This research studies Pakeha who have engaged with Maori cultural learning contexts. Within a social constructionist theoretical framework, and with a combination of the critical and communicative approaches to cultural identity, the research explores the meaning these Pakeha bring to being Pakeha. Discourse analysis tools of interpretative repertoires and linguistic resources are used to analyse data from semi-structured interviews with six Paheha participants. Participants have experienced Maori cultural learning contexts before or during the research, through learning te reo, tikanga Maori and about nga ao o nga iwi Maori. The research found that, largely, meanings participants brought to being Pakeha were in contrast to stereotypical notions of what it means to be Pakeha. Participants demonstrated that for them being Pakeha meant being connected to nga ao o nga iwi Maori; being aware of Pakeha privilege; mediating and negotiating being Pakeha with dominant notions of Pakehaness; valuing the history of Aotearoa-New Zealand, along with valuing te reo me ona tikanga. Furthermore, the research also found that the consistently postcolonial identity participants brought to being Pakeha shifted according to context, troubling the meanings of Pakeha also.

在全球化的趨勢下，外語教學所強調的交際能力不再侷限於語言形式的相關技能，而是透過對文化的分析解釋，幫助學習者獲得更全面的溝通能力。文學作品透過各層面的文學想像，幫助學習者意識到實際交際的複雜性、模糊性。而文學作為現實生活的反映，往往會引起不同背景的學習者對不同文化與文明之間的共鳴，藉此了解跨文化交際間雙方對所處的社會現實不同的理解。 魯迅的小說作品刻畫出中國人的民族性格，是中國文化的可貴資產。他筆下的人物、歷史意蘊、文化色彩等，正好為學習者提供相應的語境，幫助學習者自作品中的社會交往符號和常規了解另一個社會的文化群體。然而目前華語文教學界在理論研究上對中國現代文學課程缺乏足夠的重視，故本研究旨在探討魯迅小說於文化課程上之應用。 本文採質的研究法，探討文學與文化於華語文教學上之運用，並以〈孔乙己〉、〈祝福〉、〈阿Q正傳〉三篇小說為討論範圍。文化課程實踐將以〈祝福〉為主，進行試驗教學，並根據其教學結果評估，適當修正〈孔乙己〉、〈阿Q正傳〉之教案。針對上述提及的魯迅文化觀之分析，本論文將從兩方面觀照：一、以魯迅的三篇小說為範圍，論述魯迅所批評的中國文化觀，並闡釋魯迅小說所傳達的思想內容。二、探討一九一九至一九七六年後文藝批評者對魯迅的評價及研究。 根據研究結果，研究結論有二：一、魯迅小說著作是提升華語文學習者之文化意識的重要素材；二、學習者能主動參與以魯迅小說為主題而設計的文化討論。最後，研究者根據研究結果提出相關建議：一、語言學習者的交際能力可能受限於目標語的文化知識。故為了幫助在台學習華語的外籍生獲得更全面的交際能力，結合台灣文學以及其背後的民俗意義於文化教學中，勢必能提高學生對文化的學習動機；二、語言作為一種符號系統，在編碼和解碼的過程中能反映某種文化意義，故結合文學的語言形式和文化內容設計閱讀課程是必要的。 / With the trend of globalization, communicative competence in foreign language education requires not only the goal of communicative efficiency but the development of culture awareness. In other words, it is not sufficient for learners to know how to communicate meanings but to understand the practice of meaning making itself. Literary texts are products that reflect different aspects of society. For it is through literature, serving as cultural documents, that learners can sense the complexity and ambiguity in norms of interaction in cross-cultural situations, and thus to be sympathetic to a different country and culture. Lu Xun’s novels, analyzing specific “Chinese national characteristics”, had a great impact on how modern China looks in the past. Through the historical background, emotional resonances and moral imaginings embodied in Lu Xun’s novels, learners are able to gain a deeper understanding of Chinese culture. However, literature has not been given much emphasis in the TCSL classroom. As a result, the purpose of the thesis is to explore Lu Xun’s perspective on Chinese culture and to apply its results to the practical use of teaching Chinese. A qualitative research method was employed to analyze Lu Xun’s novels and to exploit the novel called “New Year’s Sacrifice” in the classroom. In detail, the present thesis focuses on two discussions: (1) Analyzing Lu Xun’s novels: The underlying value orientations presented in “Kong Yiji”, ”The True Story of Ah Q “ and “New Year’s Sacrifice “will be discussed. (2) Analyzing critical appraisals of Lu Xun’s work in order to figure out how Lu Xun became one of the most prominent authors of modern China: Critics’ views in 1919 to the years after 1976 will be examined. Results of the study indicate that the multiple layers of cultural meaning in Lu Xun’s novels can raise learners’ culture awareness as well as motivate learners to discover the underlying concept of culture. Lastly, the suggestions developed from the discussions are provided as follows: (1) Negotiation of meaning often flounders because of a lack of understanding and trust of how to participate in different discourse environments. Thus, Taiwanese literature can be included in culture teaching for students who are learning Chinese in Taiwan. Through the cultural context provided in Taiwanese literature, students are able to acquire a much more sophisticated competence in the manipulation of symbolic systems and also to enhance positive attitudes toward Taiwanese culture group. (2) The interaction between language and culture should be considered as a substantial part of culturally oriented language courses.

This study investigates the values that the print media place on human lives in an international context. This was conducted by examining the coverage of death in international news. Although the research literature shows a number of studies that examined the coverage of death, this particular study differs from previous studies because all such previous research has had either a narrow focus or shortcomings in their research methods. In this context, this study is a comprehensive evaluation of how newspapers cover death in foreign news. By focussing on quality newspapers in Germany and Australia, namely the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, the Süddeutsche, The Australian and the Sydney Morning Herald, the study identified the differences in the coverage of death in these newspapers. In particular the study examined whether these newspapers gave preference in any form to reports of death from countries that were culturally similar as opposed to countries that were culturally dissimilar countries. The study further examined and highlighted the basis on which journalists in Germany and Australia made news decisions about whether or not to cover foreign events that included death and what criteria informed their news decisions. By applying a cultural framework developed especially for the purpose of examining international news, the study found clear evidence that journalists primarily look for a cultural connection to their own country in making news judgments in regard to foreign news coverage. The framework used in this study was based on the following four cultural dimensions: world views, value systems, systems of social organisation and systems of symbolic representation. In this regard, an event in which a large number of people have died, but which is located in a country that does not have many links along these dimensions with the newspaper’s home country will not necessarily rate very highly. In contrast, an event involving a few dead people would rate highly if the event occurred in a country with which the newspaper’s home country has many links along the four dimensions. In this regard, issues such as news fatigue, also called compassion fatigue, can be overcome by a cultural connection to another country. Differences in how German and Australian quality newspapers treated stories about foreign death, both in the use of language and the use of photographs, were also examined in detail. In this regard, Australian newspapers were found to display relatively more tabloid characteristics than German newspapers, with clear differences in the language used when describing death. Differences in the use of graphic photographs were not as clear, though distinctions could still be made to a certain degree across national lines. In general, journalists’ approaches to how they treated death could also be traced back to some distinct cultural differences between Germany and Australia.

Set within the framework of the newly established field of variational pragmatics (Schneider and Barron, 2008), this study investigates pragmatic variation between two different regional varieties of English, namely American English and Singaporean English. Specifically, the speech act of compliment responses is compared. The data were collected through written discourse completion tasks (DCT) and responses were analysed and coded using an adapted version of Holmes’ (1988) categorization system for compliment responses (CRs). The CRs come from a total of 40 participants and a total of 320 compliment responses were analysed. The DCT was supplemented by an introspective-recall with six participants. The findings demonstrate that the preferred strategy for both groups is in the order of accept, evade and reject. Even so, the Singaporeans use more reject strategies and less accept strategies than the Americans do. Further, the Americans employ more combination strategies than the Singaporeans. The Singaporeans however, employ more non-verbal and paralinguistic cues than the Americans. The results also show differences in the two varieties’ attitudes to and perceptions of compliment responses. In addition, the study suggests that compliments in Singapore might be undergoing a change. The findings are particularly important for pedagogical purposes.

Global virtual (GV) teams provide an opportunity for engineering students to participate in meaningful, cross-cultural learning projects without additional costs of time and money associated with study abroad programs. However, students must learn how to communicate effectively with international team members. Instruction to help students learn which virtual communication technologies to use and how to use them is needed. Training must include cross-cultural training that facilitates team communications and interactions with people from different cultural backgrounds. This study focused on how 10 specialized lessons, Principles of Global Virtual Teams (PGVT), facilitated the communications and interactions of students participating on GV teams in an advanced engineering design course. All GV teams provided evidence that communications and interactions on GV teams are different than Co-located teams. However, teams receiving the PGVT instruction showed indications of increased communication ability on GV teams. These indicators included technology use, vernacular phrase use, communication competence ratings and descriptors from team emails.

Задачи исследования состоят в определении роли форумных кампаний в развитии личностных и профессиональных качеств молодежи. Методологической основой исследования являются теории event-менеджмента. Они позволяют раскрыть его специфику применительно к организации и проведению молодежных форумных кампаний. В качестве методов исследования служат анализ документов, включенное наблюдение, методы сравнения, анализа и синтеза. / The objectives of the study are to analyze the experience gained by Russian event agencies in compiling programs and scenarios for special events and to reveal strategies and technologies for their planning. The methodological basis of the study is the theory of event management. They allow revealing its specifics regarding the process of formation of mechanisms of non-material incentives for personnel and maintaining the image of companies by organizing various events and, in particular, improving their scenario component. The research methods include document analysis, observation included, methods of comparison, analysis and synthesis.

PurposeThis research takes Nigeria and the healthcare prevention sector as a case study to describe the manner in which the non-profit sector is presently dealing with the challenge of communicating in a multilingual/multicultural environment. The intention is to identify the linguistic factors that affect the design of healthcare prevention interventions, indicate language strategies that are being used and potentially single out opportunities for improvement.Design/Methodology/ApproachTwo data sets were employed: the main one representing phone interviews with Communication for Development practitioners in the healthcare domain in Nigeria and a secondary one including online testimonials from the Here I Am campaign conducted by the Global Fund. The data collected was analysed following the Critical Discourse Analysis three-level framework. In addition to this, the micro level stage incorporated Grounded Theory Method to elicit thematic relations, and Semiotic Analysis and Discursive Analysis to determine the stance of the speakers.FindingsParticipants to this research perceived language and culture as two entwined concepts. Communication in the community’s local language was said to enhance message acceptance. The thematic analysis revealed that the strategy to be used, mainly translation or a combination of community interpreting and cultural mediation, depends largely on the level of literacy of the community. Of the proposed language strategies, training of bilingual individuals and a combination of community interpreting and cultural mediation appeared to be the two pivotal modes of interlingual message transposition. Pictorials are used in extreme situations.Despite the dissimilarity of the two data sets used in this research, the discursive analysis suggested the existence of an aid beneficiaries/non-profit staff binary. The way of expression of aid beneficiaries and individuals working at grassroots level exhibited traits of dependency on other players (in this case donors and non-profit staff). Similarly, the discursive analysis of the interviews put forward that the non-profit staff interviewed tended to distinguish between themselves and Others (in this case, the aid beneficiaries).This research found furthermore that translation and interpreting activities within the non-profit sphere are not always undertaken according to strict professional ethics and praxis.

In transmitting the Gospel, Western missionaries passed on their portrayal of Christ as a European. Conversion to Christianity was aimed more at promoting Western cultural, moral and spiritual issues. Western culture has thus been an obstacle or hindrance to effective cross-cultural communication of the Christian message. Batswana believers are challenged to peel the Western cultural layers off Christianity, in order to reclaim Christ. Batswana Christians will have to dress Christianity in the Tswana cultural heritage if it is to be of any lasting significance to them. Christian spirituality is centred on Jesus Christ, in the worldview of all Christians. Jesus joins faith and culture together. If Christianity is truly universal, then every culture should surrender to Jesus Christ and not to any other culture. Jesus’ question “who do you say that I am?” (Mk 8: 29), challenges Batswana Christians to write their own fifth Gospel. / Christian Spirituality Church History & Missiology / Thesis (M. Th. (Christian Spirituality))

This study explores the effects of engaging with contemporary dual language texts, specifically Cree texts, as a non-Cree educator intent on using the literature classroom as a place in which to explore cross-cultural communication. It considers how the in/accessibility of meaning when reading across cultural boundaries may be read as a challenge or a bridge for non-Cree readers. An interdisciplinary approach was employed as a research methodology to explore the potential interstices and intersections of Aboriginal epistemologies, decolonizing pedagogies, literary theories, and contemporary dual language texts. In order to begin defining the manner in which one perceives the significance of the code-switching and the varied translation practices within dual language texts, a reader response theory was developed and termed construal inquiry. As a decolonizing pedagogy that employs dialogic engagement with a text, construal inquiry is undrepinned by a self-reflective approach to meaning-making that is grounded in Luis Urrieta, Jr.'s (2007) notion of figured worlds, Jerome Bruner's (1991) model of narrative inquiry, and Mikhail Bakhtin's (1981) concept of heteroglossia. The research explores a collaborative approach to meaning-making with an awareness of how forms of subjectivities can affect reading practices. Texts that range from picture books to junior novels to autobiographical fiction are examined for the forms in which code-switching, culture, and identity can shape reader response and the dialogic discourse of cross-cultural communication. The research proposes experiential and contextual influences shape reading and interpretation and seeks to engage with how subjectivities affects pedagogical perspective, which negates a singular approach to linguistic and cultural representations and their interpretation. The research suggests that the complexities of negotiating meaning cross-culturally necessitiates relationship building with community members of the culture represented in a text and that engaging with code-switching in dual language texts using construal inquiry as a decolonizing pedagogy offers an opportunity to transform one's own subjectivity.

<p>This thesis investigated whether vocal emotion expressions are conveyed as discrete emotions or as continuous dimensions. </p><p>Study I consisted of a meta-analysis of decoding accuracy of discrete emotions (anger, fear, happiness, love-tenderness, sadness) within and across cultures. Also, the literature on acoustic characteristics of expressions was reviewed. Results suggest that vocal expressions are universally recognized and that there exist emotion-specific patterns of voice-cues for discrete emotions.</p><p>In Study II, actors vocally portrayed anger, disgust, fear, happiness, and sadness with weak and strong emotion intensity. The portrayals were decoded by listeners and acoustically analyzed with respect to 20 voice-cues (e.g., speech rate, voice intensity, fundamental frequency, spectral energy distribution). Both the intended emotion and intensity of the portrayals were accurately decoded and had an impact on voice-cues. Listeners’ ratings of both emotion and intensity could be predicted from a selection of voice-cues.</p><p>In Study III, listeners rated the portrayals from Study II on emotion dimensions (activation, valence, potency, emotion intensity). All dimensions were correlated with several voice-cues. Listeners’ ratings could be successfully predicted from the voice-cues for all dimensions except valence.</p><p>In Study IV, continua of morphed expressions, ranging from one emotion to another in equal steps, were created using speech synthesis. Listeners identified the emotion of each expression and discriminated between pairs of expressions. The continua were perceived as two distinct sections separated by a sudden category boundary. Also, discrimination accuracy was generally higher for pairs of stimuli falling across category boundaries than for pairs belonging to the same category. This suggests that vocal expressions are categorically perceived.</p><p>Taken together, the results suggest that a discrete-emotions approach provides the best account of vocal expression. Previous difficulties in finding emotion-specific patterns of voice-cues may be explained in terms of limitations of previous studies and the coding of the communicative process.</p>