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Role of Intercultural Communication in Multicultural or Culturally Diverse Societies

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A special issue of Journalism and Media (ISSN 2673-5172).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2024) | Viewed by 28994

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Prof. Dr. Anastassia Zabrodskaja

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Baltic Film, Media and Arts School, Tallinn University, 10120 Tallinn, Estonia
Interests: intercultural communication; identity; ethnolinguistic vitality; linguistic landscape; language contacts; code-switching; translanguaging
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Intercultural communication (IC) is not subjected to any specific society within an interpersonal relationship. Rather, IC has become a point of serious concern for culturally diverse or multicultural societies. The globalization and internationalization of higher education has made IC a serious concern. People from all over the world travel from one culture to another for work, education, travelling, and for many other purposes. The exposure to a new society merits more than the IC in their daily life. Intercultural experts have introduced various terms such as, intercultural effectiveness (ICE), intercultural competence (ICC), intercultural adjustment (ICA), intercultural adaptation (ICN), and several others to document and explore their communication effectiveness to adjustment and adaptation to a new society for better living. The current literature contains a variety of theories, models, perspectives, and approaches that unpack these terms more efficiently for such persons that are exposed to multicultural societies.

This Special Issue is specifically designed to welcome a wide range of research that cover almost every aspect of intercultural communication in culturally diverse societies. Three major groups of the population are potentially welcomed in this Issue: students, workers, and travellers. It is also observed that publications from regions such as Asia, East Asia, and South Asia are not well represented in the mainstream research of intercultural communication. Therefore, the researchers from such contexts are encouraged in this Special Issue. The scope of this Special Issue is broad and covers interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research that highlights the representation of underrepresented societies. Studies focusing on the specific cultural context or multicultural contexts will also be appreciated in this Special Issue. We welcome all kinds of manuscripts including book reviews, conceptual paper, research essays, original research, brief research reports, meta-analysis and others.

Prof. Dr. Anastassia Zabrodskaja
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journalism and Media is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

intercultural communication
intercultural effectiveness
intercultural adjustment
intercultural adaptation
cultural awareness
cultural flexibility
cultural assimilation
contextual representation
acculturation
multicultural societies

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Published Papers (13 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

8 pages, 163 KB

Open AccessEditorial

De-Westernizing Intercultural Communication: Power, Language, Identity, and Digital Mediation Across Contexts

by Anastassia Zabrodskaja

Journal. Media 2025, 6(3), 127; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia6030127 - 7 Aug 2025

Viewed by 424

Abstract

In an era marked by intensified globalization, migration, and rapid technological change, intercultural communication is no longer confined to isolated interactions across national or ethnic boundaries [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of Intercultural Communication in Multicultural or Culturally Diverse Societies)

Research

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19 pages, 1091 KB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Exploring Students’ Perceptions of the Campus Climate and Intergroup Relations: Insights from a Campus-Wide Survey at a Minority-Serving University

by Irina Golubeva, David Di Maria, Adam Holden, Katherine Kohler and Mary Ellen Wade

Journal. Media 2025, 6(3), 111; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia6030111 - 18 Jul 2025

Viewed by 433

Abstract

Campus climate research has long been a focus of higher education scholarship; however, studies show that inequalities and a pervasive sense of not belonging continue to negatively affect students. This paper presents the results of a campus-wide survey conducted at a Minority-Serving Institution (MSI), with a sample of 820 undergraduate, master’s, Ph.D., and non-degree students. The authors explore students’ experiences on campus in relation to their identities as well as students’ perceptions of campus climate. Specifically, the paper examines students’ intergroup relations and how these influence their sense of belonging. The survey instrument developed in the frame of this project also included questions designed to assess opportunities students have to develop key values, attitudes, skills, knowledge, and critical understanding related to intercultural and democratic competences necessary for life and work in multicultural societies. This study identifies the areas students perceive as important for development, highlighting which values, attitudes, skills, knowledge, and critical understanding they have had the opportunity to cultivate during their time at the university and those they would like to develop further. The authors hope these findings will inform efforts to strengthen institutional support for more inclusive practices on culturally diverse university campuses and provide evidence-based guidance for designing effective pedagogical interventions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of Intercultural Communication in Multicultural or Culturally Diverse Societies)

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16 pages, 834 KB

Open AccessArticle

How Deutsche Welle Shapes Knowledge and Behaviour of Syrian Diaspora

by Mohammad Qudah, Husain A. Murad, Mohammed Habes and Mokhtar Elareshi

Journal. Media 2025, 6(2), 92; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia6020092 - 18 Jun 2025

Viewed by 794

Abstract

This study explores the impact of DW’s news coverage on the perceptions, knowledge, and behavioural changes of the Syrian diaspora in Germany regarding the Syrian crisis. Grounded in the Uses and Gratifications theory, data were collected from 207 Syrian immigrants residing in Germany between September and November 2023 using a convenience sampling approach. The findings reveal that DW is perceived as a credible and objective news source that provides comprehensive and balanced coverage of the Syrian crisis. Exposure to DW’s reporting significantly enhanced respondents’ understanding of the crisis, enabling them to engage in informed discussions. DW’s coverage motivated behavioural changes, encouraging participation in social media discussions and humanitarian initiatives. This study highlights the critical role of trusted international media in shaping diaspora communities’ perceptions, knowledge, and actions during crises. These findings also highlight DW’s influence as a key information source for the Syrian diaspora, fostering both awareness and proactive engagement with the ongoing crisis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of Intercultural Communication in Multicultural or Culturally Diverse Societies)

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26 pages, 1323 KB

Open AccessArticle

“Hands off Russian Schools”: How Do Online Media Portray the Linguistic Landscape of Protests Against Minority Education Reform in Latvia?

by Solvita Burr

Journal. Media 2025, 6(2), 84; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia6020084 - 7 Jun 2025

Viewed by 1318

Abstract

Latvia after the collapse of the Soviet Union regained its independence in 1991. Since then, many political and social reforms have been introduced, minority education among them. Latvia began gradually abandoning the use of minority languages as mediums of instruction and switching to teaching exclusively in Latvian as the sole state language. This caused protests by minority groups, especially by Russians—the largest minority group in Latvia. The article examines 77 online news articles by Latvian, Russian, and European media covering protests against minority education reform in Latvia between 2004 and 2024. Each news article used at least one photograph/video of placard(s) with written information from the protests. The aim of the article is to understand how different media represent the linguistic landscape of protests against minority education reform and what are the main discourses they create and maintain regarding to the linguistic landscape of such protests in Latvia. The description of the linguistic landscapes shows three main trends: (1) only journalists (most often anonymous) describe the written information expressed at the protests, (2) emphasis is on the number of placard holders at the protests, their age and affiliation with minority support organizations and political parties, (3) author(s) quote individual slogans, more often demonstrated from one protest to another, without disclosing in which language they were originally written and what problems (within and behind the language education) they highlight or conceal. The main narratives that are reinforced through the descriptions of the linguistic landscapes included in the articles are two: (1) the Russian community is united and persistent in the fight against the ethnolinguistically unjust education policy pursued by the government, and (2) students, parents, and the Russian community should have the right to choose which educational program to study at school. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of Intercultural Communication in Multicultural or Culturally Diverse Societies)

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24 pages, 337 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Speech Behaviour of Kazakhstani Youth in the Context of Interethnic Communication

by Sholpan Zharkynbekova, Zukhra Shakhputova, Olga Anichshenko and Zhazira Agabekova

Journal. Media 2025, 6(1), 45; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia6010045 - 18 Mar 2025

Viewed by 1507

Abstract

This article explores the features of speech practices of young people in Kazakhstan in the conditions of interaction between Kazakh, Russian, and English, taking into account the influence of the digital environment and modern socio-cultural factors. The relevance of this study is determined by the rapid transformation of the language situation in Kazakhstan, where traditional bilingualism is evolving under the influence of globalisation and digital factors, contributing to the formation of new models of language interaction in the youth environment. The aim of this research is to study the mechanisms of language functioning in different communicative contexts, including digital communication. As a methodological basis, the methods of sociolinguistic and discourse analysis were applied, including the collection and interpretation of young people’s written texts, as well as interviewing respondents to identify their language preferences and communication strategies. The empirical analysis allowed us to identify new models of young people’s linguistic behaviour in various communicative environments, including online space. The leading factors influencing the choice of language code were identified, and the characteristic mechanisms of integrating elements of Kazakh, Russian, and English into a single speech act were recorded. Special attention is paid to the specifics of language interaction in digital environments, where hybrid forms of communication are observed due to technological and globalisation processes. This study considers the speech of young people not only as a linguistic phenomenon, but also as an instrument of intercultural communication, reflecting trends in the development of polylingualism. The findings of this study can be used to improve language policy and to develop educational programmes that take into account modern trends in youth communication. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of Intercultural Communication in Multicultural or Culturally Diverse Societies)

24 pages, 300 KB

Open AccessArticle

Professional Multilingualism in Intercultural Business Communication of Kazakhstan

by Aliya Aimoldina and Damira Akynova

Journal. Media 2025, 6(1), 44; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia6010044 - 14 Mar 2025

Viewed by 1452

Abstract

This study examines the role of multilingualism in intercultural business communication among professionals in Kazakhstan, where business discourse reflects a unique combination of language planning, individual competencies, and integration of traditions with modern economic demands. Shaped by globalization, historical influences, and geopolitical factors, Kazakhstan’s business communication is characterized by the use of Kazakh, Russian, and English, along with other foreign languages. Using semi-structured interviews with 19 business professionals from 13 companies, the study examines multilingual practices, language learning processes, and the impact of cultural factors on workplace interactions. Findings reveal that Kazakh, Russian, and English serve distinct functions in professional settings: Kazakh, as the state language, is gaining prominence in the business sphere, particularly in official documentation and government-mandated communication; Russian remains dominant in private and regional business interactions; and English is indispensable for international business. While proficiency in multiple languages facilitates overcoming intercultural barriers, differences in negotiation styles, non-verbal communication, and decision-making processes highlight the need for cultural flexibility in business settings. The study underscores the necessity of implementing well-structured and context-sensitive language policies while advocating for the integration of professional multilingual training into educational curricula to bridge the gap between academic preparation and workplace demands. This research contributes to a broader understanding of how multilingualism shapes professional identity, workforce mobility, and intercultural competence in Kazakhstan’s increasingly globalized business landscape. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of Intercultural Communication in Multicultural or Culturally Diverse Societies)

27 pages, 571 KB

Open AccessArticle

Value Priorities of Student Youth in the Multi-Ethnic Space of Kazakhstan and Their Influence on Intercultural Communications

by Sholpan Zharkynbekova, Zukhra Shakhputova, Bakhyt Galiyeva and Almasbek Absadyk

Journal. Media 2025, 6(1), 32; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia6010032 - 25 Feb 2025

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3086

Abstract

This article aims to describe the value priorities of Kazakhstani student youth and explore their relationship with traditions, the culture of ethnic groups in Kazakhstan, state ideological attitudes, and the influence of external cultures. This paper addresses the impact of the multinational environment and globalization on the formation of values among students in Kazakhstan. This article analyzes empirical data collected through a mixed-methods questionnaire, developed in accordance with the well-known value measurement methodologies of M. Rokeach and Sh. Schwartz. The results show that although traditional values remain significant, the growing exposure of young people to global influences and socio-political changes indicates a dynamic evolution of their value system, reflecting both continuity and changes in the cultural landscape of Kazakhstan. The key value for Kazakhstani students is family, which suggests sufficient harmony in the life models chosen by these students. The significance of this study lies in its potential to contribute to the establishment of a system of relations in which different cultures can engage in dialogue, preserve their historical trajectories, and maintain mutual respect among representatives of diverse ethnicities and social groups. This study also holds implications for the development of legislative mechanisms aimed at respecting Kazakhstan’s national interests in international communication. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of Intercultural Communication in Multicultural or Culturally Diverse Societies)

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17 pages, 1295 KB

Open AccessArticle

Intercultural Attitudes Embedded in Microblogging: Sentiment and Content Analyses of Data from Sina Weibo

by Xiaotian Zhang

Journal. Media 2024, 5(4), 1477-1493; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia5040092 - 27 Sep 2024

Viewed by 1858

Abstract

This study analyzed 2421 microblogs posted between the year 2012 to March 2022 reflecting the microbloggers’ attitudes toward different cultures. Results indicated that (1) the number of microblog posts expressing the users’ intercultural attitudes increased distinctly from 2019 to March 2022, with females users in general posting more microblogs than males; (2) females posted more microblogs encompassing positive emotions to show their interest and motivation to learn about foreign cultures, and the tendency to value and appreciate cultural differences, whereas males created more sentimentally neutral posts that revealed their recognition of the existence of cultural differences, and females and males posted a similar number of microblogs containing negative emotions; and (3) more posts involved “small c” culture were posted than those containing themes belonging to the “Big C” culture. Gender gap was further observed regarding the cultural themes concerned by the microbloggers. Implications were discussed in the context of intercultural education. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of Intercultural Communication in Multicultural or Culturally Diverse Societies)

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19 pages, 5747 KB

Open AccessArticle

Face Attack Online: Unpacking Conflicts in Multimodal Group Chats

by Fan Cao and Vanessa Ruiling Yu

Journal. Media 2024, 5(3), 1297-1315; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia5030082 - 9 Sep 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1693

Abstract

This study focuses on analyzing face attacks in the conflict discourse of cross-linguistic online chats on the instant message application WeChat among a group of international students at a prestigious university in China. Drawing on the previous impoliteness theory of Leech and Culpeper, this article selectively combines these two theories and proposes that in face-attack studies, especially with respect to online discourses, impolite multimodal discourse should be considered and subsumed in the theoretical framework. It is found that a wide array of face attacks in conflict discourse manifest themselves both in verbal discourse as well as in multimodal counterparts. The present study might shed light on online impoliteness research that is beyond monolingual and single-mode contexts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of Intercultural Communication in Multicultural or Culturally Diverse Societies)

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15 pages, 1326 KB

Open AccessArticle

Communication in the Digital Age: The Impact of Communication Skills and Cultural Restraint on the Use of Social Media Platforms in the Case of Jordan

by Rania Abdel-Qader Abdallah, Islam Habis Mohammad Hatamleh, Yousef Sami Nemer Abu Eid and Mohammad Mahroum

Journal. Media 2024, 5(3), 1244-1258; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia5030079 - 30 Aug 2024

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 7943

Abstract

The rapid proliferation of social media platforms has fundamentally transformed communication dynamics globally. This study investigates the impact of communication skills on social media usage, emphasizing the moderating role of cultural restraint within the context of Jordan. Employing a quantitative research design, data were collected from 415 young adult social media users through an online survey and analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) via SmartPLS 4 software. The findings suggest that individuals with strong communication skills are more effective at using social media, supporting the ideas of Self-Efficacy Theory and Social Capital Theory, which propose that better communication abilities lead to more proficient social media usage. However, this positive relationship is moderated by cultural restraint, with higher levels of cultural restraint weakening the impact of communication skills on social media engagement. These results highlight the necessity of culturally sensitive approaches when promoting social media engagement, as cultural norms and values significantly influence digital behaviors. This study contributes to the existing literature by providing empirical evidence from a non-Western context and underscores the complex interplay between individual abilities and cultural factors in shaping social media usage. Future research should explore additional moderating variables and consider longitudinal and cross-cultural studies to further elucidate these dynamics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of Intercultural Communication in Multicultural or Culturally Diverse Societies)

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12 pages, 365 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Relevance of Family Language Policy in Germany and Italy in the Development of Child Bilingualism: The Role of Natural Translation

by Camilla Licari and Monica Perotto

Journal. Media 2024, 5(3), 861-872; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia5030055 - 29 Jun 2024

Viewed by 1604

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the role of natural translation in heritage speakers’ bilingual communication in relation to the family language policies (FLP) adopted to maintain heritage language in Italian and German multilingual families. In order to investigate this, in spring 2023, a semi-structured questionnaire was administered to both parents and children. The sample consists of 60 Russian-speaking bilingual HS living in Italy and Germany, where they have access to regular primary education and attend, in some cases, private Russian courses or schools. The informants do not receive specific translation training from or into the Russian language (they only practice translation at school from or into Italian/German), and they translate, in most cases, as an occasional activity, closer to the function of mediation or brokering. The role of translation in relation to FLP seems particularly relevant when comparing the two samples, considering different family compositions: mostly bi-ethnic in Italy and mono-ethnic in Germany. The survey showed that in daily life, both parents and children use translation, often as a specific kind of bilingual communication. In the Italian part of the sample, the strategy called OPOL prevails, and translation is a frequent activity in the domestic sphere. In the German one, instead, the separation of language use contexts is widespread, and all family members speak both Russian and German, making translation activity less relevant. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of Intercultural Communication in Multicultural or Culturally Diverse Societies)

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15 pages, 263 KB

Open AccessArticle

Critical Discourse Analysis on Parental Language Ideologies of Bilingual and Multilingual Child-Rearing and Language Education Using Facebook and Internet Forums

by Yeshan Qian

Journal. Media 2024, 5(1), 382-396; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia5010025 - 18 Mar 2024

Viewed by 2348

Abstract

This study examines the computer-mediated discussion topics of parents who raise bilingual and multilingual children in four active Facebook and Internet forums, and investigates how the language ideologies embedded in the multiple languages being used in these forums are expressed. In this study, 179 data points, including users’ posts and thread comments, were collected to identify the most frequently discussed topics as part of my description of the database, in order to identify parental ideologies by using values analysis. The five most-discussed topics were selected to make a critical discourse analysis on the narratives to understand the language ideologies regarding the use of multiple languages, and regarding what users of the groups are saying specifically about the languages when analyzing metalinguistic discourses. This study found the most recurrent language ideologies that parents expressed on these online forums were supporting bilingualism/multilingualism, and claim that bilingualism/multilingualism is advantageous. Parents also demonstrate language ideologies supporting keeping languages separate, such as following the one parent one language (OPOL) method, using the minority language at home, and so on. A detailed values analysis with illustrative sample messages from the online posts and comments also more specifically shows the recurrent language ideologies identified, and parents’ views underlying their narratives on their posts and thread comments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of Intercultural Communication in Multicultural or Culturally Diverse Societies)

Review

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14 pages, 240 KB

Open AccessReview

“Knowledge Strategies” for Indigenous Studies on Intercultural Communication in Non-Western Countries in the Global Power Structure

by Yingchun Sun and Yi Shi

Journal. Media 2024, 5(3), 1057-1070; https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia5030067 - 19 Aug 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2234

Abstract

According to Michel Foucault’s power/knowledge theory, knowledge is not produced in a vacuum; the construction of any knowledge system implicitly contains power relations. The “knowledge strategies” for Indigenous studies on intercultural communication should evolve and improve in response to shifts in the global power structure. With the development of globalization and the evolution of communication technologies, this study interprets the current global power structure as a “dual structure” in which the international society and the world society coexist and develop together. This structure leads to a complex trend of simultaneous “centralization” and “decentralization”, as well as “homogenization” and “hybridization” in the global cultural order. For scholars from non-Western countries, Indigenous studies on intercultural communication need to interpret the new global power structure, expanding their research perspectives and topics to a global dimension. This approach links Indigenous conceptual resources and methodologies with an open and diverse global cultural order. This study proposes “knowledge strategies” for Indigenous studies on intercultural communication in non-Western countries and introduces a third level of significance for intercultural communication beyond daily interaction and cultural interaction: community building. Regarding the research purpose, this study aims to provide a new perspective for the study of intercultural communication theory, promoting an equal dialogue between Western and non-Western knowledge systems of intercultural communication, and enhancing the inclusiveness and humanistic awareness of this discipline. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of Intercultural Communication in Multicultural or Culturally Diverse Societies)

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