AJL22091 Sociolinguistics: Dimensions of Intercultural Communication

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2024

The course is not taught in Autumn 2024

Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
prof. Mgr. Jan Chovanec, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. Mgr. Jan Chovanec, Ph.D.
Department of English and American Studies – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Tomáš Hanzálek
Supplier department: Department of English and American Studies – Faculty of Arts
Prerequisites
The course addresses the following subject areas: Intercultural communication, cross-cultural pragmatics, linguistics, cultural studies. No pre-requisites are expected.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 20 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/20, only registered: 0/20
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 12 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
The aim of the course is to provide basic understanding of the practices of intercultural communication from a broad linguistic perspective. The course will address problems of communication in professional (work-related/business) contexts, as well as less formal interpersonal interactions (romance, international travel). We will discuss the relevant phenomena from the points of view of the face/politeness theory and the theory of cultural scripts, probing the different cultural worldviews that various communities have on the basis of on their different languages.
Learning outcomes
After passing this course, students will be able to:
- identify some of the typical problems in intercultural communication and understand their causes;
- describe the causes of miscommunication using relevant theoretical frameworks;
- overcome some of these problems or suggest solutions for dealing with them.
Syllabus
  • The course will have two main segments:
  • 1) Intercultural communication from the point of view of linguistics (the operation of pragmatic principles, face, miscommunication, academic styles) 2) Introduction to basic concepts and models of intercultural communication (a short history of research in the field, cultural differences and value dimensions, as well as a variety of other practical and theoretical approaches).
  • The following topics will be covered:
  • 1. Language and culture, the sign and semiosis. 2. Language, worldview, relativity and cultural identity. 3. Face. Interpersonal politeness and power. 4. Institutional communication. 5. Business communication. 6. Bridging miscommunication. 7. Intercultural communication and stereotyping. 8. Cultural scripts and language - Wierzbicka's approach to "Anglo" culture. 9. Humour, mockery and cross-cultural issues. 10. Intercultural communication at work. 11. Global multiculturalism, intercultural romance. 12. Case studies (current research).
Literature
    required literature
  • Intercultural communicationa critical introduction. Edited by Ingrid Piller. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2011, ix, 197 p. ISBN 9780748632442. info
  • KRAMSCH, Claire J. Language and culture. 1st pub. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998, x, 134. ISBN 0194372146. info
  • Sarangi, Srikant and Malcolm Coulthard (2000) Discourse and Social Life. Harlow: Longman.
  • WIERZBICKA, Anna. English : meaning and culture. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006, ix, 352. ISBN 0195174755. info
    recommended literature
  • Scollon, Ron, Suzanne Wong Scollon and Rodney H. Jones (2012) Intercultural Communication: A Discourse Approach. Wiley-Blackwell.
  • Selected chapters from the above publications as well as additional readings from other sources
  • UNDERHILL, James W. Creating worldviews : metaphor, ideology and language. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2013, viii, 299. ISBN 9780748679096. info
    not specified
  • Hofstede, Geert H. (1997) Cultures and Organizations. Software of the Mind.
  • Chen, Guo-Ming (2005) Foundations of Intercultural Communication
  • Bilingual couples talkthe discursive construction of hybridity. Edited by Ingrid Piller. Philadelphia: J. Benjamins, 2002, xii, 314 p. ISBN 158811287X. info
Teaching methods
Seminar work, independent reading, essay. Individual student presentations.
Assessment methods
Students will be expected to submit 3-5 brief reflections on the independent readings during the course. The final written exam will address the students' understanding of the relevant literature and their ability to see connections between the authors and concepts. There is no final essay for this course.
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
The course is taught once in two years.
The course is taught: in blocks.
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