Synopses & Reviews
The second edition of this lively introduction serves as a guide to the main concepts and problems of intercultural communication. Viewed from within the framework of interactive sociolinguistics associated with Tannen, Gumperz, and others, the authors focus in particular on the discourse of westerners and of Asians, the discourse of men and women, corporate discourse and the discourse of professional organizations, and intergenerational discourse.
In this newly revised edition, the first chapter now includes a section that sets out the authors' distinction between cross-cultural communication and intercultural communication. Another section outlines the methodology of ethnography that is the practical basis of the authors' research. In the new final chapter, the authors return to this methodology and show how they and others have been able to use it and this book to do new research in intercultural communication and how this work has been used in conducting training and consultation programs.
While making use of research in pragmatics, discourse analysis, organizational communication, social psychology, and the ethnography of communication, this book presents students, researchers, and practitioners with a comprehensive and unified framework for the analysis of intercultural discourse.
Review
"The theoretical discussions are excellent. The Scollons provide a unique combination of all the essential topics in cross-cultural communication, a sophisticated and original theoretical framework, and an unusually well-organized and concise presentation of the material. The book is extremely well written: it is clear and full of telling examples. I can't imagine a better treatment of the
topic." Deborah Tannen, Professor of Linguistics, Georgetown University "The Scollons mix contemporary linguistic anthropology with modern concerns over intercultural communication and forge a creative, important blend. Their lively and accessible approach will enlighten anyone who lives and works in our culturally diverse world." Michael Agar, Professor Emeritus, University of Maryland
Synopsis
This newly revised volume is both a lively introduction and practical guide to the main concepts and problems of intercultural communication. Viewed from within the framework of interactive sociolinguistics associated with Tannen, Gumperz, and others, the authors focus in particular on the discourse of westerners and of Asians, the discourse of men and women, corporate discourse and the discourse of professional organizations, and intergenerational discourse.
- Views intercultural communication from within the framework of interactive sociolinguistics, with an emphasis on discourse analysis
- Numerous examples demonstrate the relationship between culture and communication
- Outlines the methodology of ethnography, and shows how it is used for new research in intercultural communication
- Illustrates the value of ethnographic research for conducting training and consultation programs.
About the Author
Ron Scollon is Professor of Linguistics at Georgetown University.
Suzanne Wong Scollon is Research Coordinator for Asian Sociocultural Research Projects, in the Department of Linguistics at Georgetown University.
They have written extensively on intercultural communication, from academic positions in North American universities as well as Taiwan, South Korea, and Hong Kong, and in consultancies with over fifty governmental and corporate organizations in North America, Asia, and Europe.
Table of Contents
List of Figures.
Series Editor's Preface.
Preface.
1. What is a Discourse Approach?.
2. How, When and Where to Do Things with Language.
3. Interpersonal Politeness and Power.
4. Conversational Inference: Interpretation in Spoken Discourse.
5. Topic and Face: Inductive and Deductive Patterns in Discourse.
6. Ideologies of Discourse.
7. What is Culture? Intercultural Communication and Stereotyping.
8. Corporate Discourse.
9. Professional Discourse.
10. Generational Discourse.
11. Gender Discourse.
12. Using a Discourse Approach to Intercultural Communication.
References.
Index.