Readings | Communicating Across Cultures | Global Studies and Languages

Texts

Samovar, Larry A., and Richard E. Porter. Communication Between Cultures. 5th ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing Co., 2003. ISBN: 0534569307.

Please see the study materials section for a list of suggested readings.

Readings by Session

Readings Lists
ses #	topics	readings
1	Introduction to Course and Each Other Why Intercultural Communication Is Hard	Samovar and Porter. Chapter 1. Tierney, John. "Baffled Occupiers, or the Missed Understanding," New York Times, October 22, 2003.
2	Cultural Patterning and Variability	Samovar and Porter. Chapters 2 and 3. (Skim after p. 92) Stewart, Edward, Jack Danielian, and Robert Foster. "Cultural Assumptions and Values." In Basic Concepts of Intercultural Communication. Edited by Milton J. Bennett. Yarmouth, ME: Intercultural Press, Inc., 1998, pp. 156-172. ISBN: 1877864625.
3	Cultural Patterning and Variability (cont.)	Victor, David A. "Individualism and Collectivism" and "Issues of Contexting and Face-Saving in International Business Communication." In International Business Communication. New York, NY: Harper Collins, 1992, pp. 101-106, and 137-148. ISBN: 0673460916. Goode, Erica. "How Cultures Mold Habits of Thought," New York Times, August 8, 2000. French, Howard W. "Hypothesis: A Scientific Gap. Conclusion: Japanese Custom," New York Times, August 7, 2001.
4	The Unique Relationship Between Culture and Communication	Samovar and Porter. Chapter 4. pp. 138-146. Carey, James W. "A Cultural Approach to Communication." Communication 2 (1975): 1-22. Onishi, Norimitsu. "Japanese Workers Get Word from on High: Drop the Formality," New York Times, October 30, 2003.
5	Intercultural Interaction: Verbal Communication (With a Special Emphasis on Communication Between the Genders)	Samovar and Porter. Chapter 4. pp. 146-164. Ishii, Satoshi and Tom Bruneau. "Silence and Silences in Cross-Cultural Perspective: Japan and the United States." In Intercultural Communication: A Reader. Edited by Larry A. Samovar and Richard E. Porter. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing Company, 1994, pp. 66-71. ISBN: 0534147720. Maltz, Daniel N. and Ruth A. Borker. "A Cultural Approach To Male-Female Miscommunication." In Language and Social Identity. Edited by John J. Gumperz. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 1982, pp. 196-216. ISBN: 0521288975.
6	Intercultural Interaction: Nonverbal Communication	Samovar and Porter. Chapter 5.
7	Intercultural Challenges	Samovar and Porter. Chapters 9 and 10. Bennett, Jack. "Transition Shock: Putting Culture Shock in Perspective." In Basic Concepts of Intercultural Communication. Edited by Milton J. Bennett. Yarmouth, ME: Intercultural Press, Inc., 1998, pp. 215-223. ISBN: 1877864625. Pollock, David and Ruth Van Renken. "Who Are Third Culture Kids?" In Third Culture Kids: The Experience of Growing Up Among Worlds. New ed. Yarmouth, ME: Intercultural Press, 2001. ISBN: 1857882954.
8	Intercultural Communication Practices: Managing, Negotiating, and Persuading	Samovar and Porter. Chapter 6. (Chapters 7 and 8 optional) Ting-Toomey, Stella. "Managing Intercultural Conflicts Effectively." In Intercultural Communication: A Reader. Edited by Larry A. Samovar and Richard E. Porter. 10th ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing Company, 2002. ISBN: 053456495X. Anderson, Janice. "A Comparison of Arab and American Conceptions of 'Effective' Persuasion." In Intercultural Communication: A Reader. Edited by Larry A. Samovar and Richard E. Porter. 8th ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing Company, 2002. ISBN: 053456495X.
9	Intercultural Communication Practices: Teamwork
10	Germany	Nees, Greg. "Major German Cultural Themes," "German Communication Patterns," and "Building Better Business Relationships." In Germany: Unraveling an Enigma. Yarmouth, ME: Intercultural Press, 2000, pp. 35-59, 61-96, and 131-149. ISBN: 1877864757.
11	Germany (cont.)
12	Mexico	Couch, Ned. "A Different Sense of Space." In Mexicans and Americans: Cracking the Cultural Code. London, UK: Nicholas Brealey Pub, 2004, pp. 45-53. ISBN: 185788342X. Paz, Octavio. "The Sons of La Malinche." In The Labyrinth of Solitude. New ed. London, UK: Penguin Books, 1990, pp. 65-88. ISBN: 0140189564.
13	Mexico (cont.)
14	Arab Cultures	Nydell, Margaret K. Understanding Arabs: A Guide for Westerners. Yarmouth, ME: Intercultural Press, 1987. ISBN: 0933662653. Lewis, Bernard. Introduction and Conclusion to What Went Wrong: The Clash Between Islam and Modernity in the Middle East. 1st Perennial ed. New York, NY: Perennial, 2003. ISBN: 0060516054. Berman, Paul. "Al Qaeda's Philosopher." New York Times Magazine, March 23, 2003.
15	Arab Cultures (cont.)
16	African Cultures	Richmond, Yale and Phyllis Gestrin. "The African Community" and "Face-to-Face with Africans." In Into Africa: intercultural insights. Yarmouth, ME: Intercultural Press, 1998, pp. 1-74 and 75-123. ISBN: 1877864579. Martin, Phyllis and Patrick O'Meara. "Africa: Problems and Perspectives." In Africa. 3rd ed. Bloomington, IN: Indiana Unversity Press, 1995, pp. 3-9. ISBN: 0253209846. McNulty, Michael L. "The Contemporary Map of Africa." In Africa. Edited by Martin, Phyllis and Patrick O'Meara. 3rd ed. Bloomington, IN: Indiana Unversity Press, 1995, pp. 10-45. ISBN: 0253209846. McCall, John. "Social Organization in Africa." In Africa. Edited by Martin, Phyllis and Patrick O'Meara. 3rd ed. Bloomington, IN: Indiana Unversity Press, 1995, pp. 175-189. ISBN: 0253209846.
17	Traditional African Cultures (cont.)	Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. New York, NY: McDowell, Obolensky, 1959, chapter 19, pp. 168-173. Okpewho, Isidore. "Introduction." In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart: A Casebook. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 2003. ISBN: 0195147642. Bohannan, Paul and Philip Curtin. "African Families." In Africa and Africans. Revised ed. Garden City, New York, NY: Natural History Press, 1971.
18	Japan	Gercik, Patricia. "Introduction," "Know Me," "Trust Me," "Believe Me," and "Marry Me." Cases from On Track with the Japanese: A Case-by-Case Approach to Building Successful Relationships. New York, NY: Kodansha International, 1996. ISBN: 1568361300.
19	Japan (cont.)
20	China	Chen, Guo-Ming. "From Sorry to Apology: Understanding the Chinese." Chinese Community Forum, no. 27 (July 11, 2001). Chen, Guo-Ming and William Starosta. "Chinese Conflict Management and Resolution: Overview and Implications." Intercultural Communication Studies VII, no. 1 (1997-8): 1-16. Chang, Shan-nan. "The Comparison of Collectivism of University Students in Hong Kong, Singapore, Mainland China, and Taiwan." Paper presented at The First Conference of The Comparative Education Society of Asia, Tokyo, December 1996.
21	China (cont.)
22	The Annual 21G.019 Movie and Potluck Dinner
23-25	Team Presentations
26	Wrap Up