Cross-Cultural and Intercultural Communication

Derived from the best-selling Handbook of International and Intercultural Communication, Second Edition, this economically priced paperback version contains only the chapters dealing with cross-cultural and intercultural communication. Cross-Cultural and Intercultural Communication provides an extensive overview of cross-cultural variations in communication and expands upon the Handbook by viewing intercultural communication in terms of intergroup communication.

Intercultural communication is a relatively new area of research in the communication discipline but has made tremendous progress in recent years. The book maintains that understanding cross-cultural communication is a prerequisite to understanding intercultural communication. Part One of the book discusses cross-cultural communication—the comparison of communication across cultures—and Part Two examines intercultural communication—the communication between people from different cultures. Each part begins with an introduction, includes a chapter on theory, and ends with a chapter on issues.

A new foreword by William Gudykunst frames the structure of the text. The book looks at methodological issues that need to be considered in order to conduct cross-cultural research and test theories. The issues examined include making theoretical predictions, designing cross-cultural research, isolating effects to be studied, establishing equivalence, developing derived measures, and establishing the reliability and validity of measures. Gudykunst also reviews 15 intercultural communication theories in five categories including theories focusing on effective outcomes, accommodation or adaptation, identity negotiation, communication networks, and acculturation or adjustment.

Cross-Cultural and Intercultural Communication covers such topics as: language and verbal communication across cultures; nonverbal communication across cultures; cultural influences on the expression and perception of emotions; identity and intergroup communication; communication in intercultural relationships; and adapting to an unfamiliar culture. With contributions from experts in the field, the book provides students with a comprehensive synopsis of the knowledge to date about cross-cultural and intercultural communication.