Cross-cultural Exchange Research Articles

Traditional ecological knowledge and non-food uses of stingless bee honey in Kenya’s last pocket of tropical rainforest

BackgroundStingless bee honey (SBH) is a natural remedy and therapeutic agent traditionally used by local communities across the (sub-)tropics. Forest SBH represents a prime non-timber forest product (NTFP) with a potential to revitalize indigenous foodways and to generate income in rural areas, yet it is also used in a variety of non-food contexts that are poorly documented in sub-Saharan Africa and that collectively represent a significant part of the local traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) passed on across generations. Documenting TEK of local communities in African tropical forests facing global change is a pressing issue to recognize the value of their insights, to evaluate their sustainability, to determine how they contribute to enhancing conservation efforts, and how TEK generally contributes to the well-being of both the natural environment and the communities that rely on it. This is particularly important to achieve in Kenya’s only tropical rainforest at Kakamega where SBH production and non-food uses have evolved and diversified to a remarkable extent.MethodsWe used ethnographic techniques and methods, including semi-structured questionnaires and recorded interviews. We used snowball sampling, a non-probability sampling method where new interviewees were recruited by other respondents, to collectively form a sample consisting of 36 interviewees (including only one woman).ResultsOur results indicate that local communities in Kakamega were able to discriminate between six different and scientifically recognized stingless bee species, and they provided detailed accounts on the species-specific non-food uses of these SBH. Collectively, we recorded an array of 26 different non-food uses that are all passed on orally across generations in the Kakamega community.ConclusionOur results uncover the vast and hitherto unexpected diversity of TEK associated with SBH and pave the way for a systematic survey of SBH and their non-food uses across a network of communities in different environments and with different cultural backgrounds in the Afrotropics. This, along with parallel and more in-depth investigations into honey chemistry, will help develop a comprehensive understanding of SBH, offering insights into holistic ecosystem management, resilience and adaptation while in the mid- to long-term promoting cross-cultural exchanges and pathways for the revitalization of cultural practices and traditions.

The Application of Traditional Chinese Culture in University French Teaching

As one of the official languages of the United Nations, French has an important position in international communication. Traditional language teaching methods often neglect the importance of cultural elements, resulting in students' difficulty in understanding and accepting French culture while learning French, thus affecting the learning effect. China has a rich history and cultural heritage, and these traditional cultural elements not only reflect the historical development and national characteristics of China but also the spiritual support of the Chinese people. How to integrate these cultural elements into French language teaching and make it a powerful tool to enhance learning effect and interest is a challenging task. This paper discusses the application of traditional Chinese culture in French teaching, aiming to improve students' language learning and enrich their cultural knowledge. Specific application strategies include integrating traditional cultural elements into the design of teaching content, designing classroom activities, organizing cross-cultural exchanges, and innovative teaching methods. Integrating traditional Chinese culture into French language teaching can enhance students' learning interest and efficiency, and also help improve their intercultural communication skills.

The Effect of Human Resource Practices on Hotel Performance during Crisis: A Case Study of Star-Rated Hotels in Mombasa, Kenya

Purpose: Star-rated hotels play a pivotal role in the global economy, contributing significantly to international tourism, job creation, and fostering cross-cultural exchanges. These establishments are luxurious havens and symbols of excellence and diplomacy, promoting economic growth and development, attracting foreign investment, and serving as ambassadors of local culture. In Kenya, star-rated hotels are essential contributors to the national economy, promoting sustainability and wildlife conservation. While these hotels have traditionally thrived due to Kenya's vibrant tourism sector, the industry faces an ever-present threat of crises. Therefore, this study, anchored in the Resource-Based View (RBV) theory analyzed the effect of human resource practices on the performance of hotels in Mombasa County during crises.
 Methodology: This research employed a Covariance-Based Structural Equation Modeling (CB-SEM) approach, well-suited for assessing direct and indirect associations among observed and latent constructs. The study utilized an ex post facto research design to investigate the impact of specific Human Resource Management (HRM) practices on the performance of star-rated hotels in Mombasa County, Kenya, particularly during crises. Structured questionnaires were meticulously administered to 198 management staff members working within star-rated hotels in Mombasa County. This population was chosen due to its critical role in hotel operations, allowing the research to gain comprehensive insights into the relationships under examination. The response rate, approximately 90%, was considered practical and representative of questionnaire-based research. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential analysis techniques and presented in tabular format.
 Findings: The study indicated that Talent Retention and Training exhibited a statistically significant positive effect on hotel performance, with a substantial path coefficient of 0.619. Crisis Communication and Leadership also contributed significantly to hotel performance, showcasing a positive and statistically significant path coefficient of 0.355. On the other hand, Resource Management and Adaptability did not exhibit a statistically significant direct relationship with hotel performance, as indicated by a non-significant path coefficient (p = 0.607). The robust positive relationships discovered between Talent Retention and Training, Crisis Communication and Leadership, and hotel performance align harmoniously with previous research findings. These results underscore the critical roles these factors play within the hospitality industry. Investments in talent management and effective crisis management strategies are vital for a hotel's success. The non-significant relationship between Resource Management and Adaptability and hotel performance challenges conventional wisdom but emphasizes the importance of considering the specific contextual nuances.
 Recommendations: In conclusion, the study demonstrates that Talent Retention and Training, as well as Crisis Communication and Leadership, significantly contribute to the performance of star-rated hotels in Mombasa County, Kenya. These findings underline the need for hoteliers to prioritize investments in talent management, crisis management, and leadership skills. While the relationship between resource management, adaptability, and hotel performance appears more complex, further research is required to unearth any potential indirect effects or contextual nuances.

Fan Translation: A Look into the Chinese Fansubbing Group Beverly Fansub on Bilibili

The rapid development of information and technology has led to the emergence of numerous video platforms sharing. In parallel, Fansubbing groups have thrived, serving as influential channels for cross-cultural exchanges. This paper examines the contextual factors driving the expansion of Chinese Fan Translation, using Beverly Fansub as a case study. It explores the distinctive attributes of this Fansubbing group and investigates the significance and potential drawbacks associated with fan translation.

Botanica postumana. Incontri dis-antropocentrici con culture indigene e vegetali

ABSTRACT This essay explores how two Italian scientists, Stefano Mancuso and Monica Gagliano, promote a non-anthropocentric understanding of plant behaviour and intelligence. While Mancuso⁣ develops a non-anthropocentric approach by establishing a cross-cultural exchange with vegetal systems of knowledge, Gagliano's cross-cultural exchange with plants has been further deepened through the mediation of several indigenous cultures. I argue that their research, in addition to expanding our understanding of the vegetal experience of the world, cultivates a posthuman approach that questions the centrality of Western cultural and human intellective exceptionalism.

Beyond a paradigm shift: a self-study story of an embodied educational experience

Educators have been called to follow the tide of advancing research that upholds Indigenous voices. In the spring 2019, we embarked on a cross-cultural exchange that profoundly changed our lives. We wanted to document this deep and personal learning through a collaborative self-study, detailing our unique journeys of relationship-building, informed by Indigenous Knowledge paradigms. Told through a relational approach, our self-study is grounded in our conversations about the interweaving of our experiences. A holistic approach was at the heart of making meaning through our experience by following the teachings within the Nēhiyawak (people of the land) Medicine Wheel framework. This self-study has invited us to learn more about educational possibilities, at both personal and professional levels, and has the potential to inform practicing and pre-service educators about the impact of intra-community engagement between Indigenous and settler groups.

The glocalization of The Daily Show

ABSTRACTThis article analyzes the domestic success and international growth of The Daily Show (TDS) targeting specifically the Jon Stewart period (Comedy Central, 1999–2015), It then focuses on the glocalization of the program resulting in an official Dutch version The Daily Show: Nederlandse Editie that appeared on Dutch Comedy Central in 2011 and two contrasting unofficial versions, Al Bernameg (Arabic: البرنامج‎) broadcast on CBC/OnTV Egypt, 2011–2013 and then MBC MASR in 2014, and the Heute Show that has been on ZDF since 2009. This article concludes that the glocalization of TDS allowed a faux news satire show with universal appeal to take advantage of an emerging global media environment shaped by cross-cultural exchanges between the global and the local. By comparing and contrasting the three foreign versions, a blueprint for a sustainable glocalized TDS franchise emerges: a stable political environment, local relevance and the protection of a public channel.

生态翻译学视域下李陆史《再别康桥》韩译分析

As a typical Chinese modern poem, Farewell to Kangqiao has a high influence and research value at home and abroad. This paper takes Li Lushi's Korean version of Farewell to Kangqiao as an example and analyzes the translation under the framework of three-dimensional transformation in ecological translation science. At the linguistic level, the translation is discussed in terms of vocabulary, syntax, and rhythm, and the translator highly restores the original poem's artistic conception and rhythm through vocabulary conversion, retaining the original poem's syntax, and changing the poem's rhythm. At the cultural level, the translation is discussed in terms of the translation of imagery-lexical conversion in the cultural context of the two countries, and the translator selectively adapts the cultural imagery in the original poem to make it more compatible with the cultural background and cognitive habits of Korean readers. In the communicative level, the translation of the poem conveys the emotion and mood of the original poem to Korean readers by condensing the words to preserve the rhythm of the original and to make the emotion of the original poem more explicit. Lee's Korean translation highly restores the phonetic meter and emotional mood of Farewell to Kangqiao from three levels: linguistic, cultural, and communicative, and creatively recreate the poetic beauty. It also compares and analyzes the poetic ecology of the original text and the translation under the guidance of ecological translation theory, which guides a new direction for the translation of the modern poetry, improves the quality of Korean poetry translation, and promotes the cross-cultural exchange of modern Chinese poetry.

Analysis of the Cultural Characteristics of Loanwords in International Chinese Textbooks

There is an increasingly urgent need for international students to learn and use loanwords in intercultural communication. Chinese loanwords in international Chinese textbooks have certain research value. With the textbook Development Chinese Intermediate synthesis as the investigation object and the Xinhua Dictionary of Loanable Words as the retrieval tool, the analysis of the Chinese loanwords is conducted by data analysis. It is found that the number of Chinese loanwords in the textbook is considerable, rich in etymology and diverse in parts of speech. Chinese loanwords have cultural characteristics, which can see the development and evolution of Chinese, understand the language and cultural differences of different ethnic groups, reduce the adverse factors of international Chinese teaching, and promote the effective development of cross-cultural exchanges.

Young Taiwanese People’s Ethnic Identity and Stance on Independence vs. Unification: Regulating Effects of China’s Favorable Measures Toward Taiwanese

The study examines the relationship between ethnic identity, the unification-independence stance, and China's favorable measures among young Taiwanese individuals. It finds that there is a negative relationship between ethnic identity and the unification-independence stance, meaning that those with a stronger Taiwanese identity are more likely to support independence. However, China's favorable measures have a positive relationship with the unification-independence stance, indicating that they can influence young Taiwanese individuals to be more supportive of unification. The study also reveals that China's favorable measures strengthen the positive influence of ethnic identity on the unification-independence stance. Overall, the findings highlight the complex and multifaceted nature of political stances among young Taiwanese individuals, which can be influenced by factors such as economic opportunities, cultural exchanges, and educational cooperation with China. The study suggests further research to explore these relationships in more depth and to consider individual differences and temporal changes. Additionally, it recommends studying the impact of cross-cultural exchanges and conducting comparative research in cross-national contexts to gain a broader understanding of young people's political attitudes.

Cultural emphasis: regionalisation as an integral component of multiculturalism within China's contemporary education system

The cultural focus of this study emphasises the importance and role of culture within the process of regionalisation in the modern Chinese education system. It explores the diversity of regional cultures in China and their influence on creating a unique multicultural environment within the educational system. The article addresses the issue of regionalisation as a global trend and its specific reflection in Chinese educational theory and practice. Regionalisation, as a part of multiculturalism in China, involves recognising and integrating the diverse regional cultures within the standardised national educational framework. Methodological principles and approaches such as case studies, content analysis, qualitative data analysis, and longitudinal studies were operated. Particular attention is given to the methods employed for preserving and showcasing the cultural heritage of the regions in China, as well as their incorporation into educational programmes and events. This highlights the cultural significance of regionalisation and its relevance within the context of cultural diversity and cross-cultural exchange in modern Chinese education. China is currently intensifying efforts to promote and showcase its culture, both as a whole "Chinese culture" and "the culture of Chinese regions," emphasising the uniqueness and diversity of the ethnic groups that comprise the Chinese nation, both within the country and in the international arena.

Ogun in the Black Atlantic: Family History and Cross-Cultural Religious Exchange in Bahia, c. 1813–1970

Abstract Afro-Brazilian religions play a vital role in the history of northeastern Brazil, home to an enormous Black population. An especially well-known case is Candomblé, which arose in the state of Bahia, where a number of large temples dating back to the time of the slave trade have long attracted scholarly attention. Less well-known, however, is the parallel existence of shrines belonging to individual families. One, dedicated to Ogun, in the city of Salvador, recently gained government recognition as a site of memory. According to oral tradition, it was created by a freed African couple on the farm where they lived and worked. Drawing on oral traditions, ethnographic data, and archival sources, this article reconstructs the family’s history over the course of nearly two centuries, tracing the presence of cross-cultural exchanges over time, initially from Dahomean and Hausa religion and more recently from Yoruba and Catholic cosmologies.

Greek Cycladic and Coast-Indigenous Ecuadorian Culture: An Art-Based Engagement Ethnography Research on the Cultural Impressions of Indigenous Neurodiverse Adults (Culture grecque des Cyclades et culture autochtone de la côte équatorienne : une recherche ethnographique d’engagement fondé sur l’art portant sur les impressions culturelles des adultes autochtones neurodiversifiés)

Cultural impressions and their significance can be studied through art making. However, limited research has explored how it is expressed by people with disabilities. This arts-based engagement ethnography research examined the possible connections between Greek-Cycladic and Coast-Indigenous Ecuadorian culture through the art making of people with mild intellectual disabilities. The purpose was to document the importance of cultural diversity in art therapy practice and the potential for cross-cultural exchange and inspiration. Although the two cultures existed separately from each other, historically and geographically, it is worth examining Indigenous symbols that developed in parallel. The connections of ancestral art and cultural tradition are often lost, especially within underprivileged social groups, such as the minority of people who are neurodiverse, whose art is not often the subject of research. Findings were based on fieldwork done on-site in both locations on the cultural representations and art making of people with intellectual disabilities. Cultural references were drawn from the Museum of Cycladic Art, Greece, and the Salango Museum, Ecuador. Issues of intersectionality of identities and practising art therapy with cultural humility when working in cross-cultural contexts and with underrepresented groups were discussed.

On the Pivotal Role of Cultural Translation in the Exchanges and Mutual Learning Between Civilizations

ABSTRACT The article begins with a review of the four significant crowning points in the exchanges and mutual learning between Chinese and foreign civilizations, which were represented by extensive translation activities spanning over two thousand years in China. It reveals that the essence of exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations lies in maintaining cultural diversity, seeking harmony in diversity, promoting cross-cultural exchanges, and promoting dialogs as the bridge. It identifies two main approaches to exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations, including: promoting two-way exchanges between the domestic and the foreign; and enhancing interaction between traditional values and modern values. Cultural translation is discussed as an effective means to realize the two approaches. Based on a review about Lin Yutang’s exemplary experience in cultural translation, it analyzes the features of three main types of practitioners in exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations: Chinese academics with expert knowledge about Chinese culture and civilization, foreigners who are conversant with Chinese culture and civilization, and overseas Chinese scholars who function as a bridge between Chinese and foreign cultures and civilizations.

The Role of English Language Teaching in Promoting Intercultural Understanding in Pakistani Classrooms

Introduction: English language teaching (ELT) is essential for linguistic growth and building cross-cultural understanding in Pakistani classrooms. Given the multicultural makeup of Pakistan and the importance of English worldwide, it is critical to consider how ELT might advance intercultural understanding. Research Methodology: This study emphasizes the value of this method in the Pakistani context by examining how Pakistani EFL teachers see "interculturality" as a pedagogical strategy in teaching English as a foreign language through descriptive and inferential analysis. Findings: According to the findings, English language instruction plays various roles in Pakistani classrooms that support intercultural understanding. Examining various cultures, dispelling myths, and encouraging tolerance and empathy in students are all made possible by language training. Furthermore, teachers utilize various instructional approaches, including literature exploration and cultural exchange activities, to improve students' intercultural competency. Conclusion: English language instruction fosters empathy and meaningful connections between students from different cultural origins, essential for advancing intercultural understanding in Pakistani classrooms. Unfortunately, obstacles to successful implementation include language imperialism and scarce resources. To maximize the potential of ELT for fostering intercultural understanding in Pakistan, educators, policymakers, and curriculum developers must work together. Recommendation: Given the results, educational stakeholders are urged to prioritize intercultural integration while creating English language courses. This can be accomplished with teacher education programs, culturally aware lesson planning, and the inclusion of diverse opinions in class discussions. Furthermore, forming partnerships with international schools can open doors for cross-cultural exchanges and improve the educational opportunities for Pakistani pupils. By implementing the above recommendations, Pakistan can effectively use English language training to promote cross-cultural understanding and enhance global citizenship.

Overseas Dissemination of Chinese Folk Music: A Research of Zheng Music

Chinese folk music is a treasure of Chinese culture, embodying a long history and rich emotions. With the acceleration of globalization and the deepening of cross-cultural exchanges, the dissemination of Chinese folk music overseas has attracted increasing attention. As an important component of traditional Chinese music, the zheng, with its ancient history and unique musical style, has gained popularity among music enthusiasts both domestically and internationally. Since the last century, zheng has gradually stepped onto the world stage, receiving wider attention and recognition. This paper aims to explore the overseas dissemination of Chinese folk music by focusing on the origin and development of zheng music, the historical and current status of its overseas dissemination, as well as the impact and challenges of its overseas dissemination. I also want to share some Feasible development recommendations for the overseas dissemination of Chinese folk music.

RESEARCH ON THE DIGITAL EXHIBITION OF CULTURAL RELICS FOR CROSS-CULTURE COMMUNICATION: CASE STUDY ON CHINA-GREECE COOPERATION ON TERRACOTTA WARRIORS

Abstract. With epidemics blocking offline interactions, it is difficult to organise events such as tours of major heritage sites and outbound exhibitions of cultural relics, and new paths need to be expanded for the presentation of cultural heritage and intercultural education efforts. With the booming development of digital technology, the integration of online virtual presentation and interactive technology and the innovative design of 3D scenes provide new solutions for the intercultural communication of these precious and immovable cultural relics (e.g. archaeological sites), etc. This project is based on the Sino-Greek cooperation around the online presentation of heritage items such as the Terracotta Warriors and Horses of China and the precious collection of the National Archaeological Museum of Greece, in order to present and On the basis of communicating the value of heritage and the connection between Chinese and Greek civilisations, the project explores the development of a virtual space that integrates the Terracotta Warriors and Horses pits, the interactive virtual display of cultural relics, and the display of the achievements of scientific and technological conservation of cultural relics, so as to realise the cross-cultural exchange between China and Greece and fulfil the educational function of heritage.

Disentangling the cultural evolution of ancient China: a digital humanities perspective

Being recognized among the cradles of human civilization, ancient China nurtured the longest continuous academic traditions and humanistic spirits, which continue to impact today’s society. With an unprecedented large-scale corpus spanning 3000 years, this paper presents a quantitative analysis of cultural evolution in ancient China. Millions of intertextual associations are identified and modelled with a hierarchical framework via deep neural network and graph computation, thus allowing us to answer three progressive questions quantitatively: (1) What is the interaction between individual scholars and philosophical schools? (2) What are the vicissitudes of schools in ancient Chinese history? (3) How did ancient China develop a cross-cultural exchange with an externally introduced religion such as Buddhism? The results suggest that the proposed hierarchical framework for intertextuality modelling can provide sound suggestions for large-scale quantitative studies of ancient literature. An online platform is developed for custom data analysis within this corpus, which encourages researchers and enthusiasts to gain insight into this work. This interdisciplinary study inspires the re-understanding of ancient Chinese culture from a digital humanities perspective and prompts the collaboration between humanities and computer science.

Translatological Trilingualism: Challenges and Perspectives

The paper considers the analysis of translatological trilingualism which is essential for cross-cultural exchange and translation studies. Today trilingualism is perceived as a form of multilingualism that includes a mechanism for formation and development of a language personality. The paper presents the accumulated experience of trilingual educational techniques in Russia and abroad, which was starkly demonstrated by I. Alexeeva, as well as the perspectives of their implementation into the educational process. Trilingualism is considered as a complex phenomenon that includes anthropological, social and linguistic, as well as social and cultural components. The aspect of cultures which implies the phased existence of the same text in three linguistic substances, as well as translation of literary works aimed at transfer of the works of fiction from one language to another through an intermediary language. Concurrently, the special attention is paid to the Russian language and its productive role as a cultural mediator in translation of the world literature to the languages of the peoples of Russia, which has not been thoroughly studied yet. The intermediary results of the research were presented by A. Boyarkina. The paper reveals perspectives for application of the trilingual model in order to expand the translatological functions of the artificial intelligence. The Master's programme in "Translation Theory, Cross-Cultural and Cross-Lingual Communication" implemented at Kazan Federal University, revealed by S. Takhtarova, the head of the programme, and K. Prosyukova, the coordinator of the programme, as well as other educational programmes in St. Petersburg and Almaty, carefully analysed by I. Alexeeva and A. Boyarkina, are the successful examples of trilingualism as an educational tool. To sum up, it is concluded that the interaction of three languages is able to create the effective educational environment that ensures the exchange of cultures and transmits cultural values, as well as linguistic and translation skills, formed on the basis of other two languages.

Remote Global Learning: The Role and Use of Virtual Exchange for U.S. and Irish Graduate Students

The importance of internationalization and effective online collaborative learning is well established, and the recognized value of cross-cultural exchanges by higher education institutions has resulted in a diverse range of initiatives including the use of virtual exchanges. Virtual exchanges are global online learning experiences for students enrolled in postsecondary coursework. The purpose of this study was to examine a virtual exchange learning opportunity for U.S. and Irish graduate education students. Utilizing an online collaborative learning theoretical lens, this case study found that while there were varying levels of commitment and unequal expectations and contributions of the graduate students, students described the importance and significance of the unique learning experience. Implications for research and practice are discussed for future use of virtual exchange within the postsecondary environment.