Intercultural Communication: A Critical Introduction

Migration, tourism, and global media have brought different cultures and languages into contact more than ever. Intercultural Communication offers an up-to-date, critical introduction to intercultural communication from the perspective of discourse-analysis and sociolinguistics.

It makes two key contributions: grounded in discourse analysis and anthropological linguistics, it treats cultural identity, difference, and similarity as discursive constructions; and centered on sociolinguistics, particularly bilingualism studies, it highlights the use of different languages and language varieties in intercultural communication. In doing so, the volume call attention to the differential prestige of languages and language varieties, along with the variety of access that speakers have to them. Case studies from around the world give the volume international appeal. Each chapter includes learning objectives, key points, exercises, and suggestions for further reading.

Ingrid Piller is professor and director of the UAE Center for Bilingualism and Bilingual Education at Zayed University.