Cultural Similarities Research Articles

THE IMPACT OF IRANIAN FILMS AND TELEVISION SERIES ON TURKISH AND AZERBAIJANI INBOUND TOURISTS

Recently, Iran has employed different methods to attract international tourists, with film tourism emerging as one of the most effective strategies, owing to the export of television (TV) series and films. With this tool and approach, Iran increased the number of tourists and became a unique country to visit owing to the shared language, culture, and special geographic location with over 15 countries, including two independent and disconnected states in Iraq, Azerbaijan, Kurdistan, and Nakhichevan, alongside 27 heritage sites. Iran achieved remarkable success in exporting TV series and films. The ‘film-induced tourism effect’, which refers to the increase in demand for travel to Iran, is widely thought to be one of the most significant outcomes of exporting TV series and films. This relatively new field explores how TV series and films affect travel demand. The main purpose of this study is to analyse the impact of TV series broadcasting in other countries with cultural similarities such as language. For this, we examine the influence of Turkish and Azerbaijani citizens visiting Iran. The results indicate that visitors from both countries were affected by Iranian TV series post-2018.

The Relevance of Demographic Similarity and Factuality in Social Influencer Communication Culture – A Comparison Between Hedonic and Utilitarian Conditions

This work identifies differences in the success factors of influencers given consumers’ consumption goals (hedonic vs. utilitarian). Although practitioners have complained about the lack of know-how regarding this issue, research on the topic remains scarce. Hypotheses on the differing relevance of the demographic similarity of influencers and consumers and of the factuality of influencers’ communication are verified through an empirical investigation. The scenario is consumers’ selection of a hotel for (1) a holiday (hedonic consumption goal) or (2) a professional/university seminar (utilitarian consumption goal). The results are analyzed by structural equation modeling and multigroup analysis. We generate some surprising results. Counterintuitively, demographic similarity is more important under utilitarian than hedonic conditions. Factuality seems equally important in both conditions. Explanations and implications of these findings are provided.

The odyssey of Turkish school leaders in Africa: An expedition into professional identity, challenges, and cultural adaptations

This phenomenological study explores the experiences of Turkish school leaders in international schools across 20 African countries, offering a novel perspective on educational leadership beyond the Anglo-Saxon context. In-depth interviews were conducted with 20 leaders selected through maximum variation sampling. The analysis revealed four themes: (i) factors that lead to working abroad, (ii) challenges of working abroad, (iii) perceived cultural similarities and differences, and (iv) reflections on international experiences. Findings illuminate a complex interplay of personal, altruistic, and professional factors driving these leaders’ decisions to work abroad. Participants reported navigating significant challenges at individual, professional, and environmental levels, necessitating the development of cultural intelligence, adaptive leadership styles, and crisis management skills. The study highlights a profound transformation in leaders’ professional identities from “outsiders” to “cultural mediators,” underscoring the critical role of culturally responsive leadership in diverse educational contexts. Results reveal how African sociocultural settings shape expatriate leaders’ mindsets, fostering more collaborative approaches and deeper cross-cultural appreciation. This highlights the evolution of leaders’ cultural understanding and effective communication skills, emphasizing the need for targeted support and professional development in cultural sensitivity and adaptive leadership. This research enhances the understanding of leadership complexities in multicultural settings, providing insights for global educational leadership and future research in cross-cultural management.

Unveiling Scholarly Insights: Quality Assurance in Open and Distance Education

Open and distance education (ODE) has continuously evolved, significantly influencing educational, daily, and professional spheres, thereby prompting interest in its sustainability and quality. This study explored global scientific perspectives on quality assurance in ODE using the science mapping method. Search terms centred on open education, distance education, and quality assurance; data was gathered from 4,224 scientific texts in the Web of Science Core Collection. Analyses were conducted using VOSviewer software. Co-authorship analyses explored scientific collaboration structures at the country level. Globally shared concepts of interest to the scientific community were addressed using co-occurrence analyses. A detailed examination of co-occurrence outputs led to classification related to general and emerging key concepts. Results depicted a widespread global interest in quality assurance in ODE, fostering connections based on new cultural similarities. The concept of quality assurance in ODE continues to be enriched and developed, gravitating towards focused learning and instruction, establishing strong ties with various components of regular education as well as human elements. However, the prevailing view of quality assurance has yet to encompass this diversity. Rather than consider the nature and current potential of ODE, it has maintained an externalized and technical perspective.

International migration and the advent of a new demographic era

AbstractThe paper explores whether international migration is linked to currently decreasing levels of fertility in high birth rates countries, thereby to the advent of a stage of population degrowth at the world's level. Methodology is in two steps. First, a global dataset is assembled comprising 13 variables for each country. For the country itself: emigrant stock, total fertility rate, girls' enrolment rate, women's labour force participation, global gender gap, and income per capita; for a fictitious average region of destination of migrants originating from this specific country, the last six variables. In the second step, links between origin and destination countries in terms of fertility levels and determinants are analysed using bivariate correlations. A remarkable fact emerges, namely national levels of fertility and their determinants vary quasi perfectly parallel at both ends of international migration corridors. Fertility at origin is not correlated to any phenomenon as much as to fertility, girls' school enrolment and gender equity at destination. Three complementary hypotheses explaining this apparently puzzling fact are discussed: transmission of norms by migrants; cultural similarities at both ends of migrant corridors; and congruency between the global diffusion of norms and the global migration of people. The conclusion highlights the original contribution of the paper, both to the demographic discipline (migration should also be dealt with as a remote determinant of fertility) and political debates on migration (erecting barriers to migration works against the preservation of earth).

Cultural Conflict and Disappointment: Hongkongers’ Sentiments Toward Taiwanese Authorities Amid Cross-Strait Tensions

The failure of the democratic movement during 2014–2020 prompted tens of thousands of Hongkongers (~40,000) to reluctantly leave their hometown and migrate to Taiwan to seek a freer future. Taiwan’s cultural similarity to Hong Kong, together with Taiwan’s democracy and geographic proximity, are commonly recognized as pull factors of migration. However, the intensifying cross-strait tensions since late 2021 have witnessed Taipei tighten its approval of Hongkongers’ applications for permanent residency mainly in fear of the infiltration of Chinese agents. Based on mixed-methods in-depth interviews (N = 15) and an online survey (N = 147) with Hong Kong migrants, this paper reveals their complex experience in adapting to the Taiwan way of life, becoming frustrated by Taipei’s attitudinal change, and contemplating onward migration. The findings reveal underlying cultural differences between Hong Kong and Taiwanese societies—manifesting as a cultural conflict—amid fears of an encroaching communist China.

Language Preservation through Popularization of Regional Indian Music: A Data-Driven Approach

The increased global connectivity due to internet penetration has resulted in the dominance of international languages and the decline of regional languages. To help preserve these languages, this study identifies the non-native regions in India that offer the most promising opportunities for expanding the popularity of music for each of the 14 regional languages. It analyses the audio features of 41,000 songs from 14 Indian languages on Spotify, employing two approaches – clustering algorithms and Random Forest Regressors. An overlap between the regions identified by both methods for any given language is considered a robust result, providing greater confidence in the results. The results show that while geographical proximity is a significant factor in determining non-native market fits for the music of a given language, alignment in preferences of audio features driven by cultural similarities plays an integral role as well. The findings have important implications for music industry stakeholders, including artists, management, digital platforms, and governments, who can leverage this data to devise strategies to expand the reach of regional music. This includes designing targeted marketing strategies, fostering cross-regional artist collaborations, and optimizing content recommendation algorithms, among others.

Arabic Vocabulary And Its Cultural Influences On The Colloquial Tamil Language: Special Reference To South Tamil Nadu India/ المفردات العربية وتأثيراتها الثقافية في اللغة التاميلية العامية : جنوب ولاية تاميل نادو في الهند أنموذجا

Language is vital for exchanging opinions and ideas, expressing feelings, and fulfilling daily needs. Arabic stands out among other languages due to its various advantages and features. Tamil Nadu, one of the states in India, is known as the historical frame of the Dravidian civilization, one of India's oldest. It is situated in the southernmost part of Asia. Tamil Nadu's residents speak Tamil, an ancient and expressive language celebrated for its rich literature and esteemed position among Indian languages. Tamil Nadu's global prominence stems from its historical oceanic and commercial connections. Centuries ago, the state actively traded with China, Babylonia, Rome, the Levant, the Turks, and, notably, the Arabs. These trade interactions facilitated vigorous import-export activities and improved cultural exchange and integration among diverse peoples. This study focuses on the influence of the Arabic language on Tamil, particularly in contemporary usage, where many Arabic words have been integrated into Tamil vocabulary. This research emphasizes the everyday use of Arabic terms, especially in fields such as law, exemplified by terms like amal, asal, bark, taraf, waterish, wakeel, and wayeetha, etc. It examines the linguistic and cultural similarities and shared usage of words between these two distinct languages. The methodology adopted is qualitative. The primary data was collected through personal interviews and original texts. Secondary data were obtained from related books, and scholarly works and data were analyzed. This study concluded that Arabic influence in colloquial Tamil, especially in southern Tamil Nadu, needs more extensive research. The persistent Arabic influence on Tamil civilization and cultural practices is frequently mistaken for indigenous Tamil elements in academic and administrative contexts. Arabic words used in Tamil have their roots and origins, emphasizing their originality in the Arabic language rather than being borrowed from Tamil.

Description as a Fiction-Writing Mode Between Charles Dickens’s David Copperfield and Naguib Mahfouz’s Midaq Alley: A Comparative Study

Comparative literature expounds on the areas of convergence in literature and reproduces the cultural similarities between East and West, demonstrating its results in guiding literary and intellectual renewal movements. Arabic literature takes advantage of the works of literature of other nations and is always keen to develop and enrich its awareness and culture. As the novel is a celebrated genre used in the comparative literature area, the Egyptian novelist Naguib Mahfouz, well-known as the Dickens of Egypt, is one of the key poles of the international Arab novel. Mahfouz's novels and short stories convey Cairo, the capital of Egypt, its neighborhoods, inhabitants, and groceries to the home of every reader. The images and representations of Cairo drawn by Mahfouz are compared to the masters of English literature, namely Charles Dickens who significantly impacted Mahfouz's writings, especially his great love for describing and depicting everything his eyes see. With appropriating a comparative study of Dickens’s and Mahfouz’s selected works, this paper examines the concept of “description as a fiction-writing mode” as reflected in two literary works—Dickens’s David Copperfield (1850) and Mahfouz’s Midaq Alley (1947) following the School of Comparative Literature based on the principle of similarity in its study and analysis of literary works.

Educational Migration to Kyrgyzstan: Trends and Prospects

Educational migration in Kyrgyzstan has its own socio-demographic structure, which may vary depending on a number of factors, such as age, gender, nationality, educational level, etc. One of the main trends of educational migration to Kyrgyzstan is the increase in the number of students from neighboring countries such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, as well as the countries of Central Asia and the Caucasus. This is due to both economic reasons and historical ties and cultural similarities between these countries. Educational migration to Kyrgyzstan from India, Pakistan and other countries has its own socio-demographic structure, which differs from educational migration from other countries. One of the main factors that stimulates educational migration is the lack of quality education in the home country. Many students seek to get an education in the West, where it is considered to be of higher quality and prestigious. In addition, educational migration can be caused by the desire to improve prospects in the labor market and get a highly paid job abroad. The forecast of educational migration in Kyrgyzstan is given. The author believes that there will be a positive trend in the development of educational migration in Kyrgyzstan, which will have a positive impact on the economy of Kyrgyzstan. The developed recommendations for improving the education management system in the Kyrgyz Republic contribute to the promotion and implementation of educational services aimed at students.

Psychometric properties of the Death Reflection Scale - Indian version

Contemplation of mortality often helps people to become more mindful of their living, cherishing relationships, experiences and opportunities. Therefore, the present study aims to evaluate the validity of the Death Reflection Scale within the Indians. A non-clinical sample of 381 participants age ranges from 19 to 90 years participated in this study. The Death Reflection Scale is a widely recognized tool to gauge positive aspects on reflecting about mortality. The scale's validity and reliability throughout the German population was demonstrated to be appropriate and relevant. Given the shared cultural similarities among diverse Eastern ethnicities, this validation offers the potential for application across various countries. However, it is crucial to research its validity and reliability using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) in the Indian population. The validity of the scale was confirmed using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), yielding a CFI of 0.951. The Goodness Fit Index of 0.929 and RMSEA of 0.07 indicating a reasonably good fit. The scale's discriminant, convergent, and factorial validity were all proven by the results, which also showed its reliability (α =0.92). These results imply that the Death Reflection Scale's Indian validation satisfies the fundamental requirements for psychological evaluations, proving its appropriateness for use in scholarly research.•Quantitative method used in validating the questionnaire.•Cultural validation has been done to ensure cultural relevance and appropriateness.•Reliability and consistency have been established.

Meaning Shifts of Culture-Specific Expressions: A Case Study of Facebook

This research aimed to examine the effects of meaning shifts in culture-specific content on Facebook. Specifically, it sought to explore the linguistic, cultural, and grammatical similarities between English and Kiswahili, while highlighting the significant mismatches between these two languages. The study used the theory of Principle of Cultural Translation to provide the theoretical relevance. The target population comprised Facebook pages with a significant following and a focus on CSIs posted within the context of conversations on those pages. The study aimed to examine CSIs posted on Facebook pages based in Kenya on foods, fashion and cultural architecture where English-Kiswahili translations were assessed for errors. The study employed purposive sampling to select a sample of 11 Facebook pages for content analysis. Primary data was gathered through the content analysis method, which involved the systematic preparation, organization, and reporting of the data collected. The study found that lexical, rhetorical, and grammatical mis-matches contributed to misunderstandings and misrepresentations in a variety of domains, including food, fashion, and cultural architecture. Based on the analysis, 80% of the Facebook sources revealed food items like "ugali" and "Nyama Choma" were often reduced to overly simplified translations like "cornmeal" and "grilled meat," failing to capture their rich cultural significance. With regards of fashion, the study found that 70% of the Facebook pages mistranslated the garments such as "kanga" led to a loss of their deeper meanings, contributing to cultural appropriation. Similarly, architectural terms suffered from meaning shifts; 55% of the sources depicted that terms describing unique Kenyan architectural styles were reduced to words like "huts," ignoring the cultural and historical narratives they encapsulate. The study concludes that the meaning shifts of culture-specific expressions related to food, fashion, and architecture in Kenya on Facebook have various negative implications as it leads to misunderstandings that go beyond mere words. The study thus recommends that stickers that contain only the most basic information should be made more useful by scaling them down or making them smaller while figurative language, such as idioms, should be used to describe complex ideas. Keywords: Culture-specific expressions, Meaning shifts, Mistranslation, Lexical mismatches, Facebook content

EXPRESS: Female Muslim Tourism and Familial Caretaking: Intersection of Gender and Religion

Underpinned by intersectionality theory, this study deciphered female Muslims’ tourism experiences associated with gendered practice of familial caretaking, which was amplified by Islamic cultural practices of huqooq-ul-ibaad representing collectivist welfare; males’ qawamum role as financial maintainer socialising females into caretaker and virtue ethics of akhlaaq reinforcing feminist care ethics. Religion influences ambivalent discourse of caretaking and tourism, involving positive and negative experiences of separateness and togetherness with family. Traditionally, familial caretaking is prioritised over tourism, while contemporary familial caretaking is executed through tourism (i.e., regular caretaking, tourism as form of familial care). Contemporary female Muslims are empowered through tourism to focus on self-care and gender equality in caretaking, which also emphasised alternative Islamic perspectives (e.g. Rabbatul-bait positioning as queen of the house unlike subordination). This study unveiled cultural similarities and differences in female Muslims from a religious-minority context. Tourism stakeholders are encouraged to accommodate cultural diversities and address caretaking constraints.

Mumbai to Dubai: Promotional strategies and the celluloid journey of Bollywood films to the UAE

In recent years, the cinematic migration of Bollywood films from Mumbai to Dubai has captivated attention, prompting a focused investigation. This study aims to scrutinize the promotional strategies used in distributing Bollywood films in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) through meticulous analysis of questionnaire responses. Executing an extensive survey for UAE moviegoers and industry professionals, the research seeks quantitative data on the efficacy of diverse promotional strategies. The study underscores the importance of cultural variables in Bollywood-UAE film promotion, examining cultural similarities between India and the UAE, portraying UAE culture in Bollywood films, and using cultural festivals for marketing. Economic factors driving this collaboration, including box office success, coproductions, and the impact of Bollywood tourism on the UAE economy, are systematically analyzed. The study explores technological advancements in film promotion—social media, internet streaming, and virtual reality—and their impact on the relationship between Bollywood and the UAE. The survey investigates audience preferences, advertising impacts, and awareness levels by examining specific advertising tactics in the UAE, such as premieres, endorsements, tours, and participation in festivals and award shows. In addition to providing a comprehensive understanding of the promotional environment, the questionnaire data analysis identifies trends influencing the trajectory of Bollywood films in the UAE, offering empirical support to film studies and marketing. The hypothesis is tested on the Chi-square, Pearson Correlation, and Mann‒Whitney. The research’s conclusions contribute to understanding the globalization of the Bollywood film industry, guiding producers, marketers, and researchers in cross-cultural film promotion and global industry partnerships.

Strict Danes or relaxed Swedes? Comparing health and daily activities in Sweden and Denmark during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Amidst the Covid-19 outbreak in 2020, Denmark and Sweden adopted contrasting strategies despite their many cultural similarities. Denmark swiftly imposed strict governmental restrictions, while Sweden favoured a more gradual, voluntary approach. This study aims to analyse the disparities between the two nations in mental health indicators (depressive symptoms, sleep problems and loneliness), daily activities (shopping, going for a walk, visiting family and meeting other people) and medical care after the Covid-19 outbreak. Data from adults aged ⩾50 years in the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) wave 8 (2019/2020) and the two SHARE Covid-19 surveys (summer 2020/2021) were utilised. Multilevel logistic regression models assessed longitudinal and cross-sectional changes in Sweden and Denmark. Both countries witnessed reduced risk of depressive symptoms and sleep problems during summer 2020, albeit with a more significant decline in depressive symptoms observed in Denmark: 17.8% (95% confidence interval (CI) 15.0-20.6) vs. 12.5% (95% CI 9.0-15.9). Swedish respondents were more likely to reduce their daily activities in the summer of 2020 (shopping: odds ratio (OR)=0.45, 95% CI 0.36-0.55; visit family: OR=0.76, 95% CI 0.60-0.97) and less likely to have medical appointments postponed (OR=1.83, 95% CI 1.46-2.28). Minimal differences were observed between Sweden and Denmark in mental health and daily activities during the pandemic. Despite significant disruption to their daily routines, Scandinavians aged ⩾50 years old demonstrate remarkable resilience.

Chechen Diaspora in the countries of the Middle East: on the issue of generational continuity and socio-political dynamics of communities

The article is concerned with little-studied dynamics of the Chechen and, more broadly, North Caucasian Diaspora in Jordan, Syria and Turkey, starting with the emergence of these communities in the 19th century during the era of the Ottoman Empire. The article traces a slow change in the character of these diasporic communities from the “exodus” from the Russian Empire to the building up of international relations with the Chechen Republic in the 21st century on the basis of “cultural similarity” and the importance of the idea of an ideal ancestral home. The article argues that the Diaspora changed its character from a refugee Diaspora to an imperial Diaspora during the Ottoman Empire, and then became a “cultural Diaspora” with predominant narratives of cultural and geographical proximity with the country of origin a century after the resettlement. The article also argues that cultural and geographical similarity leads to the importance of ethnopolitical factor in international relations and diasporic politics.

Morphological and immunological characterization of primary cultured chicken caecal epithelial cells.

Cell cultures are models in biological and medical research to understand physiological and pathological processes. Cell lines are not always available depending on cell type and required species. In addition, the immortalization process often affects cell biology. Primary cells generally maintain a greater degree of similarity in short-term culture to the cells in tissue. Goal of this study was to verify the suitability of chicken primary epithelial caecal cells (PECCs) for in vitro investigations of host‒pathogen interactions. Epithelial nature of PECCs was confirmed by detection of tight and adherens junctions and cobblestone-like cell morphology. Sialic acids distribution was similar to that in caecal cyrosections. To understand the capacity of PECCs to respond to microbial challenges, the Toll-like receptors (TLRs) repertoire was determined. Exposure of PECCs to polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly(I:C)) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) led to upregulation of type I and III interferon (IFN) as well as interleukin (IL-) 1β, IL-6 and IL-8 mRNA expression. Overall, the PECCs showed properties of polarized epithelial cells. The presence of TLRs, their differential expression, as well as pattern recognition receptor dependent immune responses enable PECCs to act as suitable in vitro model for host‒pathogen interaction studies, which are difficult to conduct under in vivo conditions.

Rethinking Culture Fit in Talent Acquisition

This article argues that organizations should move away from primarily hiring for "culture fit" and instead focus on acquiring a diversity of talent. The explores how overemphasizing cultural similarity in hiring can undermine efforts to build inclusive workplaces. Citing research, the article posits that prioritizing culture fit disproportionately excludes women and minorities, and results in a homogenous workforce that lacks the diverse perspectives needed for innovation. Alternatives are presented such as evaluating fit and unique contributions, and changes to embedding inclusion throughout the hiring process like name-blind screening and inclusive leadership training. Practical strategies tailored to industries like tech, non-profit and healthcare are also shared. The article concludes that moving beyond culture fit as the sole criterion in hiring yields benefits but requires sustained leadership and an ongoing commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.

»Man är liksom alltid mittemellan på något sätt»

This article explores interview material of migrants’ experiences of borders from a minority perspective. The analysis focuses on the migrants’ own interpretations of their move, using the theoretical categories of performative borders (Rumford 2014) and emerging adults (Arnett 2004) as analytical tools to gain an understanding of what it means to be a young Finland-Swedish migrant in Sweden in the 2010s. Linguistic, national and cultural borders are discussed. Given the privileged position of the migrants, the institutionalised national border is relatively absent from the material. Instead, a very tangible border that appears is the language border, especially between Swedish and Finnish. For the interviewees, this linguistic border does not coincide with the national border as they are moving to an area where their mother tongue is transitioning from minority to majority status. Cultural borders can be seen as flexible, invisible boundaries within which people believe that they share cultural expressions and values, and thus identity (Fjellström 1997). Respondents refer to boundaries drawn by perceived cultural similarities and differences. All these boundaries are created by the media, experiences, other people’s stories, and stereotypes. The interviewees begin by drawing on their own experiences of moving from Finland to Sweden, but at the same time these experiences are constantly linked to other stories, past experiences, and perceptions. By addressing performative boundaries, the focus is on how personal experience, conveyed through narrative, expresses experiences of belonging and exclusion – something that is actualised through both minority and migrant status.

GERMAN AND ALBANIAN PROVERBS IN THE INTERCULTURAL CONTEXT

Proverbs have an important role in the acquirement of German as a foreign language. The easiest way to present a cross-cultural comparison of proverbs is the onomasiological approach. In this study, I will attempt to show the names of animals as an element of indication of the similarities and differences between the German language and Albanian (Pferd/(kalë), Hund/(qen), Bär/(ari), etc.). The examples presented will clarify that in both languages there are characteristics and physical attributes of animals as well as their use by people that serve as a motive in the creation of proverbs. Therefore, we often encounter similarities and differences. Moreover, we will start from the German proverbs that reveal even more the comparison between the German and Albanian languages, since identity and idiomatic transformation represent the arbitrary process of naming as well as their cultural similarities and differences. What is particularly interesting for a cross-cultural comparison are the idiomatically transformed Albanian equivalents of proverbs in the German language. In Albanian, when some idiomatic transformations of animal names are replaced, the other components vary.