Key Intercultural Communication Resources

The resources below provide background on the theoretical frameworks that form the foundation for intercultural communication theory and practice, as well as offering insights on current trends in the field.

Gonzalez, A., Houston, M., Chen, V. (2004). Our voices. Essays in culture, ethnicity, and communication. 4th edition. Los Angeles. Roxbury Publishing.

This anthology is comprised of 41 essays by 45 scholars, offering “an alternative for those interested in learning something about culture, ethnicity, and communication from the viewpoint of ethnic scholars” (p.2).

Ting-Toomey, S. (1999). Communicating across cultures. New York. Guilford Press.

Integrated into this text are extensive overviews of intercultural communication theories and research. Concepts used by practitioners, faculty, and trainers (high and low context, verbal communication style, values) are presented in easy to understand summaries with many examples.

Martin, J.N. & Nakayama, T.K. (2003). Intercultural Communication in contexts. 2nd edition. Mountain View, CA: Mayfield Publisher.

These authors offer a dialectical approach to intercultural communication and offer that focusing, for example, solely on cultural explanations or personal explanations are insufficient. The dialectics discussed are: Cultural-Individual, Personal-Contextual, Differences-Similaties, Static-Dynamic, History-Future, Privilege-Disadvantage.

Samovar, L.A. & Porter, R. E. (Eds.), Intercultural communication: A reader (10th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing.

This volume, divided into 8 parts, contains 44 articles on intercultural communication. The range provides readers with overviews of key concepts (ethics, competencies, context, nonverbals), as well as cultural specific research and reflections (Argentina, Chinese, Egyptian, Korean, Mexican, Germany, Gay, Elderly cultures, and more).

If you would like to recommend additional materials for inclusion on this page, please contact your Network Leader.