Cross-cultural Information Research Articles

Research on the Value of Poetry Teaching for English Majors in Applied Undergraduate Universities Under the Background of the New Liberal Arts

The emphasis of the traditional teaching environment on English instrumentality has resulted in the marginalization of poetry teaching for English majors in applied undergraduate universities. The construction of the new liberal arts affirms the importance of the English literature curriculum and also inspires people to re-evaluate the potential and unique value of English poetry teaching. English poetry is the material for the cultivation of students’ patriotism. Its condensed space contains multi-disciplinary knowledge, its long history makes it bear rich cross-cultural information, its beautiful language helps improve students’ aesthetic and creative ability and its dialectical thinking stimulates students’ critical thinking. English poetry teaching is an effective way to cultivate international compound talents with Chinese feelings required by the new liberal arts construction for applied undergraduate English majors.

Research on the Compilation of Multimodal Translation Teaching Materials in the New Media Era

With the advent of the 21st-century digital era, multimodal information dissemination has increasingly become the predominant mode of communication. Multimodal translation plays an increasingly critical role in cross-cultural information transmission. However, the current pedagogical domain in translation primarily focuses on the cultivation of linguistic translation skills, with less attention to the training of students' multimodal translation competencies. To date, there are no teaching materials specifically designed for multimodal translation. In light of the significance of multimodal translation, this paper explores the compilation issues of multimodal translation teaching materials within the context of the new media era, aiming to guide and inspire the development of such resources.

The role of languages: adopting the motivation-opportunity-ability (MOA) model to explore information sharing patterns among multilingual users in the Chinese cultural context

PurposeCulture is considered a critical aspect of social media usage. The purpose of this paper is to explore how cultures and languages influence multilingual users' cross-cultural information sharing patterns.Design/methodology/approachThis study used a crowdsourcing survey with Amazon Mechanical Turk to collect qualitative and quantitative data from 355 multilingual users who utilize two or more languages daily. A mixed-method approach combined statistical, and cluster analysis with thematic analysis was employed to analyze information sharing patterns among multilingual users in the Chinese cultural context.FindingsIt was found that most multilingual users surveyed preferred to share in their first and second language mainly because that is what others around them speak or use. Multilingual users have more diverse sharing characteristics and are more actively engaged in social media. The results also provide insights into what incentives make multilingual users engage in social media to share information related to Chinese culture with the MOA model. Finally, the ten motivation factors include learning, entertainment, empathy, personal gain, social engagement, altruism, self-expression, information, trust and sharing culture. One opportunity factor is identified, which is convenience. Three ability factors are recognized consist of self-efficacy, habit and personality.Originality/valueThe findings are conducive to promoting the active participation of multilingual users in online communities, increasing global resource sharing and information flow and promoting the consumption of digital cultural content.

Comparison and Translation of Semantic Differences between English and Chinese from a Cross-Cultural Perspective

Influenced by various factors such as cultural background and mode of thinking, there are large semantic differences between English and Chinese, which often lead to cross-cultural information transfer errors and make learners feel disturbed. Exploring the semantic differences between English and Chinese from a cross-cultural perspective can help improve mutual understanding between different cultures, reduce cultural conflicts, and facilitate language learners' understanding and mastery of foreign languages.This article will briefly discuss the reasons for semantic differences, comparatively analyze the semantic differences between English and Chinese, and provide translation strategies in different scenarios in order to accurately convey the message.

Cross-Cultural Information for Japanese Nurses at an International Hospital: A Controlled Before-After Intervention Study.

This study sought to evaluate the efficacy of providing health information through an ordinary travel guidebook combined with a short digital video compared with an ordinary travel guidebook alone by measuring the anxiety levels of Japanese nurses dealing with foreign patients. We conducted a controlled before–after intervention study in 2016 at a major international hospital in Japan. We created two interventions: (1) a brief piece of health information from a travel guidebook for Japan, (2) the same travel guidebook, and a four-minute digital video in English on health information in Japan, titled Mari Info Japan for nurses. After each intervention, we assessed the nurses’ levels of anxiety about caring for foreign patients. We evaluated the results through statistical testing and the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory Form Y. Of 111 nurses, 83 (74.8%) completed both interventions and the questionnaires. The second intervention (the guidebook and video) proved more effective than the first (the guidebook) for reducing anxiety related to caring for foreign patients. Japanese nurses can lower their anxiety about dealing with foreign patients by learning about the content of various forms of health care information currently accessible to overseas visitors. Using both guidebooks and digital videos can help to reduce nurses’ anxiety.

Issues commonly faced by nurses caring for international patients: A qualitative study.

To identify common challenges nurses face when caring for international patients, irrespective of specialty, medical facility, or nursing experience. Internationalization in medical facilities is progressing worldwide, and the number of international patients is increasing, as is evident in Japan. Delivering high-quality nursing care to international patients can be challenging owing to language and socio-cultural barriers. Research examining the challenges faced by nurses in these situations is limited. It is necessary to clarify and analyze the current situation when interacting with international patients. This study employed a qualitative design. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 11 registered nurses experienced in caring for non-Japanese patients. Qualitative content analysis was performed following Mayring's approach. We identified 56 subcategories, 23 categories, and 8 core categories for challenges faced by nurses interacting with international patients: language, religion or culture, medical culture, financial status, treatment continuity, care support, hospital protocols, and addressing requests or requirements for international patients. This study analyzed the religious, lifestyle, and cultural differences (along with the various language and communication barriers) faced by nurses who treat international patients. It also discussed the need for accessible, cross-cultural information in hospitals that have limited accommodations for international patients. Nurses could be more accommodating of patients' religions, lifestyles, and cultures by familiarizing themselves with relevant background information beforehand. Differences in health care cultures across countries can lead to malpractice, as dealing with cultural differences is difficult for nurses who interact with international patients and they may not be fully informed about the challenges posed by such differences. It is important for nurses to share their experiences in dealing with international patients and prepare for the increasing number of international patients in the future.

ESTETIKA GASTRONOMI NUSANTARA DALAM MEDIA DIGITAL

The development of the digital technology affects how humans perceive aesthetics in digital media. Including how the Indonesia gastronomic presentation is perceived in digital media both visually and audio. Gastronomy is the study of food and food culture. The development of digital information technology creates a space that is full of information, how can information about the Indonesian gastronomy continue to exist in the midst of cross-cultural information on today's digital media. People's behavior is influenced by the perceptions of netizens formed from digital information media, be it social media, television media, film media, even entertainment media on demand. This study uses a phenological approach to describe how the Indonesian gastronomic aesthetics are presented in various digital media platforms, namely social media Instagram, social media Facebook, social media Youtube, digital television media, digital film media, and entertainment digital media on demand. The data was obtained through observation of these various digital media platforms. This study produces a comparison of the aesthetic elements used in each of these digital media and how the existence of Indonesian gastronomy is presented in it.

ESTETIKA GASTRONOMI NUSANTARA DALAM MEDIA DIGITAL

The development of the digital technology affects how humans perceive aesthetics in digital media. Including how the Indonesia gastronomic presentation is perceived in digital media both visually and audio. Gastronomy is the study of food and food culture. The development of digital information technology creates a space that is full of information, how can information about the Indonesian gastronomy continue to exist in the midst of cross-cultural information on today's digital media. People's behavior is influenced by the perceptions of netizens formed from digital information media, be it social media, television media, film media, even entertainment media on demand. This study uses a phenological approach to describe how the Indonesian gastronomic aesthetics are presented in various digital media platforms, namely social media Instagram, social media Facebook, social media Youtube, digital television media, digital film media, and entertainment digital media on demand. The data was obtained through observation of these various digital media platforms. This study produces a comparison of the aesthetic elements used in each of these digital media and how the existence of Indonesian gastronomy is presented in it.

The effects of leader–subordinate power distance orientation congruence on employees' taking charge behaviors in China: a moderated mediation model

PurposeBased on the social exchange theory, this study explores the mechanism of leader–subordinate power distance orientation (PDO) congruence with employees' taking charge behavior (TCB) and also verifies the moderated mediation effect of employees' promotion regulatory focus (PROM-F) on leader–subordinate PDO congruence and on employees' TCB through trust in the leader (which is the mediator).Design/methodology/approachBased on 296 questionnaires from 46 teams of Chinese enterprises, the authors use cross-level polynomial regressions and response surface techniques to analyze the effect of leader–subordinate PDO congruence on employees' TCB and use the block variable technique to test the mediating effect of trust in the leader.Findings(1) When leader–subordinates' PDO is congruent, the leader–subordinate low-low PDO matching pattern leads to more employees' TCB than the leader–subordinate high-high PDO matching pattern. (2) When leader–subordinate PDO is incongruent, the leader–subordinate low–high PDO matching pattern will lead to more TCB than the high-low PDO pattern.Practical implications(1) Encourage and promote the development of diverse cultures in enterprises. (2) Respect the power and status of employees and encourage a low-PDO leadership style. (3) Increase credibility by developing and establishing a good corporate leader image.Originality/value(1) The unique background of this survey offers important cross-cultural information on the effects of leader–subordinate PDO congruence. (2) The results of this research enrich the theoretical understanding of the factors that influence TCB. (3) Reveal the internal mechanisms of CPD congruence with TCB and demonstrate an indirect effect of trust in leader. (4) The discussion of the moderating role of employee's PROM-F will also deepen the understanding of the exchange relationship between leaders and subordinates.

Обґрунтування актуальності формування білінгвальної культури спілкування в контексті засвоєння іноземної мови

The present article deals with bilingual communication culture as a multifaceted problem. Theoretical analysis of the content, peculiarities of bilingual communication culture and other key notions, makes it possible to reveal the essence of bilingual communication culture and define it as a constituent part of the general culture of communication necessary for cross-cultural interaction and information exchange between bilingual individuals by means of native and foreign languages. There are two main concepts considered in the paper, namely bilingual communication culture and second language acquisition (SLA). The former is used to denote special knowledge and communication skills requisite for gaining positive experience in productive bilingual communication within multicultural interaction and sharing this experience with the representatives of other nations. The latter is a complex process of a spontaneous mastering a foreign language under the influence of linguistic, psycholinguistic, contextual, developmental and individual factors that predetermine language transfer, language level and the duration of second language acquisition. The research emphasises the necessity to form bilingual communication culture within the framework of second language acquisition.

Basic Methods for Working with Poetic Texts at Russian as a Foreign Language Lessons

Study of authentic literary works is an integral part of teaching Russian as a foreign language. It is literary texts, accumulating the historical experience of a nation and express its spiritual essence, that become an effective tool of learning a foreign culture, mentality, and values of native speakers. This research used the following methods: methodological, philological literature search on the research topic; verification of the effectiveness of the proposed guidelines in the teaching process. Results showed that poetic text used at Russian as a Foreign Language lessons stimulates interest and motivation to learn Russian, contributes to language knowledge arrangement, development of basic communication skills, improvement of speech skills, and formation of linguacultural competence. The authors concluded that the best form of poetic text classes in a foreign audience is heuristic conversation focusing on the semantic sensing of a text by interpreting its linguistic expression means. The system of poetic text-based tasks should be aimed at mastering the linguistic material, understanding the message and the figurative content of the work. Text interpretation should include the students’ familiarization with the cross-cultural information which is the object of comparison of their native culture and Russian culture, their own and other people’s perception of reality.

Basic Methods for Working with Poetic Texts at Russian as a Foreign Language Lessons.

Study of authentic literary works is an integral part of teaching Russian as a foreign language. It is literary texts, accumulating the historical experience of a nation and express its spiritual essence, that become an effective tool of learning a foreign culture, mentality, and values of native speakers. This research used the following methods: methodological, philological literature search on the research topic; verification of the effectiveness of the proposed guidelines in the teaching process. Results showed that poetic text used at Russian as a Foreign Language lessons stimulates interest and motivation to learn Russian, contributes to language knowledge arrangement, development of basic communication skills, improvement of speech skills, and formation of linguacultural competence. The authors concluded that the best form of poetic text classes in a foreign audience is heuristic conversation focusing on the semantic sensing of a text by interpreting its linguistic expression means. The system of poetic text-based tasks should be aimed at mastering the linguistic material, understanding the message and the figurative content of the work. Text interpretation should include the students’ familiarization with the cross-cultural information which is the object of comparison of their native culture and Russian culture, their own and other people’s perception of reality.

Cross-cultural effects of self-discrepancy on the consumption of counterfeit branded luxuries

PurposeConsumers’ motivations for purchasing counterfeit branded luxuries are a topic of heated discussion amongst academics and practitioners. Drawing on self-discrepancy theory, the purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of actual-ideal self-discrepancy on consumers’ attitudes towards counterfeit branded luxuries. It investigates how self-monitoring and perceived social risk moderate this effect. Furthermore, it explores cross-cultural differences in the impact of actual-ideal self-discrepancy.Design/methodology/approachA pilot study provides preliminary evidence that highlights the importance of actual-ideal self-discrepancy in counterfeit consumption. Based upon a large-scale survey across Hong Kong, the USA and Australia, the principal study explores the moderating effect of self-monitoring and perceived social risk as well as cross-cultural differences.FindingsThe results indicate that self-discrepancy increases consumers’ tendency to engage in symbolic consumption, and that consumption of counterfeit branded luxuries can serve the social function of self-expression to reduce the discomfort induced by self-discrepancy. Self-monitoring and perceived social risk have significant moderating effects, with the former strengthening and the latter attenuating this effect. Moreover, the effect of self-discrepancy is more pronounced amongst individualistic consumers than collectivistic consumers.Originality/valueThis is the first study to highlight the significance of self-discrepancy in the consumption of counterfeit branded luxuries. It examines the important moderating effects of self-monitoring and perceived social risk. Consumers from collectivistic and individualistic cultures define their self-concept differently, thus the findings provide meaningful cross-cultural information on the impact of self-discrepancy in counterfeit consumption.

A systematic review on cross-cultural information systems research: Evidence from the last decade

Based on a review of 40 articles published in the information systems journals of the senior basket since 2006, this article presents refreshing and updated patterns of cross-cultural information systems (CCIS) research and suggests a roadmap for future research in CCIS. This 10-year systematic review contributes to the information systems community by unveiling three streams of transitions in CCIS research: (1) from national level to individual level with espoused and contextual cultural values, (2) from corporate users to end users, and (3) from West to East with the emergence of Chinese culture. The limitations and future research directions are presented.

Construction of knowledge base to visualize the cross-cultural difference over information

Aim: This research hopes to offer solutions to these issues based on real-world examples of data discrepancies between Japan and China. We’re building a database of information to close the gap in Japan and China’s understanding of each other across all disciplines.Method: However, it is challenging to implement a method that addresses all aspects of cross-cultural information gaps, so it is important to find a mechanism that satisfies the criteria for information quantity, immediacy, and practicality to address the intercultural knowledge gap.Findings: Results show that the proposed system constructs the knowledge base with the high-level immediacy to renew the information organically depending on the situation. This improves practical utility by storing information that broadly matches users’ needs. Through the use of artificial intelligence, it delivers content that is tailored to each user based on their current activity. Data can be stored, updated, and searched in the system, but that’s not all it can do. To fully realise the system’s interactivity, we integrate post/read/reuse functions for the user comments. As a result of this research, we will be able to implement a knowledge base to address issues with cross-cultural communication.Implications/Novel contribution: The innovative aspect of this study is that it proposes an immersive interface for consumers and expects it to be a powerful instrument for their cross-cultural exchange of ideas.

Empirical analysis of the cross-cultural information searching and travel behavior of business travelers: A case study of MICE travelers to Qatar in the Middle East

Very few tourism geographers have investigated the way meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions (MICE) travelers search for information and their travel behavior based on cultural background and country of origin. In addition, little attention has been paid to examining the factors that affect MICE travelers' decisions to visit a certain destination. To address this knowledge gap, this paper aims to examine the impact of cultural factors on the information acquisition and travel behaviors of MICE tourists. It also examines the factors that affect travelers' decisions to visit a certain destination in cross-cultural settings. The primary data, related to the impact of cultural aspects of MICE travelers on their information searching and travel behaviors, were collected through a self-administered survey. The survey tool was composed of key elements—the country of normal residence, behaviors in information searching, the arrangement of the present trip, travel behaviors, significant effects on tourists' choices and satisfaction, and the socio-demographic characteristics of MICE travelers. The sample population was composed of Chinese-, Arabic-, and English-speaking MICE travelers at one of the top Middle Eastern MICE tourism destinations, Doha, Qatar. The relevant data were collected from MICE travelers at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center, which is considered the main MICE sector setting in Doha. To test the proposed hypotheses, which concern categorical variables, a series of chi-square tests for independence or relatedness were conducted. These tests are appropriate for analyzing the relationship between two categorical variables. The study revealed notable differences between the three respondent groups. This paper proposes that destinations marketers should develop targeted marketing strategies based on the information and travel behavior of each cultural group. Particular marketing implications for Doha are discussed.

INTERCULTURAL EDUCATION AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF MODERN LEARNING PROCESS

The process of the world globalization leads to the enlargement of intercultural and interlingual connections among the representatives of different countries, nations, religions and cultures. Herewith, there is a special interest towards the study of intercultural communication and its reflection in the educational sphere. That is why the problem of including cultural information into modern educational programmes and compilation of cutting edge teaching materials has acquired great importance. Modern methodical complexes acquaint students with the changing realities of the English-speaking countries and fixed expressions that describe various aspects of life. The main task is to avoid misunderstanding, caused not only by purely linguistic reasons but also by lack of cultural knowledge, misunderstanding or simply unfamiliarity with the key concept of the culture being studied. Taking into consideration the changing status of foreign languages as a source of intercommunication and mutual understanding, methodology underlines the necessity of intensification of pragmatic aspects of the language acquisition. Nowadays, the main purpose of the educational process is to get acquainted with the foreign language as a whole unit, including grammar and lexical data, as well as cross-cultural information. It helps to understand natural, historical and social realia, spiritual values and assists in the formation of the linguistic consciousness. At the present stage educational courses solve the problem of a textbook, as well as a reference resource, highlighting all the lexical, grammatical and cultural information, and meeting the students’ needs. These directories support effective lesson and make it possible to get deeper into the culture of the foreign language.

An IT Project Management Framework for Assessing the Dynamism of Culture under Globalization

Culture has been analysed in information systems (IS) projects as one of the soft issues that cause project failure. Increased outsourcing and collaboration call for an understanding of the dynamism of cultures in the wake of global influences as a first step towards managing cross cultural Information Technology (IT) projects. In this study, the authors propose a way of assessing cultural dynamics in the context of trans-national collaboration in IT projects. Using a mixed methods approach consisting of survey and semi-structured interviews for collecting evidence in Zimbabwe, a framework for assessing the current state of communalist culture is proposed. The study showed that in spite of the inroads of Westernization and Commercialization, a culture of sharing prevails although it is affected by sensitivity to cost burden and inroads of individualism.

Distress and drinking: Cross-cultural connections and contexts

Wilsnack, R., Kristjanson, A. F., Wilsnack, S. C. & Benson, P. W. (2012). Distress and drinking: Cross-cultural connections and contexts. International Journal of Alcohol and Drug Research, 1(1), 79-94. doi: 10.7895/ijadr.v1i1.37 (http://dx.doi.org/10.7895/ijadr.v1i1.37)Aims: Research on how distress is related to drinking has paid relatively little attention to gender and to cultural differences. This study examines how distress is associated with men’s and women’s drinking cross-culturally.Design: Cross-sectional survey.Setting/Participants: Surveys of 30,728 women and 24,204 men in 22 countries of the GENACIS project (Gender, Alcohol and Culture: An International Study) provided data on how women’s and men’s mental, interpersonal and work-situational distress are related to their drinking patterns.Measurements: Analyses examined correlations within surveys, and used hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) to take into account economic development, abstinence rates and distress levels in the populations surveyed.Findings: We found few associations of drinking patterns with reported stressful work situations. Mental and interpersonal distress had more frequent but geographically scattered associations with men’s and women’s drinking, particularly with quantities consumed. HLM analyses confirmed cross-culturally that drinking tended to increase with psychological and interpersonal distress, but the societal-level variables had few effects.Conclusions: Distress measures in GENACIS surveys were positively though not powerfully associated with both women's and men's drinking cross-culturally, associations not attributable to societal-level characteristics. The findings indicate a need for better cross-cultural information about the processes by which distress may lead to heavier drinking.

Knowledge organization scheme for cross-cultural and cross-language information systems. A discussion of issues and challenges.

The purpose of our presentation is two-fold:First, to describe the significant challenges that have been encountered in a project to form a general conceptual framework to cover concepts and terminology used for information retrieval in the field of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Second, to initiate a discussion and seek advice regarding developing a knowledge organization schema for cross-culture information systems.