Articles
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Japanese: A Heavily Culture-Laden Language
Abstract: Language and culture are interdependent. The uniqueness of the Japanese society makes Japanese language a heavily culture-laden one, which contributes much to the language barrier between Japanese and Americans. It is compulsory that many cultural concepts must be integrated into comparative studies so they can be better understood from a cross-cultural perspective, and communication between Japanese and Americans must always be carried out... [...] Read more
Sensemaking and Identity Development: Different Fields, Similar Processes, but How?
Abstract: The following article examines sensemaking and the minority/majority identity development models as processual theories. While these theories are offered in different concentrations of Speech Communication (i.e., Organizational Communication and Intercultural Communication respectively), they are actually interrelated concepts that share similarities. Sensemaking is a process where individuals attempt to understand unknown elements because of... [...] Read more
In a cultural No Man’s Land – or, how long does culture shock last?
Abstract: This essay is an attempt to combine theories of sojourner adaptation with the qualitative results of my field work among Scottish immigrants in Copenhagen. I argue that theories of acculturation often presuppose a limited time-frame; that the usefulness of Lysgaard’s acculturation model may be questioned; and that companies lose valuable intercultural competence by recalling sojourners before they have completed their process of integration.... [...] Read more
A Cross-cultural Communication Experience at a Higher Education Institution in Taiwan
Abstract: This paper describes an online cross-cultural communication experience of a group of Taiwanese college students. Overall, students reported having more confidence in communication and gaining cross-cultural communication skills after participating in this project. The acquisition of cross-cultural communication skills was positively related to the motivation to succeed in the project and the sense of community developed within the online... [...] Read more
Covering the war in Iraq: Frame choices in American and German national newspapers
Abstract: Coverage during conflicts with threatening potential put a pressing note on accurate information about and interpretation of events. When delivering news worldwide, national spotlights as well as cross-cultural notions are set to create unique themes of interest. Those frames - offered by mass media - are vital organizing concepts to establish public agendas. The ambiguously perceived warfare on Iraq was chosen to identify differences in... [...] Read more