Building Bridges: Contextualizing Worldviews Through Cultural Syndromes and the Importance of Expressing Metaphorical Perspective

Vidya Ananthanarayanan, Norman Scott St. Clair

Abstract


This critical review of literature draws upon current practices in teaching culture. An examination of existing theories and models exposes limitations and a lack of consensus on how to teach varying worldviews across disciplines. This analysis establishes that understanding the context of human behaviors offers a level of comprehension that results in a deeper, more significant cross-cultural communication experience. Specifically, this review probes how understanding cultural syndromes offers an appropriate contextual framework and how the use of metaphor creates insight into another culture’s meaning. The authors of this review conclude that further investigation is needed to rethink and align existing theory and methodologies into new models for teaching and understanding culture.

Key words: Teaching culture; Cross-cultural communication; Metaphorical perspective


Keywords


Teaching culture; Cross-cultural communication; Metaphorical perspective

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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3968/j.ccc.1923670020120805.1845

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