Introducing Language and Intercultural Communication

433 Pages·2014·14.765 MB·

by  Jane Jackson

Introducing Language and
Intercultural Communication
Introducing Language and Intercultural Communicationis a lively and accessible introduction
for undergraduates who are new to the area of intercultural communication.
Incorporating real-life examples from around the world and drawing on current research,
this text argues against cultural stereotyping and instead provides students with a skill-building
framework to enhance understanding of the complexities of language and intercultural
communication in diverse international settings. Readers will learn to understand and become
aware of power relations, positioning and the impact of social and political forces on language
choice and the intercultural communication process. This is the essential text for under-
graduate students studying courses in intercultural communication for the first time.
Features include:
■ clear learning objectives to structure your study
■ end of chapter discussion questions to test your knowledge
■ highlighted glossary terms to provide a strong understanding of the relevant vocabulary
■ an array of photos including signs which make use of nonverbal codes and many exam-
ples that illustrate such issues as intercultural misunderstandings and the effects of
culture shock
■ substantial online resources for students including learning objectives, suggested read-
ings, links to media resources and real-world intercultural scenarios and activities.
Additional in-depth instructor resources feature test materials, powerpoints, key terms,
extended chapter outlines and sample assignments and syllabi. The website can be found
at www.routledge.com/cw/jackson.
Jane Jackson has many years of experience teaching intercultural communication and is
Professor of Applied Linguistics at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Praise for this edition:
‘Introducing Language and Intercultural Communicationdelivers a clear, accessibly written and above all com-
prehensive overview of the field. I know of no other single-author text that does this.’
Professor John Corbett, University of Macau, China
‘Introducing Language and Intercultural Communication is a very well structured, well researched and
impressively well informed course book with an in-depth elaboration of the different aspects of intercultural
communication. In combination with the companion website, which offers a variety of identity narratives,
interviews and critical incidents, it is a highly recommendable tool that will effectively facilitate intercultural
teaching and learning at different levels and certainly compares very favourably with the textbooks I have used
so far in my teaching.’
Professor Guido Rings, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK
‘Introducing Language and Intercultural Communicationby Jane Jackson is a state of the art introductory
textbook to intercultural communication that impresses with its comprehensiveness and convinces with its
accessibility and ease of use. There is no doubt that this book will benefit instructors and students in equal
measure.’
Professor Stefanie Stadler, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
‘With an emphasis on ethical Intercultural Communication (ICC) Jackson’s book provides a chronology of the
development in the field and gives a comprehensive overview of different research paradigms in the area of
ICC, as well as their applications in other fields of scholarship. I would highly recommend this book to both
students and researchers working in the field of ICC.’
Dr Maryam Jamarani, University of Queensland, Australia
‘Intercultural communication is a notoriously complex phenomenon of immense importance in our contemporary
and future worlds. This book succeeds in presenting that complexity in an elegant and simple approach while
being neither simplifying nor reductive. For students new to the field, it introduces the crucial topics, concepts
and theories in a logical sequence, but it also challenges them to think critically about what they read, in the
best traditions of university education.’
Professor Michael Byram, Professor Emeritus, University of Durham, UK
Praise from students:
‘As a student who is about to study abroad in Japan, reading this book has been of enormous help to me.
Not only does the book include different concepts related to intercultural communication, it is illustrated with
various examples from different parts of the world. This offered me a brand new perspective on looking at
culture and intercultural communication.
After reading this book, I now have a more comprehensive understanding of...how one can competently
interact with people across cultures. I am convinced that what I have learnt from this book will contribute to
making my study abroad experience even more valuable.’
Serena Kwok Ho Ching, student at the Chinese University of Hong Kong
‘I can grasp the ideas and concepts quickly since the author illustrates them with short, straightforward daily-
life examples. As for the rather complicated communication theories and models of other scholars, Professor
Jackson explains them in a clear and understandable way and also applies them in intercultural situations.’
Flora Leung, student at the Chinese University of Hong Kong
Introducing Language and
Intercultural Communication
JANE JACKSON
First published 2014
by Routledge
2Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
©2014 Jane Jackson
The right of Jane Jackson to be identified as author of this work has been
asserted by her in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright,
Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced
or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means,
now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording,
or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in
writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice:Product or corporate names may be trademarks or
registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation
without intent to infringe.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
Acatalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Jackson, Jane, 1954-
Introducing language and intercultural communication / Jane Jackson.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Intercultural communication. I. Title.
P94.6J33 2014
302.2—dc23 2013027661
ISBN: 978-0-415-60198-6 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-0-415-60199-3 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-315-84893-8 (ebk)
Typeset in Akzidenz Grotesk and Eurostile
by Keystroke, Station Road, Codsall, Wolverhampton
Contents
List of plates ix
List of figures xii
List of tables xiii
Preface xiv
Acknowledgements xvii
Chapter 1 Why study language and intercultural communication? 1
Introduction 1
Definitions 2
Reasons to study language and intercultural communication 4
The characteristics of an ethical intercultural communicator 22
Summary 23
Discussion questions 23
Further reading 24
Chapter 2 The history of the study of language and intercultural communication 25
Introduction 25
The multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary nature of this field of study 26
The study of language and intercultural communication 28
Future directions 46
Summary 46
Discussion questions 47
Further reading 48
Chapter 3 Culture and the primary socialization process 49
Introduction 49
Conceptions of culture 50
Facets of culture 51
The text’s conception of culture 70
Summary 70
Discussion questions 71
Further reading 72
VI CONTENTS
Chapter 4 Language, communication, culture and power in context 73
Introduction 74
Definitions of human communication 74
The components of human communication 76
Communication properties 77
Language, culture and verbal communication styles 90
Characteristics of an effective intercultural communicator in second
language situations 95
Summary 96
Discussion questions 97
Further reading 97
Chapter 5 Language and nonverbal communication 99
Introduction 99
The nature and importance of nonverbal communication 100
The relationship between verbal and nonverbal communication 101
Functions of nonverbal communication 102
Culture and types of nonverbal communication 109
The nonverbal expectancy violation theory 124
Nonverbal intercultural communicative competence 125
Summary 126
Discussion questions 127
Further reading 128
Chapter 6 Language and identity in intercultural communication 129
Introduction 129
Characteristics of identity 130
Types of identities 136
Summary 154
Discussion questions 154
Further reading 155
Chapter 7 Ethnocentricism and Othering: barriers to intercultural communication 157
Introduction 158
Social categorization and Othering 158
Ethnocentricism 160
Stereotyping 161
Bias and prejudice 164
Discrimination 166
Racism 170
Xenophobia 173
Overcoming ethnocentricism and identity biases 174
Summary 177
Discussion questions 177
Further reading 178
CONTENTS VII
Chapter 8 Intercultural transitions: from language and culture shock to adaptation 179
Introduction 180
Types and dimensions of boundary crossers 180
Transitioning to a new culture: Long-term and short-term adaptation 186
Types of transition shock 190
Language and culture shock 192
Stages of culture shock and adjustment 202
An integrative communication theory of cross-cultural adaptation 210
Optimizing intercultural transitions 211
Summary 213
Discussion questions 213
Further reading 214
Video and online resources 215
Note 216
Chapter 9 Intercultural interpersonal relationships 217
Introduction 218
Interpersonal communication and intercultural relationships 218
Crossing boundaries in intercultural interpersonal relationships 219
Benefits of intercultural interpersonal relationships 225
Intercultural friendship and social networks 228
Intercultural romance and marriage 243
Enhancing intercultural interpersonal relationships 245
Summary 246
Discussion questions 247
Further reading 247
Chapter 10 Managing language and intercultural conflict 249
Introduction 250
The nature and characteristics of conflict 250
Domains and types of conflict 251
Cultural dimensions of conflict situations 257
Intercultural conflict styles 260
Facework and intercultural conflict resolution 262
Intercultural conflict competence 264
Managing language and intercultural conflict situations 266
Summary 268
Discussion questions 269
Further reading 270
Chapter 11 Language and intercultural communication in the global workplace 272
Introduction 273
Globalization and diversity in the workplace 273
Englishization, identity and the global workforce 274
The benefits of diversity in the workplace 275
The challenges of diversity in the workplace 278
VIII CONTENTS
Cultural difference frameworks and the global workplace 285
Alternative approaches to intercultural business research, education
and practice 291
Enhancing intercultural communication in today’s global workplace 292
Summary 294
Discussion questions 295
Further reading 295
Chapter 12 Global citizenship and intercultural (communicative) competence 297
Introduction 298
Global citizenship 298
Global competency 303
Intercultural competency 305
Models of intercultural competence 309
Second language proficiency and intercultural competence 315
Requisite competencies for today’s global society 317
Enhancing intercultural (communicative) competence and global
citizenship 317
Summary 321
Discussion questions 322
Further reading 323
References 324
Glossary 356
Index 391
Plates
1.1 Tourism in China has increased in recent years and there has also been a
dramatic rise in the number of Mainland Chinese who are visiting other parts of
the world © Jane Jackson 6
1.2 This McDonald’s restaurant is situated in the heart of Beijing. Critics of
globalization fear that the ‘McDonaldization’ of the world is leading to a lack
of cultural diversity. What do you think? © Jane Jackson 7
1.3 While some nations prosper and benefitfrom globalization, inequality and poverty
persist in many regions © Jane Jackson 8
1.4 Buddhist monks are guided by a code of ethics or precepts linked to their
religious beliefs © Jane Jackson 19
1.5 Muslims perform salat, that is, they pray five times a day facing Mecca © Jane
Jackson 20
1.6 The Hajj (Arabic ) is one of the largest annually occurring pilgrimages in the
world. One of the five pillars of Islam, it is a religious duty that must be carried
out by every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so at least once in his
or her lifetime © Jane Jackson 20
3.1 In traditional Chinese culture, red is considered an auspicious or lucky colour.
At this temple in Beijing, red cards are decorated with images or symbols that are
designed to bestow luck, health and prosperity © Jane Jackson 52
3.2 In Turkey, nazars or charms are used to protect oneself from the curse of the
evil eye. Wearing or hanging up the charm is thought to ward off the negative
energy that is being directed towards you (e.g. envy, jealousy) © Jane Jackson 53
3.3 Prayer wheels play an important role in Tibetan Buddhist tradition and have been
used for over a thousand years © Jane Jackson 55
3.4 Christmas is an annual commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ and a holiday
that is celebrated by millions of Christians on December 25th (or in early January
by Orthodox Christians). Popular modern customs associated with this holiday
include Christmas Eve services in church, large family meals with special food and
decorations (e.g. turkey and cranberry sauce), carol singing, gift-giving, Christmas
pageants, nativity scenes, a decorated Christmas tree, street lights, etc. © Jane
Jackson 56
3.5 With the aim of achieving Perfect Enlightenment, Buddhist shrines are designed
to encourage holy beings to come down and stay to enrich the wisdom and
compassion of the practitioner © Jane Jackson 57
4.1 The image and words in these signs may be comprehensible to someone from
Spain but not be well understood by a newcomer who is unfamiliar with Spanish
language and culture © Jane Jackson 80