Articles
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On Congratulating, Thanking, and Apologizing in Jordanian Arabic and American English
Abstract: A mounting body of evidence suggests that despite the existence of shared underlying elements, politeness is realized differently across cultures. This study examines the politeness strategies used by 50 Jordanian native speakers of Arabic and 50 American native speakers of English. A 9-item Discourse-Completion Task was used to collect the data for the purpose of identifying potential similarities and differences in the use of (and response... [...] Read more
Never Mind? - Mindfulness and Competent Intercultural Interaction
Abstract: The ultimate goal of intercultural communication research and education has been or should be to have successful intercultural interactions and build productive intercultural relationships. A close examination of 42 pairs of email exchanges between college students in the U.S. and China during spring 2011 shows how mindfulness shapes positively intercultural interactions. It describes three manifestations of mindfulness, five salient features... [...] Read more
Prejudice toward American Muslims: An Integrated Threat Analysis
Abstract: This study explores prejudice toward American Muslims. Prejudice is conceptualized using Stephan and Stephan’s integrated threat theory (ITT). ITT identifies four kinds of threat that can lead to prejudice: realistic threats, symbolic threats, stereotypes, and intergroup anxiety. Data were gathered in the United States ( N = 281) among self-identified Christians. Findings confirm: 1) a positive correlation between real and symbolic... [...] Read more
You do not just translate your thought into another language - you translate the whole issue into that culture
Intercultural understanding in the experience world of Finnish technical professionals
Abstract: The objective of the researchwas to examine the experience world of professionals in the field of technology as users of foreign languages to illustrate the general meaning structure in the agency of a foreign language user. The theoretical approach here is phenomenological. The fieldwork was carried out through thematic interviews with seven interviewees in a medium-sized Finnish engineering company with international operations. Through a... [...] Read more
Public Attitudes toward Globalization in East Asia: Findings from a Cross-National Survey
Abstract: Based on a series of data analyses of the 2008 East Asia Social Survey (EASS) encompassing China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, this paper examines attitudes toward globalization among citizens from East Asia, and investigates factors that affect their global attitude. A three-pronged analytic framework is presented; influential theoretical perspectives and established individual and cultural contributors are addressed to organize the... [...] Read more
An Exploratory Test of the Effects of Computer-assisted Intercultural Training: A Possible Means for Reducing Ethnic Conflict?
Abstract: In an attempt to find a solution to the problems of ethnic conflict Intercultural Sensitizers, a form of intercultural training, were tested in this research In the first study, an exploratory study of the effects of interactive digital intercultural training showed that the difference between pretest and posttest scores of these seventeen participants was significant (p < .0001), i.e. there was an improved attitude change towards African... [...] Read more
Intercultural Awareness via Improvements in Intercultural Communication: The Need for Change in Japan
Abstract: The forces of globalization and intercultural awareness have profound impacts on Japan, a country which places high priority on its cultural identity. Over the past decades, however, the continuation of propagandising a mono ethnic nation-state has become more difficult, if not impossible, due to economic integration and demographic changes. This paper discusses the current state of intercultural awareness in Japan and highlights the... [...] Read more