Communication 348 - Intercultural Communication

This course examines how language and culture (broadly defined) are implicated in our everyday communication. We will examine how preconceived beliefs, taken for granted cultural norms, and the language we speak shape how we experience the world and thus shape our ?reality.? The class will consider several approaches to the study of language, culture, and communication, including sociolinguistics, ethnography of communication, language socialization, conversation analysis, and politeness theory. We will analyze how various aspects of culture are being constantly constructed and re-constructed through communication. We will examine how a person communicatively accomplishes such cultural identities as being ?a woman? or being ?powerful,? as well as implications of divergent communicative norms and practices for interacting across cultural boundaries.

Sophomore, Junior, or Senior Communication majors.