This course offers a meaning based-approach to cross-cultural communication. In different societies people speak differently, not only because they speak different languages but because their ways of using language are different. These differences can be profound and systematic, reflecting different cultural values, or at least different hierarchies of values. This can be the case even within one country. By studying cultural values manifesting themselves in different ways of speaking, we can improve our ability to interact with others.

Topics explored in the course include the following: The ‘logic of conversation': Are there universal principles of human conversation?; Different styles of social interaction; communicative styles and ‘cultural scripts', key words and core cultural values; heterogeneity of cultures and the problem of stereotyping; different cultural attitudes to emotions and non-verbal communication. Selected cultural profiles include Anglo-Australian culture, Anglo-American culture, African American culture, Australian Aboriginal Culture, Chinese culture, French culture, Japanese culture, Jewish culture, Korean culture, Malay culture, Melanesian cultures, Polish culture, Russian culture, Southeast Asian cultures, Spanish-speaking cultures, and West African cultures. 

By the end of the course, you should be able to

1. explain how and why miscommunication happens and how stereotypes are formed;
2. identify speech practices that are characteristic to a culture;
3. describe cultural norms from a culture-internal and non-ethnocentric perspective;
4. reflect on your experience and contribute, in your own way, to a better cross-cultural understanding in Australia and in the world.
5. Generic skills: Intercultural awareness

Test: 1 hour (20%), Essay: 3500 words (40%), Final examination:2 hours (40%)

3 hours of classes for 8 weeks, 2 hours of classes for 5 weeks, and up to 4 hours a week outside contact hours.

No assumed knowledge or required skills

Wierzbicka, Anna. 2003. Cross-Cultural Pragmatics: The Semantics of Human Interaction. (2^nd Edition). (New Introduction, Chapters 2 -6). Available at the Co-op Bookshop.  (Two copies are held on Short Loan at Chifley library.)

a reading brick available on-line

Besemeres, Mary and Anna Wierzbicka (eds.). 2007. Translating Lives: Living with Two Languages and Cultures. St. Lucia: Queensland University Press.

Goddard, Cliff (ed.) 2006. Ethnopragmatics: Understanding Discourse in Cultural Context. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter.