Connecting through culture: Understanding its relevance in intercultural lingua franca communication

In today’s world, telecommunications and global connectivity have witnessed an unprecedented increase, making intercultural communication an unavoidable reality. A concerning aspect of such communication is the element of cultural and linguistic diversity between people. However, there is very little consensus on whether cultural diversity truly matters in intercultural communications or if it simply promotes miscommunication.

“In academic literature, culture tends to be approached in a dichotomous stance, either through a lens of miscommunication or is considered an altogether irrelevant construct when it comes to intercultural communication research,” says Stefanie Alexa Stadler, a Professor from the Faculty of Letters, Department of English, Doshisha University, Japan. She is also a member of the Faculty of Languages and Cultures, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland. Adding further, she says, “While it’s true that culture isn’t always relevant, it typically takes the center theme in casual interactions.” Exploring this topic further, Prof. Stadler, who is a dedicated researcher in the field of linguistics, conducted a thorough investigation on the relationship between culture and intercultural informal communications. Her findings have been published online in World Englishes on December 09, 2024.

Reflecting on her personal motivation for the study, Prof. Stadler states, “Having lived in many countries over several decades, I have experienced the challenges and opportunities of intercultural communication firsthand. I wanted to contribute to a better understanding of how cultural contexts shape interactions.”  Inspired by this thought, her study examines over three hours of recorded interactions between participants from 19 different countries in East and South-East Asia. The participants actively explored cultural differences, as evidenced by the sessions, which were primarily recorded in English, their shared lingua franca. Most of the participants often brought up topics such as language practices, lifestyle choices, and cultural norms, which were fueled by curiosity and shared experiences that helped foster connections.

Prof. Stadler observed that during professional conversations, people often tend to downplay their cultural identity to ensure focus on the important tasks. On the other hand, it was quite the opposite for casual informal conversations. In such informal settings, culture is often a rich source for interactions and sharing ideas. The major driver during such conversations was curiosity about cultural diversity; participants often asked questions related to each other’s cultural aspects. Another important observation during the study was that participants often sought solidarity through humor, where teasing and joking about cultural or linguistic differences fostered group cohesion.

The study also highlights the role of culture in identity construction. Participants frequently described their contributions around their cultural and linguistic backgrounds. In most of the conversations, cultural identity naturally emerged in discussions, even when not explicitly prompted. This clarified that these diversities not only served to explain differences but also aided in bridging the gap through shared understanding.

Talking to us about the future implications of her study, Prof. Stadler says, “I believe that this study could provide valuable insights for international business, where understanding cultural dynamics could help improve communication and collaborations in global terms.” Moreover, these findings also hold potential for reforming strategies to foster inclusivity and a better understanding of communication dynamics across diverse cultural environments, which, in turn, could improve global communication practices.

About Professor Stefanie Alexa Stadler from Doshisha University, Japan
Professor Stefanie Stadler is a Professor at the Faculty of Letters in the Department of English at Doshisha University, Japan. She is also part of the Faculty of Languages and Cultures, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland. With a Ph.D. in Applied Language Studies and Linguistics from the University of Auckland and the University of Hamburg, she is a dedicated researcher in the field of linguistics and has a rich teaching experience. She has contributed to over 34 publications focusing on linguistics, intercultural communications, and social sciences with over 446 citations. Her research interests include sociolinguistics, intercultural communications, conflict communication, pragmatics, and discourse analysis.

Funding information: KAKENHI #23K00598

Media contact:
Organization for Research Initiatives & Development
Doshisha University
Kyotanabe, Kyoto 610-0394, JAPAN
E-mail: jt-ura@mail.doshisha.ac.jp