Volume 4, Issue 1

Integrating intergroup contact theory and communication accommodation theory, this study examined associations between participants’ ( N  = 780) communication experiences with people with visible physical disabilities (PWVPD) and intergroup attitudes. Findings revealed that accommodative communication functioned as a positive form of intergroup contact. Specifically, perceptions of communication accommodation to PWVPD were positively associated with intergroup attitudes. Additionally, perceived accommodation to PWVPD had significant positive indirect associations with positive interability attitudes through anxiety reduction and empathy building. However, nonaccommodative communication behaviors functioned as a negative type of intergroup contact. While communication nonaccommodation did not directly affect intergroup attitudes, nonaccommodative communication from PWVPD had significant negative indirect associations through the same mediators with intergroup attitudes. This study highlights the ways in which positive and negative forms of interability communication influence disability attitudes directly and indirectly through empathy and anxiety.

The China Weekly Review ( The Review ) was an English-language weekly political and financial magazine established in Shanghai, China, in 1917 by Thomas F. Millard and John B. Powell, two American news professionals. With a team of skilled journalists trained in American journalistic practices, The Review covered major political and social issues in China using American reportorial methods. It tracked the evolution of extraterritoriality in China, offering detailed international context and presenting multiple perspectives from the Treaty Powers. It also humanized this complicated and controversial issue by relating it to gambling and opium smuggling, and thus published numerous compelling stories exposing various abuses related to this issue. As a periodical review, in the early years, it took a clear stance of arguing for complete abolishment of extraterritoriality in China, which distinguished it from most other Western newspapers in China. Therefore, The Review cultivated an image of the U.S. as more favorable to or aligned with Chinese interests than other Western powers, particularly Britain. However, by the late 1940s, its reporting began to reflect a more complex and sometimes negative view of developments in China. Consequently, assessments of The Review’s stance on Chinese affairs should consider the specific historical context and content of its reporting during different periods.

This study investigates Nyumbantobhu , a practice among the Kuria people, challenging conventional interpretations and offering a nuanced understanding of its complex dynamics. Moving beyond simplistic portrayals of Nyumbantobhu as solely oppressive, this research examines it as a site of contested agency for Kuria women, exploring how they navigate and negotiate their roles within this context, particularly through language. While existing literature has addressed aspects of Nyumbantobhu , often focusing on its potential for gender-based violence or its impact on infertile women, a significant gap remains in understanding the nuanced ways in which women exercise agency and how language shapes the practice’s meaning and impact. This study addresses this gap by investigating two primary objectives: to explore the contested agency of Kuria women within Nyumbantobhu , examining how they navigate and negotiate their roles through language; and to analyze the role of language in constructing the meaning and impact of Nyumbantobhu , considering the intersectional experiences of women involved in the practice. Based on data sources encompassing interviews, narratives, and existing literature, the research advances several key arguments, revealing the dynamic interplay of agency, language, and social construction. This study integrates feminist theory, intersectionality, and social constructionism with linguistic analysis. The findings underscore how language functions as both a tool for conformity and subversion, how evolving kinship terms reflect shifting family dynamics, and how gendered language reveals embedded power relations. This research provides novel insights into how social realities are constructed and negotiated, contributing to broader conversations about gender, language, and social transformation within East African communities.

The translation and scholarship of African literature in China have evolved through three distinct phases: the initial sporadic translations, the rapid expansion following the reform and opening-up, and the sustained growth since the 21st century. By examining the history and current state of the translation and scholarship of African literature in China, it is imperative for Chinese scholars to transcend Western centrism and approach African literature with a uniquely Chinese perspective. Furthermore, the translation and scholarship of African literature in China play a critical role in bridging mutual perceptions between China and Africa. They not only facilitate a deeper comprehension of African society and culture – contributing to a more nuanced and respectful engagement and transforming perceptions – but also enhance cross-cultural communication between China and Africa, fostering a more inclusive and diverse global literary landscape.

This comprehensive review critically examines the representation of Indian Muslims in mainstream Bollywood cinema, unpacking prevalent stereotypes, misrepresentations, and evolving narratives. Drawing from an extensive corpus of scholarly literature spanning film studies, media analyses, and cultural discourses, it explores historical underpinnings, socio-political influences, and multifaceted implications of such depictions on intercultural understanding, identity formation, and social cohesion within India’s pluralistic fabric. The findings underscore the urgency for more nuanced, diverse, and authentic portrayals that challenge entrenched biases and foster transcultural dialogue. The paper concludes by proposing concrete recommendations for filmmakers, scholars, and policymakers to drive inclusive, responsible representations that promote empathy and social harmony.