Despite the fact that the majority of the world's population speaks mother tongues other than English, about a third of their number use English as a second or an alternative official or commercial language. English is also the language of available information, of international communication (such as air- and sea-speak), and of computer…

Rhetorical strategies employed in three intercultural negotiations between British and Singaporean businessmen are examined. Communication breakdowns are attributed more to a lack of the will to adapt and understand, rather than intercultural differences, pointing out the importance of sensitivity and flexibility in adapting to different…

A study examined the English-language-based study skills problems of 44 Indonesian and 57 Malaysian students studying at Indiana University, Bloomington. The Indonesian and Malaysian student groups represented non-Commonwealth and Commonwealth students sharing the same native language roots but differing in terms of previous exposure to the…

The goal of this panel was to develop the means to improve teachers' work on the basis of improved understanding of linguistic phenomena in school settings. The panel organized its research approaches and programs around ways in which effective communication in the classroom is different from everyday talk to which all children are enculturated,…

Discusses the social and linguistic problems of children living in Sweden who have at least one Italian immigrant parent. (CFM)

A case study described the English literacy learning of two language minority students in a suburban kindergarten program in a predominantly white school district. Data collected throughout the school year indicated that weak home and school communication related to inaccurate interpretations of the children's literacy learning which led to…

A study investigated the nature and causes of the English language-based problems and the coping strategies of 44 Indonesian and 57 Malaysian students studying at Indiana University, Bloomington. The Indonesian and Malaysian student groups represented non-Commonwealth and Commonwealth students sharing the same native language roots but differed in…

The paper reviews briefly the process and modes of communication, explores some problems of cross-cultural communication between the dominant society and the multitude of Indian cultures that exist in Canada, and draws some implications for adult educators. (Author/MW)

Examples of cross cultural misunderstandings are examined in this paper to show how cultural (contextual) meaning must be regarded as an integral feature of the overall semantic meaning of an utterance. The examples, taken from the Filipino dialect Tagalog, illustrate how ignorance of the cultural assumptions and attitudes associated with an…

Elucidates the reading problems of nonnative English speakers, noting reasons for the problems, giving signs of the problems, and demonstrating results of the problems. (HOD)

Discusses reaction to miscommunication of a nonnative speaker from Italy residing in France who experiences a lapse in his ability to communicate in French with a native speaker. Notes that this occurrence encourages the pursuit of communicative competence by the nonnative speaker in the target language as well as an effort by both…

The age of globalization requires an understanding of intercultural communication and diversity issues in workplaces. This is especially so in a country such as New Zealand, which has recently been experiencing the phenomenon of recruiting and attracting skilled, professional immigrants from China, India, and other parts of Asia and the Middle…

All speakers bring to even simple verbal encounters complex presuppositions and expectations that may create discourse interference. A second-language encounter carries a complex and often inexplicable expectation load. Language expresses meaning and intentions, but also carries social import. The value or appropriateness of speaking itself varies…

Three examples from the colonial era show the different ways and purposes of learning Indian languages. It is described how this knowledge served both sides in the Revolution, and imporved communication during peacetime. (MS)

Examined negotiation of meaning that took place between students and native speakers of Japanese over a series of computer-based chat conversations and attempted to categorize the difficulties encountered. Data showed that the difficulties in understanding each other triggered negotiation meaning between students even when no specific…