3. Theoretical perspectives on communication and cultures
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Abstract
This chapter provides an overview of contemporary theoretical perspectives in culture and communication scholarship, based on a review of articles published 2010-2014 in 5 well-known culture and communication journals. The analysis identified four characteristics of each article/abstract: meta/theoretical perspective (critical, interpretive, social science), research context (face to face, mediated etc), focus (intracultural, cross cultural, intercultural), and target cultural group (e.g., African-Americans, Asians, etc); as well as primary topic/s addressed. The review revealed a broad range of topics, foci and contexts. In addition, while the tripartite framework appears useful in understanding the range of current meta/ theoretical perspectives, there is a lack of interrogation of these Western approaches, as well as a lack of attention to economically, politically and geo-strategically less-powerful countries, resulting in “silent zones” in our theorizing. The chapter then calls for scholarship that really matter to contemporary humans as as nearly half of humans live on less than $2.50/day, there are more displaced people in the world than at any other time in human history, and ethnic and religious conflicts threaten the stability of vast world regions. Finally, specific research strategies are identified that may enhance our knowledge and more effectively apply this knowledge to critically important global communication challenges.
Abstract
This chapter provides an overview of contemporary theoretical perspectives in culture and communication scholarship, based on a review of articles published 2010-2014 in 5 well-known culture and communication journals. The analysis identified four characteristics of each article/abstract: meta/theoretical perspective (critical, interpretive, social science), research context (face to face, mediated etc), focus (intracultural, cross cultural, intercultural), and target cultural group (e.g., African-Americans, Asians, etc); as well as primary topic/s addressed. The review revealed a broad range of topics, foci and contexts. In addition, while the tripartite framework appears useful in understanding the range of current meta/ theoretical perspectives, there is a lack of interrogation of these Western approaches, as well as a lack of attention to economically, politically and geo-strategically less-powerful countries, resulting in “silent zones” in our theorizing. The chapter then calls for scholarship that really matter to contemporary humans as as nearly half of humans live on less than $2.50/day, there are more displaced people in the world than at any other time in human history, and ethnic and religious conflicts threaten the stability of vast world regions. Finally, specific research strategies are identified that may enhance our knowledge and more effectively apply this knowledge to critically important global communication challenges.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter i
- Preface to Handbooks of Communication Science series v
- Contents ix
- 1. Cultures, communication, and contexts of intercultural communication 1
-
Part I. History, perspectives and theories
- 2. Murky waters: Histories of intercultural communication research 19
- 3. Theoretical perspectives on communication and cultures 45
- 4. Non-Western theories of communication: Indigenous ideas and insights 67
- 5. Issues in intercultural communication: A semantic network analysis 99
- 6. Cultural communication: Advancing understanding in a multi-cultural world 119
-
Part II. Cross cultural comparison
- 7. Multifaceted identity approaches and cross-cultural communication styles: Selective overview and future directions 141
- 8. Verbal communication across cultures 179
- 9. Interpersonal communication and relationships across cultures 199
- 10. Emotion display and expression 219
- 11. A cultured look at nonverbal cues 239
- 12. What’s past is prologue: Lessons from conflict, communication, and culture research from half a century ago 261
- 13. Aging and communication across cultures 289
- 14. Culture-centered communication and social change: Listening and participation to transform communication inequalities 309
-
Part III. Intercultural encounter
- 15. Ethnocentrism and intercultural communication 331
- 16. Issues in the conceptualization of intercultural communication competence 349
- 17. Intergroup communication 369
- 18. Interethnic communication: An interdisciplinary overview 389
- 19. Experience and cultural learning in global business contexts 415
- 20. Cross-cultural adaptation: An identity approach 437
- 21. Intercultural friendship and communication 457
- 22. Exploring intercultural communication problems in health care with a communication accommodation competence approach 481
-
Part IV. Interactions and exchange between cultures
- 23. Cross-border mediated messages 503
- 24. Stereotyping and Communication 529
- 25. Translation as intercultural communication: Survey and analysis 563
- 26. Consuming nations − Brand nationality in the global marketplace: A Review 581
- 27. Intercultural communication in the world of business 597
- 28. Intercultural new media studies: Still the next frontier in intercultural communication 617
- Biographical notes 637
- Index 649
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter i
- Preface to Handbooks of Communication Science series v
- Contents ix
- 1. Cultures, communication, and contexts of intercultural communication 1
-
Part I. History, perspectives and theories
- 2. Murky waters: Histories of intercultural communication research 19
- 3. Theoretical perspectives on communication and cultures 45
- 4. Non-Western theories of communication: Indigenous ideas and insights 67
- 5. Issues in intercultural communication: A semantic network analysis 99
- 6. Cultural communication: Advancing understanding in a multi-cultural world 119
-
Part II. Cross cultural comparison
- 7. Multifaceted identity approaches and cross-cultural communication styles: Selective overview and future directions 141
- 8. Verbal communication across cultures 179
- 9. Interpersonal communication and relationships across cultures 199
- 10. Emotion display and expression 219
- 11. A cultured look at nonverbal cues 239
- 12. What’s past is prologue: Lessons from conflict, communication, and culture research from half a century ago 261
- 13. Aging and communication across cultures 289
- 14. Culture-centered communication and social change: Listening and participation to transform communication inequalities 309
-
Part III. Intercultural encounter
- 15. Ethnocentrism and intercultural communication 331
- 16. Issues in the conceptualization of intercultural communication competence 349
- 17. Intergroup communication 369
- 18. Interethnic communication: An interdisciplinary overview 389
- 19. Experience and cultural learning in global business contexts 415
- 20. Cross-cultural adaptation: An identity approach 437
- 21. Intercultural friendship and communication 457
- 22. Exploring intercultural communication problems in health care with a communication accommodation competence approach 481
-
Part IV. Interactions and exchange between cultures
- 23. Cross-border mediated messages 503
- 24. Stereotyping and Communication 529
- 25. Translation as intercultural communication: Survey and analysis 563
- 26. Consuming nations − Brand nationality in the global marketplace: A Review 581
- 27. Intercultural communication in the world of business 597
- 28. Intercultural new media studies: Still the next frontier in intercultural communication 617
- Biographical notes 637
- Index 649
