Towards a theory of biculturalism

Dennis, Rutledge M.

doi:10.1016/s0195-7449(08)15002-4

“…Interculturality as an adaptive ability of humans is crucial in the social integration process (Vergunst 2008). Scholars acknowledge that the term 'interculturality' has been defined broadly, having parallels with intercultural sensitivity (Hammer, Bennett, & Wiseman, 2003), bi/multi-culturalism (Dennis 2008), and cultural hybridization (Hall, 1992), with derived models criticized for lacking "conceptual specificity" (Paige, Jacobs-Cassuto, Yershova, & DeJaeghere 2003:469). We orient this study on Bennett's (1993) definition of interculturality as posited in the Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Silent but Brewing - Reactive Ethnicity and Interculturality among Chinese Students in Singapore

Jiang,

George,

Chib

et al. 2016

J. inc. comm

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The study takes an indirect approach towards the intercultural experience of migrants and explores how they perceive discrimination from host society and in turn stereotype it. Previous studies have highlighted how interculturality facilitates the adaptation of migrants in the host country. This study explores (i) how face-to-face (FTF) and mediated contact and perceived discrimination predict stereotyping, and (ii) how contact, perceived discrimination and stereotyping predict interculturality. A web-based survey was conducted among university students from the People’s Republic of China (n = 585) in Singapore. FTF contact reduced stereotyping better than mediated contact. Perceived discrimination increased stereotyping of the host society by migrants, whereas stereotyping negatively affected interculturality. The study calls for better contact between locals and the migrant population.

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An Investigation into the Extent and Application of Bilingual Signage in New Zealand Public Libraries

Evans¹

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<p>Bilingual signage is important both for the assistance it renders patrons as they navigate through the library, and for the statement it makes about a library‟s commitment to biculturalism. Good signage enables library users to find their way around a library and locate the information they need. Many Māori report feeling uncertain and alienated in libraries, and bilingual signage has been identified as an important component in the process of making Māori feel welcome in libraries. This study aims to discover to what extent public libraries commit to biculturalism through their bilingual signage, and how bilingual signage is displayed to alleviate library anxiety among Māori users, and as well to determine to what degree the level of signage in public libraries can be related to the proportion of Māori in the local population. A mixed methods research design has been applied to investigate the quantitative and qualitative information collected in the first phase of the research (an online survey sent to 330 public libraries throughout New Zealand), followed by the second phase of qualitative in-depth data gathering in the form of personal visits to 12 Auckland public libraries to conduct a qualitative content analysis of their signage. The findings reveal that over 50% of New Zealand public libraries have some form of bilingual signage, but they also show that much bilingual signage is employed at the upper level of signage rather than the deeper levels applicable to wayfinding. Practices in bilingual signage that need to be addressed are identified. Suggestions are made for further research.</p>

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An Investigation into the Extent and Application of Bilingual Signage in New Zealand Public Libraries

Evans¹

0

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<p>Bilingual signage is important both for the assistance it renders patrons as they navigate through the library, and for the statement it makes about a library‟s commitment to biculturalism. Good signage enables library users to find their way around a library and locate the information they need. Many Māori report feeling uncertain and alienated in libraries, and bilingual signage has been identified as an important component in the process of making Māori feel welcome in libraries. This study aims to discover to what extent public libraries commit to biculturalism through their bilingual signage, and how bilingual signage is displayed to alleviate library anxiety among Māori users, and as well to determine to what degree the level of signage in public libraries can be related to the proportion of Māori in the local population. A mixed methods research design has been applied to investigate the quantitative and qualitative information collected in the first phase of the research (an online survey sent to 330 public libraries throughout New Zealand), followed by the second phase of qualitative in-depth data gathering in the form of personal visits to 12 Auckland public libraries to conduct a qualitative content analysis of their signage. The findings reveal that over 50% of New Zealand public libraries have some form of bilingual signage, but they also show that much bilingual signage is employed at the upper level of signage rather than the deeper levels applicable to wayfinding. Practices in bilingual signage that need to be addressed are identified. Suggestions are made for further research.</p>

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Towards a theory of biculturalism

Cited by 3 publications

References 5 publications

Silent but Brewing - Reactive Ethnicity and Interculturality among Chinese Students in Singapore

Silent but Brewing - Reactive Ethnicity and Interculturality among Chinese Students in Singapore

An Investigation into the Extent and Application of Bilingual Signage in New Zealand Public Libraries

An Investigation into the Extent and Application of Bilingual Signage in New Zealand Public Libraries

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