Articles
-
The Development of a New Instrument of Intercultural Communication Competence
Abstract: A review of past literature reveals that there is need for a measure of intercultural communication competence (ICC) that can be used in culturally diverse groups of participants. The present study describes the development and initial empirical testing of a new instrument of ICC. Student participants ( N = 302) from multiple cultural backgrounds were used. Using regression, factor, and correlation analyses, the instrument was tested... [...] Read more
Understanding Interpersonal Relationships in the Chinese Context
Abstract: The author draws upon personal experience and written sources to reflect upon the difficulties a Canadian of European extraction encounters when interacting with people of Chinese descent. Four themes are explored: friendship; connections (guanxi); personal space and privacy; and altruism. [...] Read more
Between English Humour and National Stereotypes – Translating Stephen Clarke’s Novel Merde Happens into Italian
Abstract: This paper discusses translation of texts about nonprofit organizations from English into Italian as a case study of intercultural communication. Firstly, we note the importance of adaptation as a valuable strategy for translation of nonprofit texts from English into Italian. Secondly, we describe the intercultural difference between the nonprofit sector in Italy and the United States in terms of paradigms, following Kuhn’s theory of... [...] Read more
Cross-cultural communication patterns: Korean and American Communication
Abstract: The most recent extant studies on Korean communication were carried out in the 1990’s. Thus, the purpose of this study is to test and thereby update research on Korean in contrast to American communication practices. Students in Korea and the US filled out questionnaires testing their direct, indirect, immediate, verbally aggressive and communicatively apprehensive communication. This study quantitatively tested the impact of culture on... [...] Read more
Korean Hybridity: The Language Classroom as Cultural Hybrid
Abstract: This paper looks at the Korean language classroom as a cultural hybrid of Korean and perceived American culture. It is based around the idea of the language classroom as a subculture. Through discussions of classroom geography, Confucianism, and identity construction, the paper concludes that this hybrid subculture offers an opportunity to explore new cultural identities within a subculture without having to join subcultural groups in normal... [...] Read more
Translation, Cultural Knowledge and Intercultural Competence
Abstract: The article suggests that translation can be a suitable activity to explore and develop aspects of foreign language students’ intercultural competence. This point is illustrated with a study into the translation processes of British university students of German. As the study indicates, cultural knowledge problems impinged on the students’ translation performance in various ways. Thus, frequently students did not seem to be sufficiently... [...] Read more
Internet use ad cross-cultural adaptation.Testing a Model of Internet Use in the Cross-Cultural Adaptation Context
Abstract: The growth of new communication technologies has presented new challenges to traditional cross-cultural adaptation (CCA) research. Guided by uses and gratifications (U&G) theory, we proposed a model of Internet use in CCA, investigating how individual differences, Internet use motives, and Internet use influenced Chinese students’ CCA. Eight Internet use motives were identified in the CCA context, including social... [...] Read more