Key facts

UNE unit code: LING350

*You are viewing the 2024 version of this unit which may be subject to change in future.

Start
  • Trimester 1 - Online
Campus
  • Armidale Campus
24/7 online support
  • Yes
Intensive schools
  • No
Supervised exam
  • No
Credit points
  • 6

Unit information

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In an increasingly multicultural society, it is critical that we understand how to communicate effectively with others.

This unit is about communication between people of differing cultural backgrounds in different social and professional contexts. It covers principles of cross-cultural communication, how problems can arise, and what can be done to overcome them.

The approach is linguistically-oriented but assumes no prior knowledge of linguistics. You will learn how to apply linguistic methods to understand and improve cross-cultural communication.

You do not need to know any other language to do this unit. The unit is supported by a variety of online tools including online assessment.

Offerings

For further information about UNE's teaching periods, please go to Principal Dates.

Teaching period
Mode/location
Trimester 1Online

*Offering is subject to availability

Intensive schools

There are no intensive schools required for this unit.

Enrolment rules

Pre-requisites
12cp
Restrictions
LING110 or LING150 or LING250
Combined units

Notes

Please refer to the student handbook for current details on this unit.

Unit coordinator(s)

profile photo of Finex Ndhlovu
Finex NdhlovuAssociate Professor, Language in society/Sociology of language - Faculty of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences and Education; School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:

  1. identify and examine several approaches to studying cross-cultural communication;
  2. effectively communicate how cultural assumptions and expectations shape communicative style with reference to specific examples from a variety of settings;
  3. apply linguistic methods and concepts to analyse cross-cultural interaction in original or secondary data;
  4. critically evaluate frequent causes of cross-cultural communication problems, with reference to concrete examples;
  5. effectively communicate how people acquire communicative style through language socialisation, and be able to apply analytical concepts to real data; and
  6. use autonomy and judgement in the explanation of strategies for communicating more effectively across cultures.

Assessment information

Assessments are subject to change up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the teaching period in which you are undertaking the unit.

TitleMust CompleteWeightOfferingsAssessment Notes
Essay/ProjectYes30%All offerings

Research essay or project

No. Words: 1500-2000

Online Assignment NoteYes5%All offerings

No. Words: 350

Online WorksheetYes25%All offerings

No. Words: 1000

Take Home ExamYes40%All offerings 

Learning resources

Textbooks are subject to change up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the teaching period in which you are undertaking the unit.

Note: Students are expected to purchase prescribed material. Please note that textbook requirements may vary from one teaching period to the next.

Intercultural Communication: A Critical Introduction

ISBN: 9781474412919

Piller, I., Edinburgh University Press 2nd ed. 2017

Text refers to: All offerings

Note: Recommended material is held in the University Library — purchase is optional.

Communication Across Cultures: Mutual Understanding in a Global World

ISBN: 9781107685147

Bowe, H. and Martin, K., Cambridge University Press 2nd ed. 2014

Text refers to: All offerings

Cross-Cultural Pragmatics

ISBN: 9783110177695

Wierzbicka, A., De Gruyter 2nd ed. 2003

Text refers to: All offerings

Introducing Language and Intercultural Communication

ISBN: 9781138481619

Jackson, J., Routledge 2nd ed. 2019

Text refers to: All offerings

The Language and Intercultural Communication Reader

ISBN: 9780415549134

Hua, Z., Routledge 1st ed. 2011

Text refers to: All offerings

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