Cultural Boundaries Research Articles

Facilitating cross-cultural translation with ChatGPT in Moroccan travel agencies: a user satisfaction study

In a context of globalization, interactions between individuals of different cultures have become a lived reality. These cultural exchanges often involve mastering multiple languages, which can be quite challenging in multilingual settings. Hence, the integration of technology and artificial intelligence (AI) tools has emerged as an essential solution to bridge linguistic gaps and facilitate effective communication across cultural boundaries. Building upon this premise, this study delves into the perceptions of ChatGPT users regarding its role in translation and intercultural communication. Specifically, it examines the factors shaping user satisfaction with AI in translation and its contribution to fostering intercultural interactions. To achieve this objective, the study focuses on a sample of Moroccan travel agencies engaged in relationships with international partners. Data collection is carried out through questionnaires sent to heads of agencies randomly selected from a database provided by the Ministry of Tourism in 2022. The rationale behind this selection lies in the travel agencies’ unique position as intermediaries between cultures, frequently requiring translation services to conduct their business effectively. Statistical analysis is carried out using SPSS software. The main findings reveal a significant correlation between user satisfaction with ChatGPT and two key variables: perceived ease of use and the quality of its outputs. Notably, users find ChatGPT more satisfying when it is perceived as user-friendly and delivers satisfactory results. However, the selected variables fail to comprehensively explain users’ perceptions of ChatGPT, highlighting the need for further investigation in this area.

Community Perceptions on Single Parenting: Insights from Dodoma City, Tanzania

Single parenting has recently become common worldwide, transcending cultural, social, and economic boundaries. The study was conducted in Dodoma city at the Chang’ombe ward to explore the community’s perceptions of single parenting. The study examined the community’s attitude and practice of single parenting. The study's sample size was 155 respondents, obtained using a systematic sampling technique. Also, purposive sampling was used to select the ward executive officer, social welfare officer, and children protection committee members as key informants. A survey method through a questionnaire was used to collect data from community members, and interviews using a checklist were used to collect data from the key informants. The quantitative data were analysed using the IBM-SPSS Statistics version 27 computer programme in which descriptive statistics (mean, frequency and percentage) were computed, and content analysis was used for qualitative data. The study found a positive attitude among most respondents, indicated by the mean score ranging from 3.7 to 4.5. The study also revealed that a parent raising a child alone is overwhelmed by parenting responsibilities. In addition, a child raised by a single parent misses the care and love of the other parent, may experience abuse, poor academic performance, get involved in lousy peer groups, moral decay, loneliness, sadness, and lack confidence and self-reliance. Moreover, the study found that the majority of the respondents experienced single parenting, which resulted from searching for employment opportunities, the death of a partner, separation, birth out of wedlock, divorce, and choice. The study recommends that local government, through social welfare officers and the police gender desk in collaboration with non-governmental organizations, should continue providing education on the negative effects of single parenting to children.

Translating Self and Other in Travel Writing: Fuchsia Dunlop’s Shark’s Fin and Sichuan Pepper as a Case Study

Travel writing that transcends cultural boundaries often engages with the depiction of regional culinary cultures, thereby offering a unique lens through which to examine the representation of Other’s foodways and the traveller’s transformation. Drawing upon the metaphorical concept of translation as a form of crossing, this paper employs a tripartite analytical framework – interlingual translation, cultural translation, and self translation – to scrutinise Shark’s Fin and Sichuan Pepper, a gastrotourism text set in China by Fuchsia Dunlop. Taking food as a semiotic system, this study aims to explore how Dunlop’s cultural identity is captured in her self translation and how the identity is reflected in her interlingual and cultural translation of Chinese food. It reveals that Dunlop transforms from an outsider to an insider of Chinese food, and repositions herself as a different insider who values traditional Chinese foodways. This evolving identity is mirrored in her use of the host language (Chinese) for translating culinary expressions, and in her strategies of de-stigmatising and historicising Chinese culinary practices within cultural translation. Dunlop’s narrative underscores a positive attitude towards translation, highlighting its gains for both the source culture and the cultural translator.

Cultural Interdiscursivity in Managing Corporate Discourse: A Corpus Analysis.

Corporate discourse offers a prime site for the study of interdiscursive performance across linguistic and cultural boundaries. However, there is a dearth of quantitative studies to assess cultural interdiscursivity in corporate discourse. Taking advantage of an LDA model and a dispersion formula, this study provides a corpus-based measurement of the interdiscursivity of corporate cultures as expressed within MD&A texts. The results demonstrate three distinct corporate culture types, namely technology-, resource-, and team-oriented cultures, which are expressed through subject terms, leading to strong culture enclave and culture blending effects. This article reveals the quantitative side of discourse and provides new insight into understanding how interdiscursive performance across linguistic and cultural boundaries is expressed in communicative practices.

TINJAUAN PUSTAKA TENTANG KOMPETENSI BAHASA YANG PALING ESENSIAL DALAM KOMUNIKASI BISNIS GLOBAL

This research addresses obstacles to effective English communication, focusing on essential language competencies—listening, speaking, reading, and writing—that are critical in global business. It explores which language skills are most important for international business communication and examines the impact of language proficiency on professional success. The goal of the study is to identify these key competencies for successful global business interactions and to provide insight into which skills professionals should focus on developing. To achieve this, a systematic literature review is conducted, establishing a structured theoretical framework by drawing on findings from previous research. The study concludes that essential language competencies for global business success include verbal communication, writing skills, cross-cultural understanding, listening, and negotiation abilities. Among these, verbal skills in English, as an international language, are especially crucial in settings such as presentations, meetings, and negotiations. Effective verbal communication requires not only mastery of grammar but also the ability to use non-verbal cues, like intonation and body language, to reinforce and clarify messages. These competencies are emphasized as crucial for professionals who wish to excel in the global business landscape, where effective communication can significantly influence outcomes. The findings suggest that developing both language and cultural understanding equips professionals to engage more effectively across linguistic and cultural boundaries, enhancing their ability to negotiate, collaborate, and succeed in diverse business environments.

The Weight of Conformity: Unpacking the Model Minority in Chang-rae Lee’s Native Speaker

Chang-rae Lee’s Native Speaker centers on Henry Park, a Korean American who works as a spy for a private intelligence firm, and offers an in-depth exploration of the effects of immigration, cultural identity, and assimilation on the individual. Henry is tasked with infiltrating the political campaign of John Kwang, a rising Korean American politician who represents hope for the Korean American community. As Henry navigates his dual role, the novel interrogates the pressures of the “model minority” stereotype, strained personal relationships, and cultural belonging. Through his internal conflict, Native Speaker critically examines the immigrant experience, underscoring how social expectations and assimilation impact personal identity and the complexities of living across cultural boundaries. This article examines the aspirations of three central characters in Native Speaker—Korean immigrant Mr. Park, his son Henry Park, and the politician John Kwang. By analyzing their respective dreams, this study reveals that these Korean American ambitions, while diverse in their personal goals, are unified by their entanglement with the Asian American model minority stereotype. Despite generational differences, Mr. Park, Henry Park, and John Kwang represent distinct facets of this stereotype: the self-made immigrant, the self-effacing and dutiful subordinate, and the overachieving public figure, respectively. These characters’ ambitions not only reflect their individual struggles but also underscore the broader socio-cultural pressures that shape and constrain the Korean American experience, highlighting the hidden costs associated with their pursuit of success and the model minority myth.

Engaging in transnational ways of teaching and building a community of practice: Preservice teachers’ experiences in an online after‐school program

AbstractEmploying the concepts of transnational funds of knowledge and community practice, this ethnographic case study examines the experiences of preservice world language teachers in a year‐long teaching methods course. It focuses on an online after‐school program where preservice teachers taught languages and cultures to children from linguistically and culturally diverse backgrounds. The findings illustrate how a teacher candidate from a multilingual and immigrant background drew on her transnational lived experiences and encouraged students to think beyond the boundaries of languages, cultures, and countries. Findings also show how preservice teachers in the program learned from fellow teachers’ practices and built a shared repertoire of resources to engage in transnational ways of teaching language and culture. This study underscores the importance of providing clinical opportunities where preservice teachers can put theory into practice, incorporate transnational funds of knowledge that learners possess, and challenge linguistic, cultural, and geographic boundaries.

Be Water: The Beliefs and Blurred Cultural Boundaries of the Boat People of Kau Lau Wan, Hong Kong

This paper examines the On Lung Ching Chiu (安龍清醮, Ritual of Settling Down the Dragon for Purification) in Kau Lau Wan village, Hong Kong, analyzing how the boat people have manipulated religious rituals to blur the identity of the original Hakka residents and strengthen their own cultural identity. The research finds that although the On Lung festival originated from Hakka tradition, over the past decades, this ritual has been replaced and reconstructed by the boat people of Kau Lau Wan, becoming an important medium for expressing their self-identity and community space. Through adjustments to the ritual content, spatial arrangements, and participant composition, the boat people have gradually ‘fisherized’ the originally Hakka ritual. Meanwhile, they have utilized cross-border fishing community networks to invite deities from different regions to participate in the festival, further establishing Kau Lau Wan’s status as a boat people community. This study’s timing during the COVID-19 pandemic (2021-2023) provided unique insights into the ritual’s significance for the diaspora community. Despite travel restrictions and logistical challenges, overseas villagers’ determination to return for the festival highlighted the On Lung Ching Chiu’s crucial role in maintaining community bonds and cultural identity across geographical boundaries. The pandemic context revealed how the ritual serves as an anchor for transnational community networks while adapting to contemporary circumstances. This study reveals how this subaltern group has reconstructed their cultural boundaries and discursive power through the manipulation of traditional religious practices.

Linking the lack of tactile sensory cues to consumers’ emotions in e-commerce clothing purchases: a cross-cultural study

This paper explores consumers’ emotions related to a lack of tactile sensory experiences during e-commerce clothing purchases in a cross-cultural study between South Africa and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Data was collected from a structured, self-administered electronic questionnaire. Respondents were provided with pictures of clothing garments from which their need for touch (NFT) and emotional responses were predominantly determined. The UAE respondents tend to display generally higher levels of NFT than South Africans, with higher levels of instrumental NFT found in UAE respondents. South Africans displayed a higher emotional response than UAE respondents. The international gap in existing research regarding a lack of tactile sensory cues in e-commerce clothing purchases is addressed in this study as it highlights the importance of NFT in e-commerce clothing purchases, and the effect thereof across cultural boundaries, providing insight into the effect of tactile sensory cues on consumers’ emotions, which directly affects their purchase intention.

The varicultural, translanguaging and deCentring

ABSTRACT Inability to discern separated cultures or native–non-native-speakerhood in a hugely diverse hospital setting allows deCentred observation of how cultural practices and values cross socially constructed cultural boundaries within a seamless varicultural flow. This enables inclusive and translingual threads of hybridity resourced by the everyday small culture experience we bring with us. Beginning with the small helps resist being colonised by the ‘us’–‘them’ essentialist blocks derived from the dominant separated cultures model. Much of this struggle is unspoken in the perceptions of silent onlookers, influenced by grand, personal, institutional and workplace narratives, and in how we perceive how others perceive us.

Collaborative journalism and cross-border collaborations for newsafety: Navigating security and solidarity mechanisms in cooperative practices in Latin American news media

In an era of globalisation, journalism transcends national and cultural boundaries, with international events commanding significant media attention. This evolution necessitates researching the complex networks that produce news in our interconnected world. This study examines the transformative impact of collaborative journalism in Latin America, focusing on cross-border alliances and their dual role in enhancing journalistic safety and solidarity. Notable efforts such as Tierra de Resistentes, Lava Jato, and regional teams behind the Panama and Pandora Papers demonstrate the power of collective journalistic efforts in the region. This research investigates how journalists and news outlets implement cross-border coverage through quantitative and qualitative analysis, including a survey of 75 respondents across 15 Latin American countries and 19 in-depth interviews with media practitioners in 10 countries. Our findings reveal that the success of collaborative journalism depends on contextual factors and organisational frameworks that prioritise material support, effectively functioning as solidarity and security networks. These collaborations have significantly shaped public discourse despite challenging contexts, including underdeveloped economies and authoritarian regimes. Particular attention is paid to approaches to journalist security through partnerships, training initiatives, and consultancy. This study advances scholarly literature and practical understanding by demonstrating that collaborative journalism’s empowering potential in Latin America is realised primarily through its crucial role in fostering solidarity and implementing comprehensive safety measures for journalists.

Tafseer (Quranic Exegesis) As the Main Discipline of Quranic Science (Uloomul Quran), Preserving Semantic Essence of The Holy Quran During Translation

This article explores the pivotal role of tafseer in safeguarding the Quran's semantic essence, addressing the challenges faced in translating its profound meanings into different languages. It underscores the necessity of adhering to established exegetical principles to maintain the Quran's authenticity and spiritual impact across linguistic and cultural boundaries as tafseer (Quranic exegesis) serves as the cornerstone of understanding the divine message of Quran in its linguistic, historical, and contextual dimensions.

A framework to guide future farming research with Indigenous communities

We present a framework to guide applied research with Indigenous Peoples. Indigenous cropping sys­tems are relevant to scientifically addressing many of the shortcomings and problems regarding cur­rent cropping systems. Indigenous food sover­eignty movements are currently preserving and expanding their cropping system food ways. The knowledge underlying these efforts is not static but dynamic, incorporating contemporary tools in ever changing environments. We highlight four princi­ples of Indigenous farming that are reflected in both practice and cultural traditions: polycultures, seed-keeping, sustainability, and community. These principles have been pivotal to the primary author’s doctoral research as they collaborate with Indige­nous communities in Wisconsin to trial organic farming practices that utilize their traditional values and knowledge. We encourage more applied research in farming and natural sciences that uphold Indigenous ways of knowing as equal to Western science through collaborating with Indige­nous Peoples. Researchers should be aware of the implications of research in Indigenous communi­ties, involving the cultural boundaries associated with crops and seeds, which are often not regulated and thus warrant protection. As Western science seeks to find sustainable alternatives to current farming norms, as seen in other areas of land man­agement, we encourage creating shared learning environments between researchers and Indigenous Peoples to foster relevant and equitable outcomes for farming practices.

THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE REIMAGINED: SATIRICAL CULTURAL REPRESENTATIONS IN TIGA ABDUL (1964)

Reinterpreting historical eras in film adaptations allows for the creative reshaping of past events, figures, and cultures to resonate with contemporary audiences. Filmmakers often blend historical accuracy with artistic expression, using historical settings as a platform to comment on modern societal dynamics, power structures, and cultural questions. In particular, historical contexts are frequently utilized to reinforce specific film genres, such as comedy. This paper explores the satirical portrayal of the Ottoman Empire in P. Ramlees film TigaAbdulwith the direct translation being Three Abdul(1964), a seminal work that adapts historical motifs to enhance its comedic narrative. Utilizing qualitative content analysis and cultural discourse methods, this study examines how P. Ramlee integrates elements of Ottoman culture and civilization into the films settings, characters, and narratives. Employing Roland Barthes semiotic analysis, the research deconstructs these cinematic elements to uncover the symbolic and satirical reinterpretations of Ottoman motifs. Findings reveal that P. Ramlees adaptation not only reflects the historical grandeur of the Ottoman Empire but also recontextualizes it as a satirical commentary, thereby amplifying the films comedic impact. This study highlights P. Ramlees innovative use of historical reimagination to engage audiences and sustain the relevance of comedic narratives across temporal and cultural boundaries.

Gender and Islam through Leila Ahmed’s Lens: Methodology, Social Realities, and Personal Insights

The study on women and gender in Islam has become an intriguing subject for many scholars over the past few decades. One of these is Leila Ahmed's work entitled "Women and Gender in Islam: Historical Roots in Modern Debate." This work has made a significant contribution in deconstructing stereotypes and expanding understanding of how religion and culture shape views of women in Muslim societies. This article aims to analyze Leila Ahmed's thoughts on the methodological aspects and approaches she employs. The research utilizes a qualitative literature review method with documentary analysis techniques. The research findings indicate that Leila Ahmed's life experiences, crossing social and cultural boundaries, have had a profound influence on the development of her scholarly identity. She has encountered a personally "lived" Islam, acquired and taught by her mother, as well as a ritualistic and at times oppressive Islam imposed by the state. She has experienced educational opportunities afforded to her by Western influences in Egypt, yet suffered racism and stereotypes from teachers and peers in England. These diverse experiences have imbued meaning into her work and compelled her to provide balanced and sensitive analyses in her book. There, Leila Ahmed does not highlight what is right or wrong but instead portrays a complex situation by presenting multiple possible responses to each question. Keywords: Cultural and Social Contexts; Islam and Gender; Leila Ahmed; Methodology in Islamic Studies; Women and Gender in Islam

Understanding faith-based responses to gun violence and the moral and ethical challenges in religious communities

Gun violence remains a pervasive and complex issue in many societies, transcending political, socioeconomic, and cultural boundaries. This research review examines the critical role of faith-based organizations and religious communities in addressing this multifaceted challenge through theologically-informed approaches. The study analyzes how religious institutions develop and implement initiatives guided by their distinct theological frameworks, exploring successful interventions while acknowledging implementation challenges. Through detailed case studies and empirical evidence, we examine how faith communities navigate complex moral dilemmas arising from the intersection of religious teachings and contemporary gun violence realities. The research reveals how religious organizations successfully integrate traditional theological wisdom with modern intervention strategies, while highlighting their unique contributions to trauma healing and community restoration. This review enhances our understanding of faith-based responses to gun violence, providing insights into effective strategies for combining spiritual guidance with practical intervention approaches, ultimately contributing to the development of more comprehensive and culturally sensitive violence prevention efforts.

Analysis of Newspaper Headlines from The Times and The New York Times: UEFA Euro 2024 and Paris Olympics 2024

Sporting events have numerous positive impacts on individual communities, countries, and society in general. They transcend geographical and cultural boundaries, and contribute to societal well-being by connecting communities around the world. The Olympics and the Euro (UEFA European Football Championship) are among the most popular sporting events in the world. Mainstream media around the world have reported on these two major sporting events. Analysis of media language is an integral part of research into various contemporary aspects of social and cultural changes. Thus, analysis of media representation of important sporting events offers a valuable insight into linguistic and discoursal aspects of media power and the complex relationship between language and society. The aim of this study is to analyse media representation of the UEFA Euro 2024 and the Paris Olympic Games 2024 in The Times and The New York Times. The corpus is composed of headlines related to the UEFA Euro 2024 (published from 15 June to 16 July 2024) and headlines related to the Paris Olympics (published from 11 July to 12 August 2024). Headlines are analysed by using the theoretical and methodological framework of CDA, which is employed for describing, interpreting and explaining different aspects of discursive practices in newspaper discourse. The focus is on establishing correlations between particular examples of media language and societal, institutional and cultural contexts.

Analysis of Newspaper Headlines from The Times and The New York Times: UEFA Euro 2024 and Paris Olympics 2024

Sporting events have numerous positive impacts on individual communities, countries, and society in general. They transcend geographical and cultural boundaries, and contribute to societal well-being by connecting communities around the world. The Olympics and the Euro (UEFA European Football Championship) are among the most popular sporting events in the world. Mainstream media around the world have reported on these two major sporting events. Analysis of media language is an integral part of research into various contemporary aspects of social and cultural changes. Thus, analysis of media representation of important sporting events offers a valuable insight into linguistic and discoursal aspects of media power and the complex relationship between language and society. The aim of this study is to analyse media representation of the UEFA Euro 2024 and the Paris Olympic Games 2024 in The Times and The New York Times. The corpus is composed of headlines related to the UEFA Euro 2024 (published from 15 June to 16 July 2024) and headlines related to the Paris Olympics (published from 11 July to 12 August 2024). Headlines are analysed by using the theoretical and methodological framework of CDA, which is employed for describing, interpreting and explaining different aspects of discursive practices in newspaper discourse. The focus is on establishing correlations between particular examples of media language and societal, institutional and cultural contexts.

THE INFLUENCE OF ZEN BUDDHISM ON THE FORMATION OF REALISM IN JAPANESE CULTURE: FROM SIMPLICITY TO UNIVERSALITY

This article explores the profound influence of Zen Buddhism on the formation of Japanese aesthetics, focusing on key concepts such as simplicity (kanso), naturalness (shibumi), and impermanence (mujo). Zen realism, characterized by the acceptance of reality without subjective embellishments, is examined as a foundational principle that shaped not only Japanese cultural identity but also a universal aesthetic language. The study highlights the philosophical tenets of Zen, including the principles of «non-duality» (fuju) and «direct intuition» (jikan), which guide the perception of reality as it is and foster a unique artistic and cultural worldview.Relevance: In the context of globalization and cultural exchange, the Zen-inspired Japanese approach to aesthetics offers valuable insights into contemporary issues of sustainability, mindfulness, and design thinking. The enduring appeal of Japanese minimalism in modern art, architecture, and design underscores the universality and adaptability of Zen principles, making this topic highly pertinent for cross-cultural studies and global artistic dialogues.Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate how Zen Buddhist values influenced the development of Japanese aesthetics and contributed to creating a universal artistic and philosophical framework.Tasks: To achieve this objective, the article:- Analyzes the philosophical underpinnings of Zen realism in shaping the perception of reality.- Explores the aesthetic principles of simplicity (kanso), naturalness (shibumi), and impermanence (mujo) in traditional and modern Japanese art.- Examines the impact of Zen-inspired aesthetics on contemporary global design and architecture.The study demonstrates that the pursuit of simplicity, rooted in Zen practice, transcends cultural boundaries and has become a universal language in the realms of art and design. Examples include Tadao Ando’s architecture, which embodies harmony between light, space, and void, and the minimalist design philosophy of brands like Muji, which resonates globally. The analysis also underlines the role of Zen aesthetics in fostering ecological awareness and a deeper connection to the present moment, aligning with contemporary global challenges.The article concludes by emphasizing the potential of Zen-inspired aesthetics to serve as a universal cultural category, capable of bridging diverse traditions and promoting cross-cultural dialogue. Future research directions include examining Zen principles as a framework for addressing ecological, social, and philosophical issues in an increasingly interconnected world.

Study on the Heritage and Development of the Forbidden City's Ceramic Culture through the Lens of Intercultural Communication

This paper conducts an in-depth study on the inheritance and development of the Forbidden City's ceramic culture from the perspective of cross-cultural communication. By combing through the historical origins, artistic characteristics, and cultural connotations of the Forbidden City's ceramics, this paper reveals its significant position in the transmission of Chinese culture. Furthermore, the article analyzes how the Forbidden City's ceramic culture transcends geographical and cultural boundaries to achieve international dissemination and exchange under the backdrop of globalization. Based on this, the paper discusses the opportunities and challenges faced by the Forbidden City's ceramic culture in its inheritance and development process and proposes corresponding strategies and suggestions. The research aims to promote the international dissemination of the Forbidden City's ceramic culture, to drive its innovation and development in contemporary society, and to provide reference for the protection and transmission of world cultural heritage.