Crossing Boundaries and Weaving Intercultural Work, Life, and Scholarship in Globalizing Universities by Komisarof, Adam; Hua, Zhu;

Short description:

This book generates a fresh, complex view of the process of globalization by examining how work, scholarship, and life inform each other among university faculty members as they navigate their interpersonal relationships at work and conclude with advice for scholars to improve organizational participation and mutual intercultural engagement when working in a globalising workplace. It examines the socio-psychological process of crossing boundaries, investigates investigates how multiple aspects of identities are assumed, constructed and negotiated and focuses on the role of language in intercultural encounters.

Long description:

This book generates a fresh, complex view of the process of globalization by examining how work, scholarship, and life inform each other among intercultural scholars as they navigate their interpersonal relationships and cross boundaries physically and metaphorically. Divided into three parts, the book examines: (1) the socio-psychological process of crossing boundaries constructed around nations and work organizations; (2) the negotiation of multiple aspects of identities; and (3) the role of language in intercultural encounters, in particular, adjustment taking place at linguistic and interactional levels. The authors reflect upon and give meaning and structure to their own intercultural experiences through theoretical frameworks and concepts—many of which they themselves have proposed and developed in their own research. They also provide invaluable advice for transnational scholars and those who aspire to work and live abroad to improve organizational participation and mutual intercultural engagement when working in a globalizing workplace.　 Researchers and practitioners of applied linguistics, communication studies, and higher education in many regions of the world will find this book an insightful resource.　

"Komisarof, Zhu Hua, and their contributors avoid the politically correct self-absorption that too often accompanies explorations of cultural identity, instead showing us how various concepts of cultural adaptation can bring meaning to the profoundly liminal experience of becoming intercultural."

Milton J. Bennett, Executive Director, Intercultural Development Research Institute, US

"This book provides fascinating accounts of the complex challenges and opportunities for growth that living and working in a different environment generate. It offers highly reflexive accounts of lived experiences in combination with theoretical frameworks that can help to illuminate and, ultimately, facilitate dialogue and understanding as a precondition for greater inclusivity."

Karin, Zotzmann, Language and Intercultural Communication

Table of Contents:

Foreword: The Pleasure of Peeking Behind the Curtains...1.Crossing Boundaries and Weaving Intercultural Work, Life, and Scholarship in Globalizing Universities: An Introduction Adam Komisarof & Zhu Hua Part 1: Acculturation Dynamics 2.Organizational Membership Negotiated, Denied, and Gained: A Limited Breakthrough of the Rice Paper Ceiling in Japan Adam Komisarof  3. Twists and Turns: Forging a Career as a Psychology Academic in Australia Anita S. Mak  4. From Outside In: Cultural Practices and Organizational Life of a Chinese Immigrant in Japan Gracia Liu-Farrer  5. Heart and Mind: Using Critical Incidents to Decipher Culture David L. Sam  6. Difference, Disconnection, Social Support, and Connection: Communication with the Host Environment and Cultural Adaptation Deepa Oommen Part 2: Negotiating Identities 7. The Struggles of an International Foreign Language Lecturer with Representations of Cultural Identity Regis Machart 8. Issues and Challenges in Constructing Identity in an Adopted Home: Being an Iranian Professor in America Maryam Borjian 9. Rituals of Encounter: Campus life, liminality and being the familiar stranger Brigitte Bönisch-Brednich Part 3: Language and Interaction  10. Brussels-London: Crossing Channels While Juggling with Social and Cultural Capital Jean-Marc Dewaele  11.‘Where Are You From?’: Interculturality and interactional practices Zhu Hua  12. Manoeuvring the Margins: A Korean-American in Kazakhstan Elise S. Ahn Conclusion  13 . Making Sense of Transnational Academics’ Experience: Constructive Marginality in Liminal Spaces Adam Komisarof & Zhu Hua