Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine relational themes, patterns of discourse which focus on partners' interpretations of their interaction, in intercultural relationships. More specifically, two research questions were addressed: What themes emerge in intercultural relationships? and How do specific themes relate to intercultural relationship development? Partners in low, moderate, and high intimacy, Japanese-North American, female-female dyads were interviewed individually in their native languages. An interpretive analysis of the participants' accounts of their relationships revealed four themes: communication competence, similarity, involvement, and turning points. Each theme had three subthemes. The presence, form, and interconnections among the relational themes varied across intimacy levels. The subthemes of cultural similarity, language/cultural knowledge, and accommodation emerged more frequently in these Japanese-North American relationships than would be expected in relationships between members of the same culture.
Published Version
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