Getting through
Subtitle: the pleasures and perils of cross-cultural communication
By: Roger Kreuz and Richard Roberts
Contributors: Roberts, Richard (Richard Miller), 1959- author
Publisher: The MIT Press
Published: 2017
Place of publication: Cambridge, Massachusetts
Language: eng
Number of pages: 276
ISBN-13: 9780262036313
Copyright date: 2017
Subjects: Intercultural communication; Pragmatics
Description: "In Getting Through, Roger Kreuz and Richard Roberts offer a guide to understanding and being understood in different cultures. Drawing on research from psychology, linguistics, sociology, and other fields, as well as personal experience, anecdotes, and popular culture, Kreuz and Roberts describe cross-cultural communication in terms of pragmatics -- exploring how language is used and not just what words mean"--

"We can learn to speak other languages, but do we truly understand what we are saying? How much detail should we offer when someone asks how we are? How close should we stand to our conversational partners? Is an invitation genuine or just pro forma? So much of communication depends on culture and context. In Getting Through, Roger Kreuz and Richard Roberts offer a guide to understanding and being understood in different cultures. Drawing on research from psychology, linguistics, sociology, and other fields, as well as personal experience, anecdotes, and popular culture, Kreuz and Roberts describe cross-cultural communication in terms of pragmatics--exploring how language is used and not just what words mean. Sometimes this is easy to figure out. If someone hisses "I'm fine!" though clenched teeth, we can assume that she's not really fine. But sometimes the context, cultural or otherwise, is more nuanced. For example, a visitor from another country might be taken aback when an American offers a complaint ("Cold out today!") as a greeting. And should you apologize the same way in Tokyo as you would in Toledo? Kreuz and Roberts help us navigate such subtleties. It's a fascinating way to think about human interaction, but it's not purely academic: The more we understand one another, the better we can communicate, and the better we can communicate, the more we can avoid conflict." -- Publisher's description
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Culture and its consequences : The road to communication failure is paved with good intentions ; Why did she say it like that? ; The case of EgyptAir 990 ; Best foot forward, but in someone else's shoes ; The granular nature of common ground ; All aboard for entrainment ; The importance of being bicultural; title: Pragmatics and its principles : Let's get pragmatic ; Reading the dials ; Culture club ; Reading the air ; Saving face ; Say the magic word! ; This is off the record; title: How speech acts : What shall we talk about? ; But do you really mean it? ; Beating around the bush ; You call that a question? ; Pragmatics and the final frontier; title: The elements of pragmatic style : That's a good one ; What the &#?@!!? ; It's a shame ; Shooting the breeze ; Me and vous and everyone we know ; It's only a number; title: The mechanics of cross-cultural communication : Really! Go on... ; No doubt! ; Changing gears ; Getting a word in ; Don't stand so close to me ; Posture, gaze, and gesture; title: Pragmatics in action : Hello and good-bye ; No, no, I couldn't possibly ; The honor of your presence is requested ; I'm sorry... so sorry ; How typical! ; This old thing?; title: Pragmatics in a changing world : Return to sender : improper address ; A new type of facework ; Flaming, shaming, and trolling ; Sign up! ; Can't help it ; We wouldn't say it that way; title: Epilogue : Smooth sailing.