Different cultures have differences in their ways and norms of communicating. Perhaps this difference is a language (Cantonese vs. Putonghua), or politeness norms (using honorifics and surnames versus first names), or nonverbal communication (bowing as a greeting). In seeking to understand these differences, we may encounter popular explanations about communicative behavior that make generalizations about groups and see these generalizations manifested in stereotypes in advertisements, films, and news. While (briefly) examining some of these popular accounts, this course focuses on intercultural communication from a critical sociolinguistics perspective. We will try to answer questions such as ‘What are the groups or social structures associated with particular cultures?’, ‘How is culture invoked in different contexts?’, ‘Who is advantaged and who is disadvantaged when culturally different ways of communicating come in to contact?’, and ‘Why?’ We will cover multiple contexts where intercultural communication has been studied, including travel, education, business, health, marketing, and romance. At the end of the course, students will complete a project of their choosing, involving fieldwork to research and analyze intercultural communication as it interests/impacts them.

 

1. Academic and popular approaches to intercultural communication
2. Culture, language, and nation
3. Multilingualism
4. Intercultural communication in education, business, tourism, and romance

 

The course consists of two-hour interactive lectures. You are expected to complete readings every week in preparation for the lectures.

 

On successfully completing the course, students will be able to:

1. Develop a broad and in-depth understanding of intercultural communication and its genealogy
2. Examine and appraise the differences between popular and scholarly engagements with intercultural communication
3. Critically engage with academic writing on intercultural communication
4. Recognize when and how culture is invoked in communication
5. Conduct fieldwork in intercultural communication in an area of interest

 

Participation and contribution including activities for some weeks       20%

In-class writing exercise                                                                                 30%

Outline for fieldwork project                                                                          15%

Fieldwork project (including outline due earlier)                                        35%

                                                                                                                           100%

Ingrid Piller. (2017). Intercultural Communication: A Critical Introduction. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.

Students should read the online version on the HKU library website or purchase the hardcopy (available through multiple online platforms such as Book Depository or Amazon).

Other readings will be given during the course and either made available on Moodle or freely downloadable from HKU Library E-resources.