Intercultural Communication

Considering words and the areas of the mind that they impact as two-dimensional shapes forms the theoretical basis from which intercultural communication between the West and Sub-Saharan Africa are examined. Unique shapes of words are illustrated as arising from their meeting with equally unique 'impactible areas' of people's minds, and cultures, resulting in transmitted and received shapes differing in a way related to lexical content at both ends. Differences in overlap between word impacts, shapes of words and fit between words in different languages / cultures are shown to contribute to imprecision in translation, resulting in the recommendation that local policy be of local origin. The above is applied to Christian mission in Africa through diagrammatic representations of 'love' as a spiritual gift in comparison to fellow words, and by an inter-cultural consideration of public…

How may culture be defined? Numerous works and important contributions have been answering this crucial question for the past thirty years; yet the problem remains unsolved. When taking a close look at ‘intercultural communication’, we may see that some utterances might not be thatcultural at all. If we have a clear definition of ‘intercultural communication’, then what is ‘intra-cultural communication’ (Winch 1997, Ma 2004)? Is there really a sharp difference between these two concepts and is miscommunication necessarily ‘cultural’ when implying individuals or groups from alleged different cultural backgrounds? We will study various examples and try to separate the cultural from the non-cultural by taking a close look at intercultural and intra-cultural miscommunication, insofar as their definitions seem to ultimately cover the same conceptual maps. After this first step, we will…

Exploring the communicative behavior of teachers and students in the Japanese language classroom in Singapore is one important way of looking at intercultural communication between Japanese and Singaporeans. Ease in effective communication is often hindered by differences in expectations resulting in communication gaps. In this study, attempts were made to explore the differences in perceptions held by students and Japanese teachers of (i) a good teacher versus a Japanese teacher; and (ii) a good student versus a university student. A questionnaire based on previous findings was constructed using a 5-point semantic differential scale for this purpose. A comparison of results showed that there were significant differences in students’ and teachers’ perception of a good teacher/student versus the teacher/student in reality.

Sweden is rapidly changing from being a monocultural to a multicultural society. The effects of this process can also be seen in health care which has, up till now, been one of the most ethnically and gender segregated working places, compared to the industrial sector. Increasing multiculturality places the issue of intercultural communication on top of the agenda for Swedish society in general and for the health care sector in particular. This article is based on the results of two interrelated questionnaires, one directed at non-Swedish physicians, a relatively new but rapidly growing group in Swedish heath care, and one directed at Swedish health care personnel, a traditionally ethnically homogeneous group. The respondents’ answers have been summarised and compared in order to get a comprehensive picture of intercultural communication in Swedish health care.

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 institutions in 2016 and 2019 to examine communication patterns, challenges, and evolving dynamics over time. The findings show that limited language proficiency initially posed the greatest barrier, hindering effective communication and leading to misunderstandings and frustration; however, this challenge diminished as refugees’ language skills and mutual intercultural empathy improved. Nonverbal communication also played a significant role, with…

This study explores the lived experiences of religious tourism and intercultural communication at the Loang Baloq Tomb in West Lombok, Indonesia—a sacred site where spiritual pilgrimage and local cultural practices converge. Using a phenomenological approach, the research investigates how visitors, caretakers, and community members interact, perform rituals, and make meaning within a shared sacred environment. Drawing on interviews with 25 participants and field observations, the study identifies key motivations for visitation, such as spiritual healing, cultural curiosity, and ancestral reverence. It also uncovers the dynamics of intercultural encounters, including hospitality, symbolic interpretation, and negotiation of meaning across linguistic and cultural differences. The findings reveal that ritual acts at Loang Baloq function as a form of communication, fostering shared…

This study aims to describe the dialogue with the ancestors in traditional events mot nini (burning candles), which is usually done by indigenous peoples in Noemuti Village, North Central Timor. The method that was used for this study is ethnographic analysis. The research used a qualitative research method by direct observation and interviews. The description of this study is also based on a realist ethnographic analysis. From the research results, it was found that the people of Noemuti Village dialogue with their ancestors to ask for help and assistance regarding the difficulties they face. People believe that their ancestors will help. The implication is that people believe more in the strength and help of their ancestors even though people have a religion they believe in. People always take the time to carry out this traditional ceremony. In conclusion, the people of Noemuti…

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 formation of nation-states’ security visions and behaviors, with particular attention to education as a mediating domain in these processes. The analysis shows that security-related patterns are increasingly embedded in educational discourses, while education itself is evolving into a distinct site of ideological formation that influences the broader culture of national and information security. Particular attention is given to identity, the…

This article explores the experiences of Chinese postgraduate students in a UK university using the lens of rhythmanalysis. This study goes beyond intercultural interactional moments and examines how intercultural experience is organised through temporal, spatial, and emotional rhythms. The data were generated through narrative interviews with four students, and narrative rhythmanalysis was employed for analysis. Findings show that students’ interconnected temporal, spatial, and emotional rhythms shape and regulate their choices regarding participation and exposure to intercultural experiences. This article provides a multi-dimensional rhythm framework consisting of temporal, spatial, and emotional dimensions for analysing how institutional time, lived space, and emotional experiences shape when and how intercultural experience becomes desirable, possible, or less important for students…

This study investigates the impact of technology finance and technological innovation on economic growth in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (Jingjinji) region, while also exploring whether this relationship is nonlinear and moderated by technology finance. Using panel data from 2000 to 2021, the study constructs indices for technology finance and technological innovation through principal component analysis (PCA) and applies a threshold regression model. The findings reveal that technological innovation has a stronger positive effect on economic growth when the technology finance index is below or equal to a threshold of 1.459. Beyond this threshold, the impact of innovation diminishes. Additionally, financial development and financial openness positively influence growth, while higher college enrollment ratios have a negative effect. Comparing regional data, the study observes that Beijing…