Abstract: National security culture has emerged as an important factor shaping state behavior in contemporary international relations. In the current geopolitical environment, culture increasingly functions as a dimension of warfare and of national security, including information security. Drawing on a qualitative scoping review and grounded-theory-informed coding within a constructivist framework, this article examines the role of culture in the... [...] Read more

Abstract: International students often face challenges in adapting to new living and learning environments. This study investigated the levels of acculturative stress and its contributing factors among Asian and African international students in five internationally recognized universities in Wuhan, Hubei. A total of 243 students participated in the study, completing a questionnaire based on an adapted version of the Acculturative Stress Scale for... [...] Read more

Abstract: This study aimed to analyze the inclusion process for students from the Awajún and Wampis ethnic communities within conventional university education in Peru. A case study design with an interpretative qualitative approach was employed. Data were collected using semi-structured, in-depth interviews with five students—three from the Awajún community and two from the Wampis community—selected through convenience sampling. Additionally, two life... [...] Read more

Abstract: The portrayal of migrants in the media is frequently shaped by a variety of discursive strategies aimed at influencing public perception. This study examines the discursive strategies employed by two prominent Turkish newspapers, Daily Sabah and Duvar , and the underlying ideologies that drive the selection and utilization of such strategies. The theoretical framework guiding this study draws upon Reisigl’s (2017) model, providing a... [...] Read more

Abstract: Orthography is a critical component of the English language and serves as a repository for its linguistic and cultural heritage. The evolution of English orthography can be traced through three major stages: Old English, Middle English, and Modern English, each reflecting the socio-political circumstances of its time. Written records from the Old and Middle English periods reveal that the complexity of English spelling arises from the... [...] Read more

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

Abstract: Creative idea withholding constitutes a significant yet insufficiently examined obstacle to organizational innovation, as unexpressed ideas cannot be evaluated or implemented. Although previous research has generally depicted emotional environments as uniformly advantageous for creativity and voice, recent perspectives indicate that emotional norms may also restrict expression by fostering self-censorship. Drawing on emotional culture theory,... [...] Read more

Abstract: Dwarfism is a rare genetic condition characterised by short stature. In many countries, including Ghana and Nigeria, anecdotal evidence indicates the employment of persons with dwarfism as actors and actresses in movies. However, there are limited studies on the experiences of persons with dwarfism within an African context. The current study attempted to fill this knowledge gap by exploring the portrayal of persons with dwarfism in African... [...] Read more

Abstract: Financial incentives play a crucial role in the bilingual intercultural education of university students; therefore, this study aims to analyze the impact that Beca 18 has on bilingual university students from an intercultural approach. The study uses a qualitative approach, employing the interview technique, conducted with students from the Toribio Rodríguez de Mendoza National University of Amazonas and the Fabiola Salazar Leguía National... [...] Read more

Abstract: This study investigates the challenges associated with implementing the Israeli Ministry of Education’s policy to integrate Arab female teachers into Hebrew-speaking schools, guided by Social Identity Theory and Realistic Conflict Theory. Employing a qualitative-phenomenological approach, the research is based on semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 23 teachers (14 Jewish and 9 Arab) working across various levels of the Hebrew education... [...] Read more

Abstract: An increasing number of international students are pursuing studies in China and encounter challenges and uncertainty in a new foreign environment. Cross-cultural adaptation is influenced by social self-efficacy, social interaction, and WeChat use but little is known about the interaction of these three factors in influencing cross-cultural adaptation. The study examined the mediating role of social self-efficacy in the relationship between... [...] Read more

Abstract: Directed qualitative content analysis (QCA) is a qualitative analysis method that has been recently explained and employed practically by a few researchers at the international level. They employed it deductively in most cases, primarily within qualitative research guidelines. In contrast to the inductive method, which starts with a general hypothesis and builds upon it as it gathers data, the deductive method, also known as the directed... [...] Read more

Abstract: The domain of intercultural friendships between international and host national students represents a pivotal aspect of international higher education and intercultural communication. In response to the evident research gap within this realm, we conducted a phenomenological inquiry to explore how eight Omani students establish friendships with US host students and the factors that might either facilitate or impede these intercultural... [...] Read more

Abstract: Creating inclusive and supportive learning environments has become critical concern in today’s diverse educational environment. In response, this study has examined the complexities of multi-racial classrooms. It focused on identifying key challenges and proposing actionable pedagogical interventions for educators. The study was grounded in Critical Race Theory which provides valuable lens for understanding and addressing challenges posed by... [...] Read more

Abstract: Occidentalism has traditionally been regarded as a theoretical perspective through which the Arab “self” represents the Western “other.” Scholars who have made critical and insightful contributions to the development of the concept of Occidentalism within Arab literary traditions include Hasan Hanafi, Rasheed El-Enany, Zahia Smail Salhi, and most recently, Ahmed Shalabi and  Yousef Abu Amrieh. Shalabi and Abu Amrieh have proposed a new... [...] Read more

Abstract: In today’s digital age, emojis have come to compensate for the nonverbal cues that speakers use to communicate their attitudes or emotions as they speak, and hence become an essential element of online communication. In the realm of WhatsApp, where written conversations with an immediacy level close to that of spoken are supported, an ironic or sarcastic message is likely to be misunderstood, as it involves decrypting a meaning that often... [...] Read more

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

Abstract: In this article the discourse of immigrants at different authorities is studied. I have collected data from different authorities, the police authorities, the employment office, the social welfare service and the social insurance office in a medium-sized municipality in Sweden. Persons, who in their working as professionals meet immigrants, have answered an inquiry about feelings and thoughts about their meetings. With the data from these... [...] Read more

Abstract: Intercultural Bilingual Education (IBE) seeks to provide an educational experience that respects and values the cultural and linguistic diversity of indigenous peoples. This study aimed to analyze the implementation of IBE across initial, primary, and secondary education levels in indigenous communities of the Amazon region. A qualitative methodology was employed, involving interviews with teachers at all three educational levels,... [...] Read more

Abstract: International students in Malaysian universities face uncertainty and anxiety toward a multi-new culture, a must-encountered cultural shock. This study investigated the relationship between superficial causes of AUM theory and uncertainty and anxiety in a high-context culture. In this study, 388 international students from different faculties were chosen through a method called stratified random sampling, which sampled two public universities... [...] Read more

Abstract: This SLR was conducted in the field of digital communication in the specific context of intercultural communication. The main purpose of this SLR was to assess studies on psychological outcomes, anxiety, self-efficacy, and social media fatigue (SMF) among digital natives and digital immigrants who use social media and experience social media overload (SMO). Unlike meta-analyses, which statistically combine effect sizes, the present study was... [...] Read more

Abstract: Pottery making among the Awajún has historically been a feminine practice that intertwined technical expertise, symbolic prestige, and community legitimacy. In recent decades, however, this practice has been reshaped by market-oriented logics and "cultural rescue" initiatives that have altered its original meanings and social functions. This study explores how the transformation of traditional Awajún pottery, historically a ritual, feminine,... [...] Read more

Abstract: The present study investigates how positive and negative intergroup contact experiences relate to attitudes toward multiculturalism and assimilation, and examines whether these relationships are mediated by intergroup anxiety, intergroup threat, and pro-diversity beliefs. A secondary analysis was conducted using cross-sectional survey data from a sample of German university students. Structural equation modeling was applied to test the... [...] Read more

Abstract: Rural broadcasting is an important tool for providing development-focused messages to rural populations. Research on this topic is necessary for creating informed proposals for rural broadcasting legislation. According to a bibliometric study by Evangelos M. Pallis of Hellenic Mediterranean University, the most common sources of research on rural broadcasting are M/C Journal, IEEE Transactions on Broadcasting, and Media Culture & Society... [...] Read more

Abstract: This study examines the use and perception of taboo language in Tshivenḓa-speaking communities, with a focus on how cultural norms, social expectations, and digital communication shape linguistic behaviour. The aim is to explore the social and generational dynamics influencing taboo expressions, particularly in the context of evolving communication norms brought about by modernisation and social media. Rooted in Sociolinguistic Theory, the... [...] Read more

Abstract: This study investigates the influence of gender and academic major on student performance in two English language assessments—the English Placement Test (EPT), administered by the National Center for Assessment (NCA), and the Preparatory Year Program Tests (PYPT), conducted in-house at a Saudi university. The primary aim was to examine whether these demographic variables significantly affect English language proficiency during the Preparatory... [...] Read more

Abstract: Contextual synonymy plays a significant role in contemporary media discourse by shaping semantic emphasis and emotional framing through figurative lexical choices. While previous research has examined metaphorical and evaluative language within individual domains, systematic cross-discursive comparisons remain limited. This study investigates the mechanisms underlying the creation and functioning of contextual synonyms in medical, political,... [...] Read more

Abstract: The number of immigrants living in Finland has significantly increased since the 1990s. It can be challenging to live and integrate into a new society. This study explores the challenges immigrants face living and integrating into Finnish society. Drawing on data collected from 103 immigrants living in Finland, this study shows that the challenges immigrants face integrating into Finnish society can be classified into four main categories:... [...] Read more

Abstract: Legally, the law in Indonesia has regulated and mandated female representation of 30%, but in the Aceh election supervisory institution, the representation figure does not reach the threshold. Aceh, as a province that was given the privilege of Sharia autonomy, actually experienced a deficit of representation, not caused by theological reasons, but because of structural obstacles and institutional bias. This study aims to evaluate the... [...] Read more

Abstract: Amid the resurgence of exclusionary nationalism and intercultural tensions, understanding how linguistic diversity shapes social attitudes has become increasingly vital. This study investigates how multilingual experience influences nationalism-related affective orientations among Chinese participants, focusing on the ways in which multilingual exposure interacts with mental aggression and intercultural communicative attitudes to shape... [...] Read more

Abstract: This study investigates the ideologies and strategies used in the news discourse on Arab women. Initially, it aims to analyze the macro strategies and then highlights the micro strategies used to achieve the macro strategies proposed by van Dijk. It also identifies the ideologies of the selected newspapers regarding Arab women. Four newspapers were selected: the Washington Post, Daily Mail, Arab newspaper, and Gulf Times. The findings reveal... [...] Read more

Abstract: The integration of multimedia learning principles into institutional e-learning environments has become increasingly relevant in professional training contexts. However, limited attention has been given to how these principles are operationalized in law enforcement education. This study examines the application of established multimedia learning principles in the digital training modules of the Dubai Police Smart Training Center. A content... [...] Read more

Abstract: This study seeks to investigate why speaking out is not viewed positively in certain instances, but, at times, doing so results in both management support for the pitched proposals and improved interpersonal correlations for individuals doing so. Data was collected from two sources: employees and their supervisors of a telecommunication services organization in Indonesia. The data collected from 367 subordinates and 98 supervisors was then... [...] Read more

Abstract: Certain typical elements of ancient Egyptian culture have already become particularly symbolically charged. Even today, this sort of fascination for ancient Egypt and its relevant things still exists. Many different showing examples about ancient Egyptian culture in a variety of domains around the world demonstrate people’s continued interest in it. This article discusses a song which was composed by Jay Chou, titled “Snake Dance”, and as a... [...] Read more

Abstract: This study investigates the role of foreign tourism professionals in Japan as key agents of bridging social capital within the tourism industry. These individuals serve as cultural mediators, interpreting Japanese traditions, social norms, and practices for international audiences while facilitating connections between local communities and global visitors. The research adopts a participatory observation approach, in which the author... [...] Read more

Abstract: Healthcare organisations are increasingly intercultural workplaces in which leadership, knowledge sharing, and innovation are shaped through ongoing communicative negotiation across cultural differences. However, much existing research treats culture as a static background condition and under-theorises how leadership communication constitutes organisational realities. Drawing on intercultural communication theory, the communicative... [...] Read more

Abstract: This study aims to design, develop, and evaluate a semantic knowledge graph (KG) and web application that ethically and effectively represents the ethnographic diversity of 375 ethnic groups across Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, and China. Addressing the limitations of conventional Knowledge Organization Systems (KOS), the project integrates semantic web technologies with community-informed data to capture complex relationships... [...] Read more

Abstract: The current study investigated the intercultural communication challenges among Indonesian seafarers with foreign crews at international shipping companies. Data collection was conducted through a mixed-questionnaire method, with each questionnaire consisting of 10 items distributed in Google Forms to 171 respondents. The findings revealed that the language barrier was a significant issue among Indonesian seafarers to communicate and... [...] Read more

Abstract: This paper analyses the negative reviews that some users of social services in New York and Madrid posted on Google. The aim is to relate the impoliteness strategies that the users of these centres reported to have received or that they issued themselves with the cultural values of the groups they belong to. To achieve this, twenty American and Spanish centres were analysed, obtaining more than two hundred negative comments that,... [...] Read more

Abstract: Traditional theories of intercultural communication often overlook the multiplicity of interpretations and the influence of power, materiality, and institutional structures on everyday interactions. In high-stakes environments such as asylum reception, communication is shaped by broader political, economic, and social systems that structure both professional practices and interpersonal relations. This study examines how intercultural... [...] Read more

Abstract: Growing migration to Poland over the past decade has heightened the need for social service professionals to work effectively with culturally diverse populations. Although intercultural competence has been widely theorised in Western contexts, its application within Central and Eastern European institutional settings remains underexplored. This study seeks to examine how intercultural competence is understood and enacted by Polish social... [...] Read more

Abstract: Global migration continues to reshape demographic and societal landscapes, requiring close attention to refugee integration and the intercultural communication it demands. This study aims to understand how social professionals navigate intercultural encounters with refugee families in the context of family education and counselling. Using a qualitative longitudinal design, we conducted repeated expert interviews with professionals from 33... [...] Read more

Abstract: This article seeks to highlight the experiences and agency of KwaZulu-Natal women through the theoretical lenses of African Feminism and the Sustainable Livelihoods Approach (SLA), foregrounding intersectional dynamics of gender, class, and rurality. The paper explores how rural women negotiate structural poverty, climate vulnerability, gender inequality, and socio-cultural constraints while exercising agency in livelihood strategies. Hence,... [...] Read more

Abstract: The primary objective of any Business English course is to equip learners with the communicative competence required for professional environments. Accordingly, this study aimed to design and evaluate a technology-enhanced educational intervention to improve Business English proficiency among undergraduate economics students. Employing an action research methodology, the study was supported by post-tests, student surveys, and descriptive... [...] Read more

Abstract: This study examines the use of suggestion speech acts in Instagram comments, with particular attention to how Saudi EFL users demonstrate pragmatic competence in digital communication. Drawing on Martínez Flor’s taxonomy of suggestion strategies, the study analyzes 103 suggestion-oriented comments selected from an initial dataset of 150 Instagram comments. A mixed-methods design was adopted: qualitative analysis was used to classify... [...] Read more