality traits predict the interest in working abroad?
Abstract: The business world is faced with the need to create new strategies in order to identify a global mentality and an international motivation in professionals who hardly work anymore in monocultural environments. This study investigates the characteristics of international career aspirations in order to identify multicultural personality traits that may predict interest in working abroad. An empirical research has been carried out with 243... [...] Read more
The Interplay between Social Media and Cultural Adjustment: Analysis of the Subjective Well-Being, Social Support, and Social Media Use of Asian International Students in the U.S.
Abstract: This research focuses on social media use by Asian international students in the U.S. and its impacts on their subjective well-being, social support, and cultural adjustment. In-depth interviews were conducted with 17 international students from six Asian countries who are studying in a Midwestern University in the U.S. The research finds that social media helps to compensate Asian international students for the loss of social support and... [...] Read more
Global English versus local language during a sojourn abroad: A narrative study
Abstract: This paper investigates the interplay between language and intercultural communication with a special focus on the importance of working knowledge of foreign languages other than English for a satisfactory experience during longer sojourns abroad. Its authors present a revised understanding of the role of lingua franca English and a local language (here Polish) in intercultural relationships, especially the crucial influence of local... [...] Read more
“Wallah! I Beg Your Pardon...”: A Cross-cultural Study of Apology Speech Acts
Abstract: This study explores the cross-cultural pragmatic features of apology speech acts generated by Arabic native speakers, English native speakers and advanced Saudi learners of English. The instrument employed for this study was a discourse completion task (DCT). The DCT included eight situations that elicited apologetic responses from 69 participants. Results revealed that Arabic native speakers and Saudi learners of English use apology... [...] Read more
Mexican Postgraduate Students’ Expectations and Perception of UK Academic System: Cultural Differences During the Early Weeks
Abstract: Based on Hofstede’s (1986) 4-D model of cultural differences, this article explores the expectations for institutional support as well as the initial perception of the educational system of a group of Mexican postgraduate students in a British university. The data presented here derive from a doctoral case study. They involve a qualitative questionnaire, focus groups, and individual interviews with ten participants enrolled for the 2016-2017... [...] Read more
An Analysis of Skype Exchanges for Promoting Intercultural Learning and Understanding Among University Language Students
Abstract: This paper reports on a project designed to promote intercultural learning and understanding between language students across three universities in Australia, Mexico and Germany. It examines students’ self-recorded Skype exchanges and assesses them within the debate over the inclusion of interculturality in language learning and teaching. By examining the negotiation of meaning that occurs between exchange partners, the study highlights the... [...] Read more
Preschool Heads’ Notions of Digitalized Staff–Parent Communication: The Need to Move from Monocultural to Intercultural Communication in Multicultural Sweden
Abstract: Drawing on a preschool digitalization project, this article presents the findings from a survey of 75 Swedish preschool heads. One main question guided the survey: how do Swedish preschool heads describe the use and usefulness of digital tools for interaction with parents? These findings are discussed in regard to intercultural differences, intercultural communication competence, and discursive blind spots, where two additional questions are... [...] Read more
International Student Mobility and Transformative Intercultural Learning in Estonia and Denmark
Abstract: Attracting the best students into universities is a policy agenda driven by the state and universities in Estonia and Denmark. While the policies on internationalization of higher education (IoHE) in Estonia and Denmark are well crafted, the value that international graduates add to the learning environment and culture are hardly explored. Adopting a phenomenological approach, this study aims to describe transformative intercultural learning... [...] Read more
The Centrifugal Sponsorship: Exploring a Globalization-Force Partnership Failure
Abstract: This article provides support to the prioritization of cosmopolitanism ethics as an enduring principle for global organizations in three ways. First, it introduces the seven-year corporate sponsorship between Chevrolet and Manchester United as a globalization-force partnership failure. Second, it provides an overview of the theoretical nuance between definitions of globalization and cosmopolitanism as a foundation for ethical guidance. Third,... [...] Read more
A Facebook-based Debate Through English as a Lingua Franca: A Move Toward Intercultural Awareness for a World of Differences
Abstract: Against the increasingly internationalized nature of higher education across the world using English as a lingua franca (ELF), the research reported by this paper is focused around an eight-week Facebook-based debate course to assist university learners of English in Iraq and their international counterparts in the US to negotiate and share social practices and other meanings through intercultural communications using ELF. Baker’s... [...] Read more
Intercultural Living Together, the Integration and Recognition of Self and Other: Applied Intercultural Ethics
Abstract: Rising global multidimensional migration has altered human/cultural interaction where one now needs to welcome another and the other needs to be welcome. Notwithstanding the intensified interaction, the resulting intercultural paradigm encounters myriad dehumanizing, alienating and subjugating challenges. While juxtaposing Europe’s and Quebec’s intercultural experiences, this article examines these challenges as fallouts of the difficulties... [...] Read more
Social Interactions and Language Use in Multicultural Settings: An Exploratory Study of Personal Networks
Abstract: This study tests the use of social network analysis in the diagnostics of personal communities as relational systems that affect how languages are learned. The egocentric approach of this methodology was applied to identifying the personal networks of adult immigrants attending a literacy program. The study is an exploratory and descriptive analysis with EgoNet software based on five cases. The results show small networks with few significant... [...] Read more
The Effect of an Intercultural Communication Model on the Reading Comprehension of Refugee and Underprivileged Learners
Abstract: This study describes a shifting of paradigm in the literacy education of Syrian refugees and underprivileged Lebanese learners ( n = 72) in three eighth-grade classes in a public school in Lebanon. The study used a pre/post experimental control-group design to address its research questions. As complement to a Human Rights Education curriculum framework suggested in 2018, an intercultural communication model named the Third Space... [...] Read more
Developing Intercultural Competence at Slovak Secondary Schools
Abstract: The importance of developing intercultural competence as one of the key competences in today’s rapidly changing and multicultural society has been spoken of often. The requirement of preparing interculturally competent communicators has therefore become one of the goals of today’s foreign language education. The aim of the present paper is to shed light on the practice of fostering intercultural skills in teaching English as a foreign... [...] Read more
A Review of Culture Shock: Attitudes, Effects and the Experience of International Students
Abstract: In light of increasing globalization and the rising trend of international study, this paper reviews prominent literature as well as benchmark studies on culture shock, focusing on the experience of international students. First, it takes a look at concepts of the phenomenon, both negative and positive. This is followed by a discussion of the physical and psychosocial effects of culture shock, prior to detailed discussion of international... [...] Read more
Formation and Benefits of Intercultural Friendships: The Role of Communication
Abstract: This qualitative study provides novel insights into exploring factors that influence intercultural friendship formation and friendship benefits, focusing on the role of communication. A research gap has been addressed by focusing on Muslim women who wear the hijab and exploring what factors had influenced their friendship formation with people from culturally different backgrounds and what impact the friendship had on the self. Findings... [...] Read more
Adaptation of International Students: Challenges and Solutions
Abstract: This study presents research on ways and means of adapting international students to higher education in a Russian university. These international students are mostly from CIS countries (former Soviet republics). As a background, the article outlines the role and place of the Russian language in these countries. It goes on to describe how Samara (a large industrial city with 1,200,000 population, formerly Kuibyshev, in the valley of the Volga... [...] Read more
An Investigation into Undergraduate Students’ Readiness for Intercultural Written Communication in a Foreign Language
Abstract: Employees’ ability to interact with international business partners in writing determines the success of their work, but difficulties conducting business correspondence in a foreign language complicate this process. The study aims to assess undergraduate students’ readiness for participation in intercultural written communication in a foreign language. The initial research data included the English language proficiency level for 169... [...] Read more
Intercultural Communication Competence: Well-being and Performance of Multicultural Teams
Abstract: Multiethnic groups coexist in a typical Malaysian university setting. Cultural patterns are expressed through communication facilitating better understanding between diverse cultural groups. Intercultural communication competence based on ethnicity is explained by employing structural equation modelling using Barrett and colleagues' (2013) indicators of attitude, knowledge and skills. These three constructs are hypothesized to explain... [...] Read more
Reflections on the Function of National Images in Intra- and Intercultural Communication
Abstract: This paper presents an analysis and some reflections on the nature of national-ethnic images (mostly visual) in intercultural and intra-cultural communication. We discuss some of the functions and possible principles of national-ethnic images for “soft power” and “national branding”. The discussion is illustrated by examples of positive and negative self- and other-images from different nations with different purposes and the images are... [...] Read more
The Double-Edged Sword of Empathy: Two Migrant-Serving Organizations in South Texas
Abstract: While Texas has long led other US American states in number of refugees resettled, anti-migrant rhetoric globally and locally creates challenges for nonprofit organizations serving refugees and asylum seekers. This paper represents a portion of an ongoing project focusing on the needs and scope of two organizations serving migrants in San Antonio, Texas: a nonprofit focusing on legal and educational resources for migrants, and a liberal arts... [...] Read more
Strategies to Overcome Communication Apprehension during Academic Presentations: A Case of International Students in Malaysian Universities
Abstract: Communication apprehension is defined as “an individual's level of fear or anxiety associated with either real or anticipated communication with another person or persons” (McCroskey 1984: 279). While many prior studies have investigated oral communication apprehension among undergraduate students, there has been little research exploring this phenomenon among doctoral students. This study applied qualitative methodology via observation and... [...] Read more
Chinese College Students’ Intercultural Competence: Current Situation, Barriers and Solutions
Abstract: Situated in Byram’s intercultural competence model, this study employed survey questionnaires and face-to-face interviews to investigate the current situation of Chinese college students’ intercultural competence through exploring a class of English majors. The results show that students were not satisfied with their reported intercultural competence; their desire for cultural learning was constrained by the current language teaching methods... [...] Read more
“I Am Not Racist, But ...”: Rhetorical Fallacies in Arguments about the Refugee Crisis on Czech Facebook
Abstract: This paper examines the strategies of social media users commenting on the so-called refugee crisis. This qualitative analysis of the role of passion politics discourse on social media primarily employs the concept of rhetorical fallacies. It aims to stress the interdiscursive nature of immigration as a topic. It is connected with anti-liberalism, anti-feminism (or homophobia), and conservatism. For the purpose of this study, we used... [...] Read more
Thriving in Indonesian Academia: French Students’ Intercultural Communication Competence in Studying Abroad
Abstract: To gain international recognition, many universities in Indonesia offer international student exchange programs, one of which is the credit transfer program. Participants in that program have differences in communicative competence. That holds for Indonesian students studying abroad and vice versa. This study analyzes the intercultural communication skills of international students and aims to acquire comprehensive information on... [...] Read more
A Qualitative Study of Intercultural Friendship through New Social Media
Abstract: Applying Casmir’s Third Culture Model (TCM) of intercultural communication (Casmir 1993, 1999), the current study examines the ongoing interaction between two international participants mediated by one social medium: WeChat. It describes the dialogic communication patterns between the participants that enabled them collaboratively to construct a shared and mutually beneficial third culture that brought about a productive intercultural... [...] Read more
Adaptive Personality, Communication Competence and Psychological Health
Abstract: Expatriate adjustment has gained wide attention because of its relevance to expatriates’ successful performance. This study examined the adaptation experience of Korean expatriates in India. Y.Y. Kim’s Integrative Theory of Cross-Cultural Adaptation offers a multidimensional system to explain the link between adaptive personality, communication and psychological health. Our analysis uses a self-reported questionnaire collected from 78 Korean... [...] Read more
Navigating Contact Zones in 21st Century Schools: Creative Identity Development in Two Complex Transcultural Spaces
Abstract: This article describes the experiences and the creative identity development of A., an 11-year-old bicultural and bilingual boy who attended school in two different cultural contact zones (CCZs), in South Africa and Germany. The study is anchored in a single case qualitative research paradigm and follows an ethnographic approach by using qualitative interviews, observation and field notes. Findings show A.’s identity development within the... [...] Read more
Intercultural Topics in the Indonesian English Language Teaching Classroom: Contextualizing Local and Neutral Cultures to Target and Global Cultures
Abstract: Recently, there has been a phenomenon of reclaiming cultures other than those of the target language in English language teaching (ELT). This qualitative research explores intercultural topics in Indonesian ELT classrooms that are shown along with the target and global cultures. The research involves four English teachers from two Indonesian universities who have intercultural experience studying in universities overseas. Data were collected... [...] Read more
Revisiting Hofstede’s Uncertainty-Avoidance Dimension: A Cross-Cultural Comparison of Organizational Employees in Four Countries
Abstract: The present study was designed to explore the validity and applicability of the uncertainty-avoidance dimension in the contemporary world. Because social, cultural, and commercial interrelationships among countries have significantly increased since the introduction of this dimension, it would be advisable to revisit and investigate the substantiality of this dimension before making beneficial suggestions to people who engage in cultural... [...] Read more
Predicting Intercultural Communication in Malaysian Public Universities from the Perspective of Anxiety/Uncertainty Management (AUM) Theory
Abstract: The mission to promote national unity has become more strenuous with the decline of intercultural engagement among multicultural students in Malaysian public universities. Underpinned by Anxiety/Uncertainty Management (AUM) theory, this article examines barriers to intercultural communication by integrating ethnocentrism as an additional barrier. Based on a quantitative approach, 449 valid responses were collected from undergraduates from... [...] Read more
Discerning Goodness via Nonverbal Cues: Perspectives from High-Context Cultures
Abstract: The current study ventured to explore nonverbal behavioral cues associated with the construct of goodness. In a focus-group setting, perceivers from the high-context cultures of Malaysia and China were asked to define goodness and discuss how they interpreted goodness in others. Across all groups (Malaysian and Chinese) a recurring theme consisting of dynamic cues, static cues and paralinguistic cues was frequently cited, with emphasis across... [...] Read more
Role of Japanese in English-medium Instruction Programs at Japanese Universities: Toward the Globalization of Education that Values Diversity
Abstract: This paper highlights the role and efficiency of first-language use alongside English in English-medium instruction (EMI) programs in Japanese universities. To provide educational support and enhance bilingual communication between Japanese and international students, two courses are suggested: elementary Japanese for international students and intercultural communication for both. An analysis of their communication and remarks during these... [...] Read more
Re-entry Cultural Adaptation of Foreign-Educated Academics at Chinese Universities
Abstract: This study investigates the re-entry acculturative experiences and challenges facing foreign-educated returnees working at Chinese universities. Fifteen returnees from five universities in a southwestern province of China participated in semi-structured interviews. The study, using the ABC theoretical framework, highlights the acculturative process of returned academics in terms of role expectations, transformed identities, and cultural... [...] Read more
Intercultural communication in the Spanish language classroom in Thailand: Differences in Power Distance, Individualism and Expressiveness
Abstract: This study aims to explore cultural differences between Thais and Spaniards in the classroom setting to identify problems caused by cultural differences and propose guidelines for coping with those issues. We interviewed forty Thai university students majoring in Spanish and ten Spanish teachers working in Thai universities about their expectations and experiences with regards to teachers’ and students’ behaviors and interactions in the... [...] Read more
Тhe History of the Acculturation Concept
Abstract: The historical concept of acculturation proposed by American researchers in the early 19th Century is important nowadays. The object of contemporary scientific knowledge is intercultural interaction not so much between individual ethnic groups or nationalities but between prominent cultural systems or civilizations. The idea of analyzing the concept of acculturation in the historical aspect seems quite timely: migration processes that have... [...] Read more
Parent-child Engagement and Dissonance in Refugee Families Resettling in Brisbane, Australia
Abstract: This Australian-based study examined demographic and psychosocial factors associated with refugee parents’ communication with their children. Refugee parents (n = 222) from Ethiopia, Congo, and Myanmar took part in a survey. Logistic hierarchical analysis showed that parents with a higher level of acculturation were more engaged in meaningful and positive communication with their children. Parents’ acculturative stress increased their... [...] Read more
The Role of Locally-produced Foreign-language Media in the Migration Experiences of Lifestyle Migrants in the Algarve
Abstract: This study explores the relationships of northern Europeans living in the Algarve (Portugal) with locally-produced foreign-language media. For such “lifestyle” migrants, these media play an active role in their migration and post-migration experiences. Besides their functional role, they may also contribute to community-making processes. Findings from a survey and focus groups indicate that respondents are familiar with these media, using... [...] Read more
Intercultural Communication in Research Interviews: Accessing Information from Research Participants from Another Culture
Abstract: Much research is done across cultural divides and necessarily relies on intercultural communication. However, existing practical guidelines for interviewing generally remain blind to the culture of the interviewer in relation to the interviewees. This affects the quantity and quality of the data collected from research participants who do not share the cultural or socio-economic background of the researcher. I address the implications of... [...] Read more
Communication and Social Interaction across Cultures: The Case of a German and Ghanaian Educational Exchange Program
Abstract: Using a constructivist epistemology, this paper explores the cross-cultural learning experiences of exchange students from Hochschule Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences in Germany and the University for Development Studies in Ghana. The findings reveal differences in the students’ commitment to agreements, tasks and time; while the German students have a high commitment to time awareness -- reporting to lectures and other... [...] Read more
Three Peoples Divided by a Common Language: Cultural Pitfalls in International Negotiations Between the United States and the United Kingdom and Ireland
Abstract: There is a general assumption that there is no serious communication barrier among speakers of a common language. This action research study examines that assumption in the context of intercultural communication among three English-speaking teams, with each team representing a major national travel organization located in the USA, Ireland, and the UK respectively. The results of an online survey sent to all participants (N = 82) indicate... [...] Read more
The Chinese and American Students and the Trolley Problem: A Cross-cultural Study
Abstract: People are routinely faced with making decisions. Some decisions are made quickly and easily while others may take reflection and research. Scholars in numerous disciplines such as behavioral economics, marketing, philosophy, psychology, and sociology have attempted to identify the variables that impact people’s ethical/moral choices in the decision-making process. Still, the question of whether people use their heads (rationale) or their... [...] Read more
North American Academics in East Asia: Life in the English-speaking Enclave
Abstract: While the hiring of international faculty is increasing among competitive universities, some universities face a major challenge in doing so: their foreign hires do not speak the primary language of instruction of that university. This study examines the host country language skills of expatriate academics in two countries: Korea and Japan. Specifically, this study investigates (a) the study effort invested and (b) the language proficiency... [...] Read more
“Glocalization” and Intercultural Representation in Filipino TV Commercials: A Multidimensional Discourse Analysis
Abstract: This paper looks at how Filipino “glocalizes” international brands in TV commercials and how it links to customers’ culture and norms in the Philippine context. Four TV commercials from the food industry were purposively identified as target samples. These samples were then compared to other TV commercials in two different contexts, namely, Thailand and the USA to see the process of glocalization and interculturality. Improvised tools from... [...] Read more
Intercultural Communicative Component (ICC) in the English Second Language (EL2) Curricula: Trends and Challenges of Transformation in South Africa (SA) and the Global World
Abstract: Globally, universities are tremendously pressurised to improve throughput rates, intercultural proficiency, and academic transformation. However, at some universities, educators often neglect the ICC component in EL2 teaching. This article analyses the feasibility of integrating the ICC component into the EL2 courses, to enhance curricula decolonisation, intellectual and cultural freedom in South African universities. From a socio-cognitive... [...] Read more
Managing the Symbolic Power of Halal Meat in Swedish Preschools: Food for Thought in Discussions on Diversity
Abstract: Recently there has been much debate as to which foods Swedish preschools should serve. This text explores preschool teachers’ approaches to parents’ dietary requests. The empirical material consists of 14 focus group interviews with 41 preschool teachers from two areas of Stockholm. Results suggest that cultural and religious differences pertaining to food and diet requests lead to dilemmas and conflicts which are handled with instrumental... [...] Read more
Intercultural Competence and L2 Acquisition in the Study Abroad Context
Abstract: This paper discusses our state-of-the-art knowledge of the role of intercultural competence in L2 acquisition in the context of study abroad programmes. As participation in study abroad programmes intensifies it is pertinent to ask whether and how such instructional context benefits language learners. Challenging the popular assumption that immersion contexts suffice to trigger acquisition, current research points to the role of intercultural... [...] Read more
Research Perspectives on International Students
Abstract: This article provides a review on assumptions that guide research on international students. Five adaptation approaches (normative conflict, personality trait, friendships, orientation task of higher education institutions and plurality orientation of higher education institutions) as well as a biographical and a motivation approach are presented. These approaches are evaluated as regards to their scientific insight, and the biographical... [...] Read more
The Projection of Racial Identity on Social Network
Abstract: This quantitative study examined the projection of racial identity on social networks. A survey was distributed to 347 college students from a medium sized Midwestern university to assess ways in which participants depicted their racial identity on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. More specifically, scales were used to examine the use of photos and text, concealment of racial identity, and interactions with race related content. Results... [...] Read more
Exploring Intercultural Competence at the Macro and Micro Scale: A Case Study from Albanian University Students
Abstract: Globalization and increasing cultural diversity have resulted in the growing necessity of being able to communicate effectively across cultural and linguistic contexts—that is, of intercultural communication competence. This study adapted extant empirically-based scales to explore the constructs of communication competence at the macro (cultural) and micro (regional) scale, the variations based on demographic characteristics, and the... [...] Read more
Migrant Crisis in European Multilingual Media: Identity Construction across Languages
Abstract: International news articles published in various languages are usually tailored by the editors for their target readers in the corresponding language. On the one hand, the transformations made to the textual structure of news are intended to offer better accessibility to the information and make it more relevant to the readers in the target culture. On the other hand, the domestication of news provides compatibility with social attitudes,... [...] Read more
Bridging Higher Education and Industrial Needs Here Comes the Specialist!
Abstract: In an intercultural setting, it is timely to say that there is a crucial need to bridge the dimensions of professional discourses such as the engineering discourses, the business discourses and the legislative discourses. While various approaches are used to investigate intercultural communication, genre analysts believe that the use of specialist informants is beneficial, to provide important information on the targeted discourse community.... [...] Read more
Rethinking Intercultural Training In Teacher Training
Abstract: Often lauded for its role in language education, very little is said or written about the integration of intercultural education into language teacher training. This research spotlighted different approaches to interculturality as well as focusing on the processes that pre-service English language teachers went through during their intercultural training. The context of this study was one particular English Teacher Education Department in... [...] Read more
Colombians’ Sociocultural Representations of French and U.S. Citizens Delving into Intercultural Perceptions
Abstract: This study analyzes sociocultural representations about French and U.S. citizens. Drawing on a word association methodology, a thematic and semantic analysis was conducted on a corpus of 4000 words, obtained from surveys completed by 200 Colombians. Findings indicate that representations of U.S. citizens relate to white-Americans’ physical traits, consumerism, economic, and political power whereas the French -save for their personal hygiene-... [...] Read more
Intracultural Iranian Persuasion The Case of Scholarship Application Letters
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the ways in which rhetorical strategies, as a sub-genre of persuasive discourse, are deployed in scholarship application letters in Iran in Persian and English. To this end, 96 application letters fora fictitious scholarship were written by Iranian university students and were further analyzed according to a framework initially proposed by James, Scholfield and Ypsilandis (1994). Aristotle’s taxonomy... [...] Read more
Constant Learning, Reflecting, and Adjusting Experiences of Asian Scholars in U. S. Advertising Education
Abstract: Both Asian advertising graduate students and faculty members attending higher academic courses or working in U.S.A. face cultural and linguistic challenges that may cause real difficulties in their lives in their host country of U.S.A. Systematic research is needed to address those challenges and to expand our theoretical understanding of diversity in advertising education. Such research may help Asian graduate students and scholars to... [...] Read more
Perceptions of Ethnic Groups in Bakauheni Sub-District, South Lampung Regency, Indonesia
Abstract: Bakauheni constitutes a sub-district located in South Lampung, Indonesia. It is inhabited by diverse ethnic groups: Lampung, Sunda, Java, Batak, and Bugis. Their different cultural backgrounds often result in different perceptions among them. Therefore, this study aimed to explore perceptions by the ethnic groups living in the region.The current study was qualitative. An interview was undertaken in depth to investigate ethnic groups’... [...] Read more
Towards a theoretical framework of intercultural communication ethics in the Arab Gulf culture The perspectives of global public relations practitioners in Bahrain
Abstract: This research investigates the perspectives of global public relations practitioners in the governmental sector in Bahrain. Sixteen qualitative interviews were conducted to provide in-depth theoretical understanding of the intercultural communication ethics in the Arab Gulf. The researcher used the theoretical framework of Hofstede (1984; 1994) to analyze the data. The research reveals that an Arab framework of intercultural communication... [...] Read more
Refusals in Javanese and English A comparative study of saying ‘no’ in two different cultures
Abstract: Refusing is a common speech act; nonetheless people from different cultural backgrounds employ different refusal strategies. The present study compares refusal strategies used between native speakers of Javanese in Indonesia and native speakers of British English in the United Kingdom. Empirical data were elicited by means of discourse completion tasks. The findings showed that Javanese and British native speakers favoured indirect refusal... [...] Read more
Intercultural dialogue A tool for young people to address exclusion in southern Africa
Abstract: This article aims to develop understanding about how intercultural dialogue can pave the way for more inclusive societies. Four intercultural dialogues were held, one in each of the following countries: Malawi, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. They addressed important topics such as cultural identity, gender inequality, and power imbalances in access to education or employment, with young people from diverse ethnic origins (e.g. Tonga, Shona and... [...] Read more
Social Desirability Bias among Prejudice Instruments An Integrated Threat
Abstract: A considerable amount of research has examined the extent to which members of dominant cultures perceive minority groups as threatening their way of life. While various instruments measure these perceptions of threat, few researchers have empirically analysed the statistical properties of these scales. Specifically, studies have not adequately explored social desirability of threat scales. The current study investigates the extent to which... [...] Read more
Intercultural Sensitivity and Organizational Citizenship Behaviour of Uganda Hotels’ Staff
Abstract: The study examined the extent to which; intercultural sensitivity and organizational citizenship behaviour are constructs of the social exchange theory and intercultural sensitivity explains organizational citizenship behaviour. A mixed research design was applied to determine the predictive relationship intercultural sensitivity and organizational citizenship behaviour. Intercultural sensitivity significantly predicts Organizational... [...] Read more
In-group and out-group perspectives A cross-cultural comparison of four countries
Abstract: As the interrelationships among countries are increasing in various social, political, educational, and commercial contexts, it would be beneficial to understand how people of different cultures perceive the links of human relationships and how they present different behaviors toward in-group and out-group individuals. By conducting questionnaire, the present study aims to explore the differences in in-group and out-group perceptions and... [...] Read more
The Mismeasure of Culture Self-Report Questionnaires and Positivist Analysis in Intercultural Communication Research
Abstract: The use of self-report questionnaires has been one of the most prevalent methods of data collection in Intercultural Communication research since as early as the 1950s. Yet, the method has received widespread criticism from a range of academic disciplines. For the field of Intercultural Communication, there is the added concern that self-report data and its epistemological companion, quantitative analysis, succeed only in reducing complex... [...] Read more
Visual Vernaculars Across Emerging Markets Inter-Cultural Perception of Global Advertising
Abstract: Given the predominance of visual image over language copy in global advertising this research explores its inter-cultural perception across emerging markets worldwide. Discourse analysis was conducted on the qualitative responses to global print advertisements by target segments in emerging markets of three geographic regions. Both similarities and differences of perception were found between the selected markets in the Middle East, Latin... [...] Read more
Connecting with culturally diverse others The case of Malaysian students’ social interactions on campus
Abstract: Connecting with culturally diverse individuals require in-depth understanding and knowledge of intercultural competence. This paper focuses on the Malaysian students’ intercultural competence in the Malaysian campus to gain insights into their social interaction. Specifically, we highlight the Malaysian students’ reflection of intercultural competence based on their encounters with the international students in the Malaysian university... [...] Read more
Problematic encounters between Chinese nationals and black South Africans in the building industry in Johannesburg, South Africa An intercultural communication analysis
Abstract: China’s increased engagement with South Africa presents serious challenges to Chinese construction companies because of allegations about unfair labour practices. This study aimed to identify cultural differences between black South Africans and Chinese and explore the roles of the differences in their problematic encounters in the building industry in Johannesburg. The study concluded that cultural dimensions should receive due consideration... [...] Read more
Exploring national culture through international media The publication of a viral pro-LGBT image compared against a nation’s wealth, level of religion, and democracy
Abstract: Gay marriage is now legal in 22 countries around the world. However, homosexual acts remain punishable by death in 10 countries and are now illegal in a further 65 countries. Thus, there appears to be very clear national cultural distinctions in how local cultures consider the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. In 2016, an image of a 12-year-old boy who stood against a sea of anti-LGBT marriage protesters in... [...] Read more
Improving the Intercultural Communicative Competence of English Language Students
Abstract: Nowadays intercultural communicative competence (ICC) is an important tool in foreign language teaching and learning. The main goal of this article is to propose some tasks to improve the intercultural communicative competence in the English Language Course at Universidad Central “Marta Abreu” de Las Villas, Santa Clara, Villa Clara, Cuba. In so doing, the article provides some theoretical foundations of concepts related to culture,... [...] Read more
Relational practices in Norwegian students’ e-mail requests in English A focus on openings and closings
Abstract: The paper explores relational practices in openings and closings in Norwegian students’ e-mail requests in English. It investigates the range of opening and closing sequences and the frequency of their occurrence as well as their variation depending on the level of request imposition and social distance between the e-mail writer and the lecturer. The very high frequency of occurrence of openings and closings, considered to be optional e-mail... [...] Read more
Language as a site of search for common ground and power positioning in Chinese-Finnish negotiation
Abstract: This paper explores some language-related aspects in investment negotiation between Finnish and Chinese partners, such as language choices, the role of interpreters, and overcoming misunderstandings. These are seen as sites of both search for common ground in terms of positive politeness (affiliation) and power positioning in terms of negative politeness (autonomy) (Brown and Levinson 1987). This study is based on data obtained by... [...] Read more
Communication Efficacy as a Mechanism for the Chilling Effect on Complaint Avoidance A Cross-cultural Comparison of American and Chinese Romantic Relationships
Abstract: Complaint avoidance is a common response to relational conflict; yet, it can cause adverse personal and relational consequences. This study examined cultural (i.e., U.S. versus China) and relational (i.e., relational power, communication efficacy) factors predicting complaint avoidance. Hypothesizing that Americans engage in less complaint avoidance than Chinese (H1), relational power negatively predicts complaint avoidance via communication... [...] Read more
‘They wouldn’t allow me in their conversations’ Communication experiences of immigrant traders in a Kenyan informal market
Abstract: This paper reports findings of a study that investigated intercultural communication experiences of immigrant traders in a Kenyan informal market. The study employed a qualitative approach, hence a case study of one large urban informal market in Nairobi. In-depth interviews were conducted with twenty two participants purposive sampled and the findings were analysed thematically. Findings of the study revealed that cultural challenges,... [...] Read more
The African Union Commission’s Multinational Ebola Campaign Informed by and against the Decision-Making Model for Localization
Abstract: This qualitative study documents and analyzes the 2014 African Union’s (AU) Ebola campaign in three countries (Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone) against the Decision-Making model for Localization. The paper looks at this case study using the localization model. Global public relations and communications management theories need theory building to study and explicate multinational phenomena. The case study is developed with interviews, news... [...] Read more
Managing the unmanageable: curriculum challenges and teacher strategies in multicultural preschools in Sweden
Abstract: In its political ambitions and pedagogical spirit to address an increasingly diverse population, the Swedish national curriculum for the preschool contains contradictory or even conflicting goals. On the one hand, the curriculum stipulates openness to, tolerance for and appreciation of cultural, ethnic, religious and social differences, and respect for the unique background of children. On the other hand, it stresses universal human rights... [...] Read more
Teaching Academic Writing Skills using Intercultural Rhetoric Approach The Criticisms and Intercultural Communication
Abstract: This paper seeks to point out that intercultural rhetoric pedagogical recommendations for teaching academic writing skills promote second language socialization and intercultural communication and do not merit the criticisms raised against them. It outlines the pedagogical recommendations of intercultural rhetoric researchers, presents the arguments that have been raised against the recommendations and points out that the recommendations... [...] Read more
Empathic Tendency, Majority Culture Representation, and Political Conservatism as Predictors of Intercultural Sensitivity
Abstract: This study aims to determine the variables capable of predicting the concept of intercultural sensitivity. For this reason, it uses correlational survey model. The participants in this study were the prospective primary school teachers studying in Dicle and Marmara Universities in Turkey. This study employed basically three tools for data collection-namely- Personal Information Form, Empathetic Tendency Scale, and Intercultural Sensitivity... [...] Read more
The sculpture of tick-borne disease media coverage in the United States and China
Abstract: Media’s ability to enhance the salience of certain topics for the public and affect governmental policy-setting processes is widely recognized. This is particularly evident in health communication, where newspapers are one of the most important sources of health information. This study compares media depictions of tick-borne disease in the United States and China. Both countries are experiencing an increase in tick-borne diseases and have... [...] Read more
Blog and Intercultural Grouping Effect on Learners’ Perceptions of Intercultural Communication Projects
Abstract: This study investigated the effect of integrating Blog Assisted Language Learning(BALL) and small culturally -mixed group work on improving the perceptions of intercultural communication and writing research projects of university students (n=102) of different cultures enrolled in Advanced Rhetoric classrooms in two American universities during a 16-week period. The study employed Pre-test/Post-test control group design whereby the... [...] Read more
Hegemonism in Thai Country Music A Lesson-Learned Implication in Intercultural Communication
Abstract: This paper investigated Thailand's “hegemonism” towards its neighbors implicitly penned in two famous long-lasting Thai country songs composed in the 1980s. “Siam Muang Yim” or “Siam, the Land of Smiles” and “Sao Song Muang” or “Ladies of the Two Nations” were examined and analyzed mainly through the lens of discourse analysis by Van Dijk (2004). The findings indicated a strong formation of Thai national identity with a sense of habitual... [...] Read more
Revisiting Individualism-Collectivism A Cross-Cultural Comparison among College Students in Four Countries
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the validity, fruitfulness, and constructive potential of Individualism-collectivism dimension in the contemporary world. With increasing interrelationship among countries and improvement of technologies and transportations, value differences among cultures might not be as significant as what people thought before. A questionnaire was constructed, tested, and distributed to 2,000 college students... [...] Read more
Audience Contradictions in the Negotiation of Controversial Cultural Media Content
Abstract: This paper analyses how people negotiate representations of other cultures in the media, in particular those traits that can be considered controversial in the sense of generating strong opinions and opposing stances. A news story about an Egyptian television channel run by Egyptian women journalists wearing the niqab (Maria TV) was used to stimulate debate in four focus groups. Although most of the participants initially criticized the... [...] Read more
SexIER Symbols Examining the Effects of a Content Analysis of Gendered Visual Imagery in Cross Cultural Road Signs
Abstract: The symbols and images projected through mass media shape and constrain an individual’s understanding of and interaction with their environment. Across cultures, road signs employ seemingly universal, generic, human symbols. Cross-cultural variance does occur, however, in the degree to which such icons include characteristically masculine, feminine, and gender neutral features. This investigation, a full scale study of an earlier pilot,... [...] Read more
Assessment of the Characteristics of Interpersonal Communication Competence among Postgraduate Students from Different Cultures
Abstract: This study was carried out to assess the characteristics of interpersonal communication competence among postgraduate students from different cultures at a Malaysian public university. This study applied the mixed methods research design with the participation of 130 postgraduate students from 18 different countries. The Interpersonal Competence Questionnaire (ICQ) was used as the main instrument of this study. Based on the results from this... [...] Read more
A Cross-Cultural Analysis of Teacher Confirmation and Student Motivation in China, Korea, and Japan
Abstract: With an understanding that instructional communication and learning behaviors differ culturally, this study investigates the relationship between teacher confirmation and student motivation among Chinese, Korean, and Japanese students. Students in China ( n = 718), Korea ( n = 362), and Japan ( n = 350) completed surveys assessing their perceived teacher confirmation and student motivation. Results indicate teacher... [...] Read more
A sociological exploration of the impact of study abroad on international PhD students’ self-identity
Abstract: This paper explores the impact of study abroad on the self-identity of Chinese doctoral students in the UK, with an emphasis on students’ agency and identity through the lens of Giddens’ (1991) reflexive project of the self’. Qualitative data comprising student perceptions and experiences of personal changes and development during their study abroad were collected through focus groups and semi-structured interviews involving 11 participants.... [...] Read more
Politeness Strategies in Remindings A Cross-cultural Study of Iranian EFL learners and Americans
Abstract: This cross-cultural study examines the speech act of reminding by Iranian English learners and American English native speakers. The primary objective is to study how Iranian EFL learners perform much understudied speech act of reminding in English. To this end, the participants are selected from Iranian learners of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) and American English native speakers through an open-ended questionnaire in the form of a... [...] Read more
Intercultural communication training to support internationalisation in higher education
Abstract: With a steady growth in globalisation, many universities increasingly invest in their human capital by training employees to meet the demands of organisational diversity, to become culturally flexible and adaptable in multicultural contexts. Internationalisation is an important part of a university’s economic, academic and cultural vitality, and this is true at Massey University in Aotearoa New Zealand. In order to proactively build the... [...] Read more
ESL Learners’ Intercultural Competence, L2 Attitudes and WEB 2.0 use in American Culture
Abstract: This study explores ESL learners’ intercultural communication, L2 attitudes, and their relationship to the use of Web 2.0 tools and technology. Survey responses were obtained from 24 intermediate ESL speakers living in the United States. The results reveal there is low correlation between learners’ intercultural communicative competence (ICC) and use of technology. However, the correlation is stronger for learners’ ICC and L2 attitudes.... [...] Read more
Functions of Frequently Used Back Channels in a Corpus of Intercultural Conversations between Hong Kong Chinese (HKC) and native English Speakers (NES)
Abstract: In conversation, two channels operate simultaneously. Yngve (1970) refers that the ‘main’ channel is that through which the speaker sends messages, whereas the ‘back’ channel, such as okay , mm is that over which the listener offers response without claiming the speakership. Back channels are particular to languages and cultures. The present study aims to examine the naturally occurring conversations between Hong Kong Chinese (HKC) and... [...] Read more
Developing Intercultural Competence via Social Media Engagement in a Language Learning Framework
Abstract: Today’s EFL students need both advanced language skills and an appreciation of other cultures. Technology for language learning, however, is usually focused on language skills. Cultural understanding is rarely a primary goal. Intercultural competence was the primary goal of this study, using a technically-mediated and culturally-oriented online learning community to cultivate intercultural competence using social collaboration, understanding,... [...] Read more
Intercultural Sensitivity A Study of Pre-service English Language Teachers
Abstract: Since societies develop mutual aims and different societies perpetuate developing long-term economic, social and cultural relationships with other cultural groups and the global instability continues hitting the world, developing intercultural sensitivity becomes more and more important at all levels of the education, especially for those who will teach other languages. One of the major aspects of intercultural communication competence is... [...] Read more
Migrant Perceptions of Social Media
Abstract: New media are changing the way identities are managed. This is increasingly relevant to global communication (Lévy, 2000). The purpose of this article is to understand how these changes effect individual perceptions of media within a new cultural environment. By applying Q-methodology to cultural migration, this research asked cultural sojourners to rank subjective statements of media. Factor analysis were applied to the rankings, which... [...] Read more
Chinese Proverbs in Chinese Media in English Intercultural Communication Perspective
Abstract: The study of ethnic proverbs in intercultural communication in English has recently become a promising research perspective. Chinese media in English, which communicate China’s message to the world, abound in native proverbs. In media coverage of international issues Chinese proverbs present an effective tool of China’s interaction with other countries. Proverbs convey China’s standpoint indirectly but firmly and may be viewed as China’s... [...] Read more
The Central Role of Politeness in Business Communication The Appropriateness Principle as the Way to Enhance Business Communication Efficiency
Abstract: The paper focuses on practical consequences of exploitation of applied linguistics, and moreover intercultural linguistics, in everyday business communication and modern management from the viewpoint of politeness principles. The authors assume that the intentional use of the theoretical principles of intercultural linguistics concerning politeness strategies can possibly improve business communication efficiency in the current intercultural... [...] Read more
Multicultural third culture building: A case study of a multicultural social support group
Abstract: Cross-cultural transitions provide rich opportunities for increased intercultural dialogue in multicultural social networks. This research uses Casmir’s third culture theory as a framework to examine social support during adaptation, by presenting a case study of an ethnography of an international student group. The study contributes to cross-cultural adaptation literature by exploring how membership in a multicultural social support group... [...] Read more
The impact of individualism-collectivism orientation and communal orientation on employees’ attitudes toward intercultural communication The case of Chinese employees in an MNC
Abstract: This study explored relationships between an individualism-collectivism orientation as well as communal orientation and the perceptions of Chinese employees ( n = 20) from an MNC of intercultural communication. On the basis of previous research, we hypothesised that this group of employees would display a tendency to focus their attention on the actions, knowledge and needs of their co-workers. To verify this hypothesis, the employees were... [...] Read more
Impact of “Cultural Imperialism” on Advertising and Marketing
Abstract: “Cultural imperialism”, a highly debated concept, refers to how an ideology or a way of life is exported from one country to another through movement of cultural goods. A major driver of cultural imperialism in the era of globalization, are large corporations, many of whom have their base in the United States. Viewed “as homogenizing forces”, these corporations through their global brands are known to sell the same tastes and styles along... [...] Read more
"He Will Take Care of our Security Better than Her" Examining Socio-Cultural Conceptions of Gender in Israeli and American Press Coverage of Female Candidates for Top Political Positions, 2008-2009
Abstract: This study argues that distinct differences between two cultures and two political campaigns, may result in different press coverage of women running for leadership positions. To demonstrate this, we undertook a content analysis of Tzipi Livni’s and Hillary Clinton's 2008-2009 campaigns in four Israeli and American popular and elite newspapers, examining coverage of nine gender-oriented media frameworks. We found that while the press in both... [...] Read more
American and Finnish College Students’ Traits and Interactions with Their Instructors
Abstract: This cross-cultural investigation sought to compare American and Finnish university students’ communication and personality traits (i.e., argumentativeness, assertiveness, Machiavellianism, and verbal aggressiveness) as well as out-of-class communication with their instructors. American ( N = 286) and Finnish ( N = 113) university students completed several self-report measures. The results of a MANOVA, an independent samples t -test,... [...] Read more
you have to face the fact that you're a foreigner: Immigrants’ Lived Experience of Communication and Negotiation Position Toward their Employer in Iceland
Abstract: There is a growing need for highly skilled employees in the Icelandic labor market which will increasingly need to be filled by highly skilled immigrants. Despite offering knowledge and skills that are in demand, there are indications that these immigrants are facing barriers when it comes to compensation, opportunities and promotions. The study seeks to explore how highly skilled immigrants in Iceland experience their negotiation... [...] Read more
Reel Life Methodology Developing intercultural competence through film fragments and dialogue in South Africa
Abstract: South Africa is a multicultural country; however, the politics of the past have resulted in teachers from diverse cultures being ignorant of the mores of others with whom they interact. Teachers thus risk transferring preconceived knowledge and attitudes into the classroom. The aim of this study was to explore to what extent the methodology of Reel Life can promote the development of intercultural competence among South African teachers.... [...] Read more
Terror at Home On the Rhetoric of Domestic Violence Legislation in the United Kingdom and Spain
Abstract: The present study analyses two Parliamentary Acts on the subject of domestic violence: the Spanish Organic Law 1/2004 on Comprehensive Protection Measures against Gender Violence and the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 from the United Kingdom. The analysis of the texts (organised into two corpora, SPA and UKA respectively) was carried out in three different stages, the first one consisting in the automatic processing of the two... [...] Read more
“The Chinese Will Not Change; We Have To Change” Adjustment of the Finns to the Chinese in a Chinese Investment Facilitation Context
Abstract: This paper explores the intercultural communication, cultural adjustment strategies and power relations between Finnish and Chinese representatives in the context of Chinese investment facilitation in Finland. The study is mostly based on interviews of individuals who work either for one of Finland’s state agencies tasked with attracting investment or local government. When analyzing aspects of power, the paper’s theoretical basis is the... [...] Read more
Is there really a need for assessing intercultural competence? Some ethical issues
Abstract: Assessing intercultural competence (IC) is one of the hot-button issues within intercultural language education research today. Even if there are “more questions than answers” (Sercu, 2010) about this matter, it is generally accepted that assessing IC is somehow possible and necessary. This conceptual paper shifts from possibility to ethics, and discusses some reasons why assessing IC may not be considered opportune from an ethical... [...] Read more
The Impact of Symbolic Culture on the Understanding of Visual Figuration in a Cross-Cultural Environment
Abstract: This paper focuses on the understanding of visual rhetorical figures as they appear in today’s globalized advertising. A sound theoretical model (i.e., Phillips and McQuarrie 2004) is first reviewed to select a good representative sampling (i.e., 9 advertisements) of the behaviour domain measured. Then, a population of 60 English language students are questioned regarding these 9 advertisements. This study uses a combined methodology,... [...] Read more
A Monolithic “Dead End” or a “Hybrid Exit”? Cultural Hybrids Facing National Image Construction & Their Role in the History of Intercultural Communication
Abstract: Intercultural communication in the context of national construction is often associated exclusively with our era of globalization. But, in fact, it has been present for over 150 years, in reference to multi-ethnic regions, in particular. Therefore, the paper goes back to the origins of cultural hybridity as a historical and intercultural phenomenon, facing the emergence of national image construction, in order to gain a deeper understanding... [...] Read more
Minority Groups and Communication Apprehension An investigation of Kurdistan
Abstract: This study explores communication apprehension among the Iranian Kurdish minority group. Based on a sample of 157 self-administered surveys, the study investigates the relative communication apprehension (CA) score of Iranian Kurds and the influence of sex, age, and education on CA. Results revealed Kurds are relatively less apprehensive than many other cultures. It was also revealed that women have significantly higher levels of dyadic,... [...] Read more
Speech Codes Theory Applied to Problematic Situations in Intercultural Communication A Six-Step Iterative Training Cycle
Abstract: In this article, we propose a six-step iterative training cycle for intercultural trainers and trainees to understand the cultural codes underlying conflict in intercultural communication. We offer this training cycle, grounded in speech codes theory and ethnographic research methods, as a complementary alternative to traditional prescriptive cultural values approaches. Speech codes theory is a descriptive theory that conceptualizes culture... [...] Read more
Cultural Noticing, Language Learning, and Sources of Tension During a Study Abroad Experience Activity Systems Analysis
Abstract: The study reported below traces the developing intercultural competence and foreign language communicative competence of a Polish sophomore student of chemical technology as she becomes a border crosser in Portugal. The theoretical perspective taken up in the present paper rests on Activity Theory (Leontiev 1976, Vygotsky 1984) and the research methodology is based on its outgrowth, namely the Activity Systems Analysis (Engeström 1987, 2001).... [...] Read more
Turning Constructionist Intercultural Communicative Competence and Complex Systems Theory into Praxis
Abstract: While approaches to intercultural communicative competence (ICC) view the phenomenon as a modular notion, recent studies emphasize its constructionist nature. Thus, in this exploratory article we analyze critically current perspectives on ICC and discuss the potential applicability of the theory of complex systems for research on ICC drawing from a constructionist perspective. In order to illustrate the perspective, we evoke research on... [...] Read more
Cultural Differences, Stereotypes and Communication Needs in Intercultural Communication in a Global Multicultural Environment The Employees’ Perspective
Abstract: This study examines the personal opinions of Chinese employees working in a multicultural environment on the relationship between cultural diversity and the efficacy of their communication in a multicultural environment. To better understand the connection between cultural background and efficient business communication, we conducted a questionnaire survey in 2014 among 20 employees from a Chinese subsidiary of a European top global... [...] Read more
Developing International Personas A new intercultural communication practice in globalized societies
Abstract: Personas have become a popular method in new product development. Personas have traditionally, and are still, primarily created to represent users from a single national culture at a time during the design process. This, however, is unsatisfactory for companies operating on a global market as they show an increasing interest in international personas. However, research on personas in a global context is limited. To address this gap, this... [...] Read more
Foregrounding Hybridity as a Master Trope in the Globalisation Discourses The Case of the Advertising Space of Lesotho
Abstract: The paper foregrounds linguistic and cultural hybridity as a master trope in the advertising space of Lesotho. Kraidy and Yazdiha’s postulations of hybridity together with the transformationalists view of globalisation and the Communication Accommodation Theory (CAT) provide the theoretical footing for the study. It is a qualitative study with data drawn from a total of seventeen adverts from the advertising space of Lesotho. A modification... [...] Read more
Listening to the Other - Intercultural communication in times of crisis
Abstract: In this paper I discuss the role of intercultural communication in times of crisis. First I give an account of current crisis communication research and consider how it relates to the academic field of intercultural communication. I then discuss how the understanding of crisis is constructed through communication in the public sphere and highlight how this implies a challenge to intercultural communication studies. The case of religious... [...] Read more
Interethnic bridging social capital and the significance of ethnocentric interethnic interaction within Malaysian universities
Abstract: This article explores the possible theoretical relationships of ethnocentrism (independent variable) and interethnic interaction (mediating variable) with interethnic bridging social capital (IBSC) (dependent variable). Interethnic bridging social capital is extremely noticeable that there is a lack of such investigation in specifically Malaysian public universities. In an attempt to clarify the current situation, a survey questionnaire was... [...] Read more
International Film and Audio-Visual Translation - Intercultural Experience as Moderator in Audience Recall and Enjoyment
Abstract: This study examines cognitive and affective outcomes of exposure to subtitled vs. dubbed international film content. Past research has investigated issues of valid language translation, the challenges of cultural reference transference, and the benefits of subtitling for foreign language learning. Based on previous research (e.g., Wissmath, Weibel, & Groner 2009), this study queried whether recall and enjoyment outcomes differ between... [...] Read more
A Comparative Look at Chinese and American Stereotypes - A focus group Study
Abstract: This paper employs a focus group approach to examine stereotypical perceptions of Chinese and U.S. Americans from each other's perspective. Eight focus groups were conducted involving 34 undergraduate participants from two universities in the U.S. and China. Group discussions were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed for emerging themes. Results showed that there were converging and diverging perceptions between Americans and Chinese.... [...] Read more
Investigating Communication Styles in Text-based CMC Using a Classification of Intention - A Comparison of Same-Culture and Different-Cultures Context
Abstract: We investigated how cultural differences influence communication style in text-based computer-mediated communication (CMC) and compared the context of communications within the same culture (Thai-Thai pairs) and different cultures (Thai-Japanese pairs and Thai-Chinese pairs) by examining significant differences in the number of text chats in each classification pertaining to intentions. The significant finding of this study is the large... [...] Read more
Language use in Norwegian-Ukrainian multilingual couples
Abstract: As a result of globalization, interpersonal relations are now being constructed across borders, cultures, and languages. Concurrent with this trend runs the emergence of English as the lingua franca. In the present study, the patterns of language use are examined in Norwegian-Ukrainian multilingual couples residing in Norway. The overarching objective of the project was to explore how these couples create their private lingua... [...] Read more