Cultures in Conversation introduces readers to the ethnographic study of intercultural and social interactions through the analysis of conversations in which various cultural orientations are operating. Author Donal Carbaugh presents his original research on conversation practices in England, Finland, Russia, Blackfeet County, and the United States, demonstrating how each is distinctive in its communication codes--particularly in its use of symbolic meanings, forms of interaction, norms, and motivational themes. Examining conversation in this way demonstrates how cultural lives are active in conversations and shows how conversation is a principal medium for the coding of selves, social relationships, and societies. Representing 20 years of research, this volume offers unique insights into the ways social interactions not only gain shape from, but also are formative of cultures. It makes a significant contribution to communication scholarship, and will be illuminating reading in courses focusing on cultural communication, language and social interaction, intercultural pragmatics, and linguistics.
Author(s): Donal Carbaugh
Series: LEA's Communication Series
Year: 2005
Language: English
Pages: 184
Book Cover......Page 1
Title......Page 4
Copyright......Page 5
Dedication......Page 6
Contents......Page 8
Table of Transcripts......Page 11
Preface......Page 12
Acknowledgments......Page 16
About the Author......Page 18
Introduction......Page 20
1 Cultures in Conversation: Ethnographic Explorations of Intercultural Communication......Page 30
2 Conversation as a Culturally Rich Phenomenon......Page 41
3 Silence, and Third-Party Introductions: An American and Finnish Dialogue (with Saila Poutiainen)......Page 56
4 “Superficial Americans” and “Silent Finns”: Finnish and USAmerican Cultures in Social Interaction......Page 68
5 “Self,” “Soul,” and “Sex”: Russian and USAmerican Cultures in a Televised Conversation......Page 84
6 “I Can’t Do That!” but I “Can Actually See Around Corners”: American Indian Students and the Study of “Communication”......Page 111
7 “Just Listen”: Blackfeet “Listening” and Landscape......Page 129
8 “The Passing Occasion and the Long Story”: Four Cultural Conversations......Page 149
References......Page 162
Source Acknowledgments......Page 173
Index......Page 176
