Tapping the thirdness in the intercultural space of dialogue

Zhou, Vivien Xiaowei; Pilcher, Nick

Abstract

In this paper, we explore intercultural communication as dialogue occurring in a third space. Through seven students' reflective essays on group-based intercultural learning, we analyse the ever-shifting communicative space that interlocutors produce through negotiating the meanings of difference and power and their dialogic relations with the other. Based on the findings, we propose intercultural dialogue (and intercultural communication) as a political and ethical response to the thirdness in the in-between space of communication, inherent in the character of social life but not always possible nor desired. We therefore suggest 'principles' for such dialogue be seen in this space and not as a teleologically-achievable ideal that privileges self-expression and normalises difference through a 'cultural diversity' discourse.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 2, 2018
• Online Publication Date: Nov 22, 2018
• Publication Date: Nov 22, 2018
• Deposit Date: Nov 2, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: May 23, 2020
• Journal: Language and Intercultural Communication
• Print ISSN: 1470-8477
• Electronic ISSN: 1747-759X
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 19
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 23-37
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14708477.2018.1545025
• Keywords: Linguistics and Language; Communication
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/1334281
• Contract Date: Nov 2, 2018