Intercultural Contact Research Articles

THE "GENIUS" OF AN UNDYING PLACE: GEOCULTURAL CHALLENGES AND EDUCATIONAL STAPLES

The article contains the author's view on the value-semantic foundations of cultural activity of local communities in response to geocultural challenges characteristic of the provincial settlements of Russia before the revolution. The authors' research focuses on the pages of the history of the tireless struggle of people of the XIX century for the accessibility of education and art in order to prevent the extinction of their place of residence. Special attention is paid to V. V. Vereshchagin, a man of a great original soul, an ascetic and creator, who, although he did not take a lively part in solving everyday problems in the settlements of the Kherson and Perm provinces, but became a recognized “genius of the place” for their residents. Today, the name of V. V. Vereshchagin continues to bind the educational staples of the cities of Nikolayev and Vereshchagino, despite the lack of intercultural contacts. In the jubilee year of the city of Perm, it seems important to emphasize that the presence of vocational education institutions in Perm settlements ensures the development of cultural-centric qualities in local communities

Multiculturalism in modern mass media: analysis of stereotypes

The article aims to consider multicultural discourse through the prism of media coverage. Contemporary media are characterized from the political engagement perspective, and that of its resources and media presentation of news related to multicultural issues. The study adopts a content analysis method of media resources and displays ways of presenting the information. Finally, the study tests hypotheses that explain acculturation and intercultural relations in multicultural societies. The current cultural situation is characterized by the global development of media resources, the acceleration of creating and distributing global communication tools via national and transnational media. The results showed that perceived security, intercultural contacts, adoption of a multicultural ideology, acculturation strategies, and expectations significantly impact mutual acculturation and relations of the host population, migrants, and other social categories of society. Therefore, efforts through the media to improve relations between representatives of different cultures, communities, and population segments should aim at increasing the basic sense of security and adopting a multicultural ideology. In addition, there is a need to understand the essence of tolerance, respect for ‘the other’ and recognition in multiculturalism and the role of the media in shaping ways of relating to other people and peoples.

Anthropological Knowledge in the Voluntary Actions for the Benefit of Immigrants from the Guarded Centres for Foreigners in Poland. A post factum Reflection on the Project

The postulate of openness to Others is practiced both by anthropologists and active volunteers. In the case of the former, it is a condition for the acquisition of knowledge on the diversity of ways of life in the world and undertaking actions in the activist paradigm, while with reference to the latter, it is not only tantamount to assistance, but also the basic premise behind their actions. This common ethical perspective turned out to inspire reflections on how the anthropological knowledge can be useful for volunteer activity, which by the way is often understood in practice as ‘helping others out of one’s own accord’. As a result, in 2021/22 the didactic project An Anthropologist – an Expert in Voluntary Activity. Improving Communication Competencies in the Situation of Intercultural Contact was developed in the Department of Anthropology and Ethnology, Adam Mickiewicz University.

Greek Content in the Work of Hryhorii Skovoroda: Intertextual Dimensions or Artistic Bilingualism of the Author?

The purpose of the article is to raise a question on reasons for the availability of Greek content in the work of the great Ukrainian thinker Hryhorii Skovoroda and on the functions of bi-/ multilingualism of his texts. The relevance of the study is based on the contradiction between the objective need to reveal the phenomenon of artistic bilingualism and the features of his polycode text caused by verbal and cogitative activity of his creative bilingual personality. The author of the article concludes that the emergence of texts of bi-/polylingual personalities is preceded by a change in their worldview and the formation of a new culture and language space. Thus, the implementation of the linguistic and worldview approaches of Hryhorii Skovoroda is based on the old Ukrainian literary and written tradition of the late 16th–18th centuries, guarded within the walls of the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. Exploring the artistic models of the writer’s world, the researcher focuses on the definition of intertextual connections, in particular on the fact of intertextuality. In the article the phenomenon of bilingualism is discussed contextually and correlates with the problem of intercultural contacts and influences.

VOTIVE OFFERINGS IN CHURCHES IN UKRAINE: THE SUPPRESSION AND REVIVAL OF THE TRADITION

The collective memory of people in the post-Soviet space preserves some stereotypes, and they have a certain influence on the cognitive process. For example, the focus on interfaith conflict, as well as silencing issues of constructive interaction, was a deliberate manipulation. The author set the goal of analysing intercultural contact between different ethnic groups in the religious practice of votive offerings in Ukrainian lands. The attribution of votive offerings preserved in museums in Ukraine shows that the tradition was widespread, but waned during the Soviet era.

Health professionals and Amerindian patients: representations and practices in French Guiana

In French Guiana, Amerindian populations find themselves in a health system whose therapeutic itinerary revolves around their traditional medicine and modern medicine provided by health professionals mostly from hexagonal France. The latter intervene in a “complexity of intercultural contact” which influences the caregiver-patient relationship and affects therapeutic adherence. To better understand the practices and representations of the health system in an intercultural context, qualitative research was carried out in the field between 2018 and 2019 with seventeen health professionals working in health centers located in the municipalities of the Interior of French Guiana. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted in order to explore the representations, the difficulties encountered, and the tools used by these caregivers in their daily practice. These interviews were crossed with participant observations and bibliographical research in the medical and anthropological fields. The caregiver-patient encounter was asymmetrical, unequal and was part of a power relationship. The caregivers remained marked by ethnocentric representations -inherent to each culture- far removed from those of the populations and this divergence impacted the practice. It would be advisable to shift the focus in order to « penetrate » the frame of reference of the Other and rebalance relationships. The exploration of popular knowledge and skills and the application of proven teaching methods would encourage therapeutic adherence. « Homethnic workers » and intercultural training could help promote community health.

Cultural Tension and Artistic Mediation in Uwemedimo Atakpo’s Return to the Sun-god.

This paper examines cultural tension as pervasive thematic thrust in Uwemedimo Atakpo’s Return to the Sun-god and also extrapolates the playwright’s creative tool for conciliation of the socio-cultural crisis that pervades the sphere of this enactment. The paper notes that religious and other socio-political upheaval are inevitable in almost every society that witnesses cross-cultural influences. This usually arises when there is a deliberate intention to downplay an extant culture of a particular community in preference for the cultural values of a predatory power, thereby causing fundamental modifications of natural condition that lends a valid identity to a particular community. This development, most times, impinges on the socio-political and religious wellbeing of the people whose culture is being suppressed. It is against this backdrop that this paper examines some threads of cultural tension in the play under examination. Through the analysis of the text, this paper does not only isolate instances of cultural tension in the text, but also explores some possible avenues through which the playwright diffuses the unwarranted consequences of the inter-cultural contact. The paper concludes that change and other social eruptions are natural imperatives of man and should not be viewed as destructive but should rather be harnessed towards meeting the myriad challenges of life. Keywords: Culture, Tension, Playwright, Change, Mediation.

Transforming Power Through Cultural Humility in the Intercultural Contact Zone of Art Therapy

This article conceptualizes art therapy as an intercultural contact zone or social ecotone, defined as the liminal space that emerges when two or more habitats overlap. In the unresolved tensions of their interaction, negotiation of power through cultural humility is an ongoing, profoundly ethical process. This premise is illustrated with examples from a high-contrast contact zone the author experienced as an art therapist in collaboration with a social justice-oriented organization serving marginalized communities in their emancipatory goals. The implications of cultural borderlands are discussed as transgressive zones of transformative power and exchange.

Stressors in the multicultural construction working environment

Due to the dynamic and complex nature of the construction industry, construction workers are often exposed to a range of stressors which are causative factors for mental health problems. Simultaneously, intercultural contact between workers in a multicultural working environment may aggravate mental health issues. A better understanding of stressors can contribute to the development of targeted measures for mental health prevention and promotion. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the correlation between stressors and mental health for construction workers in a culturally diverse working environment. Data were collected using questionnaires from 252 construction workers in Australia. The Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyse the collected data. The results revealed the significant correlations between stressors and mental health outcomes and indicated the most significant stressors from work, personal and cultural domains. The findings provide valuable insights for practitioners and policymakers on the development of mental health interventions for construction workforce in a multicultural context. Researchers could also benefit from an in-depth comprehension on the causative factors of psychological issues in the construction industry.

FEATURES OF VERBAL GREETINGS OF REPRESENTATIVES OF INTERCULTURAL SPACE

Nowadays, the emergence of intercultural contacts is an integral part of our lives. When a person enters another cultural or linguistic environment, he finds himself in a world of other values and rules of communication. It is necessary to take into account the fact that a person communicates with representatives of different cultures and different languages. The multifaceted nature of communication involves the application of various verbal and non-verbal means, the awareness of which allows you to determine your psychological personality and take into account the relevant qualities of the interlocutor, thus influencing the outcome of the interaction. The verbal components, the main carriers of message meanings, play an important role in interpersonal communication. Interlocutors begin any conversation with a greeting, and the words uttered during the greeting set the tone for all further communication. The article defines the features of the greeting depending on the part of the day, social status, age, etc. It was found that the British accompany the greeting with the question “How are you doing?”, the Indians say “Namaskar” (NamaskAr) or “Namaste” (NamastE) which means approximately “I greet God to you”, the French when meeting say the famous “Bonjour” and then add: “Comment ca va?” (“How’s it going?”), Italians wonder if the interlocutor’s fulcrum is good enough, so they ask: “Come sta?” (“How are you?”), a Japanese person’s conversation will begin with the greeting “Konichciva”, the literal translation of which is “The day has come”, Chinese when meeting ask each other “Have you eaten today?”, in Malaysia it is customary to ask “Where are you going?”, Georgians greet each other with the word “Gamarjoba!” – “Be right!” or “Win!”, Mongolians have a very specific greeting – “Are your cattle healthy?”, Arabs will say “Peace be with you!”, and Jews – “Peace be with you!” Greeting traditions of different peoples of the world are one of the important parts of culture. The etiquette has a national color, which depends on the way of life, beliefs, rituals, and traditions of a particular people. Key words: intercultural communication, language, etiquette, greetings.

Bone tools for leather processing (blunt knives and curriers knives) in the funeral rite of the Post-Catacomb period as cultural and chronological indicators

In the paper, the burials of the Post-Catacomb period (2200–1800 cal BC), whose inventory included large bone tools for leather processing, are analysed. Most of them are represented in the Lola Culture circle (Ciscau-casia and the Volga-Urals), and only in few instances they have been found in the burials of the Babino Culture circle (the Lower Volga and the Lower Don regions). The mapping indicates that in the latter case we are dealing with the evidence of intercultural contacts between the representatives of the Lola and Babino traditions. The analysis of the materials shows that the tradition of using large tools for skin processing in the funeral rite deve-loped at the end of the Middle Bronze Age in Ciscaucasia within the Lola Culture circle. The Lola Culture was the main generator here. Its materials contain the largest number of such tools and their greatest variety. To such an extent, it is not represented within the materials of any other cultural formation of the Post-Catacomb period and in any of the cultures of the Late Bronze Age, where this tradition was inherited and rooted itself. It is noteworthy that in the Post-Catacomb burials, large leather-processing tools in most cases were present in the toolsets alongside other production implements, most often with stone tools. Besides, the functional relation between the bone and stone components of such toolsets is either not obvious or completely absent. It is possible that the interred with the attributes of different crafts might have been associated with the variants of the well-known Cult of Demiurge, well represented in archaic societies. The analysis of some features of the rite and combinations with other categories of the inventory in the burials of the Lola Culture circle shows that there is a correlation be-tween the types of the large leather-processing tools and particular specific features of the ritual practice. Thus, the tools made from the lower jaws and pelvic bones of large ungulate animals clearly correlate with the south-ward orientation of the skeletons in the burials. The leather-processing tools made from the ribs of the large ungu-late animals were seen predominantly in the burials with northward orientations. It is still difficult to say what lies behind such steady correlations, but it should be noted that in a reduced form they recur in the subsequent Late Bronze Age. The answer to the last question requires further expansion of the source base.

Japanese university student responses to intercultural scenarios: Contact strategies and perceptions of otherness

The internationalisation of educational institutions continues to develop worldwide alongside and within globalisation trends, compelling universities to educate graduates capable of engaging with international issues and of living and working in increasingly pluralistic societies. In Japan, internationalisation remains at the forefront of government policies for tertiary education and closely linked to a demand for interculturally competent global human resources (GHR). Yet, outcomes assessment remains largely limited to quantitative outputs. This study aimed to explore the strategies employed by Japanese first-year university students in response to intercultural contact as well as their perceptions of culturally different others. Responses to three intercultural scenarios in the form of critical incidents were collected from 164 first-year students at two Top Global universities in Japan at the start of the 2019 Spring Semester. Findings indicate that students are generally open and respectful toward culturally different others, but that willingness to interact is context-dependent, as students were more willing to interact interculturally in formal situations. Moreover, findings suggest that despite students’ openness to intercultural contact, the non-Japanese other is nonetheless perceived as an outsider, unable to communicate in Japanese and to understand and follow Japanese cultural norms. Results from this study have implications on current conceptual models of intercultural competence as well as on future strategies to foster an interculturally competent workforce in Japan.

SWITCHING LANGUAGES FOR POLITICAL FEAR, POWER AND ANGER IN DIGITALLY-SURVEILLANCED MULTILINGUAL FACEBOOK INTERACTION IN INDONESIA

This paper examines how multilingual members of FB communities in Indonesia express fear, power, and anger with Covid19 and the government undertaking of its outbreak. John J. Gumperz’s (1982) and Dell Hymes’ (2005) sociolinguistic theories on identities and choices of languages in multilingual contexts and Herring, Stein, and Virtanen’s (2013) discourse theories on digitally-mediated intercultural communication is used as theoretical concepts and frameworks, building on FB as a site for intercultural contacts where language, culture, and political ideology are practised and selection of appropriate languages and forms is the main strategy for discursive safety. Data were collected by participant observations of FB interactions involving the Tadpoles (government supporters) and the Foxes (the oppositions) in Lombok, Indonesia. Twenty key players in each group were followed from January 2020 to August 2021. As the units of the analysis, words and sentences in the statuses and the comments of these players in in-group and out-group interactions were downloaded, transcribed, and translated into English. Analysis was done ethnographically by identifying contexts and contextualization cues in the translanguaging acts. The study shows that FB citizens, particularly the Tadpoles, used multiple linguistic competences in the online ideological battles as strategies to avoid possible legal consequences. English, Arabic, and local languages assumed to be inaccessible to the government officials and supporters were used as a means of covering disapprovals and discomforts with government policies. The study also shows how politically-marginalized speakers (the Foxes) make use of varied, multilingual linguistic competence as linguistic resources and symbolic capital to deconstruct and challenge hegemony of the government and its supporters (the Tadpoles).

Multicultural Ideology in the Hidden Curriculum of Schoolbooks for Migrant Children

The study explores different aspects of the educational integration of migrants in Russia. The analysis shows that the challenges posed by cultural heterogeneity are not taken into account at the legislative level in the sphere of education. Analysis of the content of textbooks for migrant children shows tendencies towards the elimination of cultural specificity from grade to grade, the exclusion of adult migrants in representations of intercultural contact and the implicit reinforcement of the dominant role of the majority. The results demonstrate the necessity of rethinking the legal framework for regulating education and the content of schoolbooks.

The Influence of Culture and Intercultural Contact on Neo-Racism and Ethnocentrism

Ethnicity-based discrimination remains a persistent concern across the globe. A recent yet disparate literature focused on the role of cultural dimensions and intercultural contact in forming negative intergroup attitudes; however, these variables have yet to be included in a single study, so their unique effects cannot be estimated. Furthermore, although it is well documented that intercultural contact may reduce out-group discrimination, its influence on in-group favouritism remains relatively unexplored. The present study examines whether social dominance orientation (power distance), uncertainty avoidance, individualism/collectivism, and intercultural contact can predict neo-racism and ethnocentrism. Results from an online survey on Slovenian sample (N = 164) demonstrated that social dominance orientation was the best predictor of neo-racism and ethnocentrism, followed by intercultural contact. Findings indicate the importance of cultural context in shaping and modifying negative attitudes and increasing social tolerance. The implications for culturally-informed practices for preventing/reducing discrimination are outlined.

Psychometric Properties of Intercultural Competences in a Central European Context

This study aims to validate Fantini’s intercultural competence scale in a sample of foreign students in a Central European context, and to figure out the pathways which are critical in improving the intercultural competence of foreign students. To achieve that, the study used confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to construct the structural equation model (SEM). The results indicate that the scale is reliable and valid for assessing foreign students’ intercultural competence. In addition, using the first-order CFA as a baseline model, the SEM indicates that each intercultural knowledge, attitude, and skills are essential in predicting the intercultural awareness of the students. On the other hand, enhanced awareness plays an important role in promoting the development of these factors. Based on that, the study provides university decision-makers with valuable information which can be helpful in formulating related policies and rules aiming to enhance the integration and intercultural contact between foreign and Hungarian students at the university environment.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE SKILLS AS THE MAIN FACTOR OF SUCCESFUL CAREER IN THE HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM INDUSTRY

Languages are the central theme of communication in every aspect of human endeavor, be it in the social, economic, and political sphere. To remain competitive and increase your career opportunity and job prospect, you have to communicate smoothly to pave the way for unfettered business connection flows. And here is where learning a new language becomes the latest trend in Ukraine and offer careers in foreign languages.Understanding of performance expectations are keys to achievement of tourist satisfaction and a basic prerequisite of successful communication in the tourism industry. Good oral and written communication skills are important to hospitality practitioners at different positions and levels. Thus, tourism and hospitality play a significant role and intercultural contacts contribute to the development of intercultural dialogue. The importance of studying foreign languages also contributes to the development of intercultural competence in the area of tourism and hospitality industry being a prerequisite for successful carrier in tourism industry.

Perceiving refugees as threats may backfire on one’s health: Relations with intercultural antecedents and psychological distress among Germans

AbstractIn the recent years, research on the conditions, under which members of the host countries such as Germany perceive refugees as threatening and respond with negative attitudes, has increased. However, little attention has been given to the implications that subjective perceptions of threat among the host community may have for their own psychological health. Using integrated threat theory, the current study examined the relationships between perceived threats, person-centered antecedents in intercultural settings, and psychological distress among Germans, who reflected on incoming refugees. Using a survey company, a sample (N = 1000) was recruited, which matched the German census regarding central demographics. Participants completed a cross-sectional online survey with validated self-report measures. Assessments covered four perceived threat types (intergroup anxiety, symbolic and realistic threat, negative stereotypes), person-related antecedents (social identity as German, quantity and quality of prior intercultural contact), and psychological distress. Applying structural equation modeling, we found that high social identification as German was related to greater perceptions of symbolic/realistic threat, stronger negative stereotypes and to more intergroup anxiety. Vice versa, high quality of prior intercultural contact experiences was associated with a decrease of all threat types. The quantity of prior intercultural contact showed almost no relations to perceived threats. In terms of indirect effects, greater quality of contact predicted less distress, and greater identity as German predicted more distress, both via symbolic/realistic threat and intergroup anxiety. Taken together, perceiving refugees as a threatening outgroup may signify a self-harming risk, while high quality of intercultural relations may indirectly enhance health.

The Effectiveness of Intercultural Contact in Foreign Language Learning Anxiety of Students Majoring in Less-commonly Taught Languages in China

To figure out the confusion remained in the survey conducted previously, a review on the relationship between intercultural contact and foreign language learning anxiety had been done. Conclusion can be drawn like that qualitative study of what types of intercultural contact students have and how they view the role of contact situation influencing their foreign language learning anxiety is appropriately prior to the quantitative study of to what extent the language contact can affect students’ foreign language learning anxiety and how it affects. Furthermore, the design of research should be based on multidimensional perspectives like quantitative, qualitative and inter-group aspects of intercultural contact and direct type or indirect type of intercultural contact.

Minority and Majority Adolescents’ Attitudes toward Mutual Acculturation and its Association with Psychological Adjustment

Although acculturation is considered a mutual process, no measure assesses attitudes toward mutual acculturation. Through a novel four-dimensional measurement, this study addresses this research gap by assessing attitudes toward minority and majority acculturation and its relation to psychological adjustment for immigrant-background minority and non-immigrant majority adolescents in public secondary schools in three European countries: in Germany (n = 346, 46% female, Mage = 12.78 years, range 11–16), Greece (n = 439, 56% female, Mage = 12.29 years, range 11–20), and Switzerland (n = 375, 47% female, Mage = 12.67 years, range 11–15). Latent profile analyses led to three distinct acculturation profiles in all three countries: strong and mild mutual integration profiles, where both migrant and majority students are expected to integrate, and a third profile assuming lower responsibility upon the majority. Additionally, those in the strong- and mild-integration profiles reported stronger psychological adjustment than those assuming lower responsibility upon the majority, which held for all students in Switzerland and mostly for those without a migration background in Germany. The findings demonstrate the importance of a mutual acculturation framework for future research. Moreover, as most adolescents fit in with one of the mutual integration patterns, findings stress that no matter their migration background, adolescents favor mutual integration including the expectation on schools to enhance intercultural contact.