Exploring intercultural interaction: the use of semiotic resources in meaning-making process.

Abdullah, Nur Nabilah and Sahar, Rafidah (2020) Exploring intercultural interaction: the use of semiotic resources in meaning-making process. In: The CALA 2020 - The Conference on Asian Linguistic Anthropology, 5-8 February 2020, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Bintulu, Sarawak. (In Press)

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Abstract

Intercultural communication refers to interaction between speakers of different backgrounds such as different linguistic and cultural origins (Kim, 2001). Interaction in face-to face situations has demonstrated that spoken language involves both verbal and an array of semiotic resources for social action. Semiotic resources that include use of talk, gestures, eye gaze and other nonverbal cues can convey semantic content and can be a crucial point in a conversation (Hazel et al., 2014). Drawing from the conversation analytic (CA) approach, we explored how participants employed semiotic resources in word searches activity in an intercultural context. Word searches are moments in interaction when a speaker’s turn is temporarily ceased because the speaker displays difficulty searching for appropriate linguistics items in formulating the talk (Schegloff et al., 1977; Kurhila, 2006). In this research, naturally occurring interactions in a multilingual setting were video recorded. The participants were Asian university students with different first language backgrounds. The findings suggested that multilingual participants mutually collaborate by utilizing verbal, gaze, gestures and other nonverbal cues as useful semiotic resources in the meaning-making process to resolve word searches and achieve mutual understanding in intercultural interaction.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Plenary Papers)
Additional Information:	4440/81050
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Semiotic resources, intercultural interaction, word search, conversation analysis, meaning-making, mutual understanding
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) P Language and Literature > PL Languages and literatures of Eastern Asia, Africa, Oceania
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Languages and Management
Depositing User:	Dr Nur Nabilah Abdullah
Date Deposited:	29 Jun 2020 10:47
Last Modified:	05 Jul 2020 14:59
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/81050

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  • Exploring Intercultural Interaction: the use of semiotic resources in meaning-making process. (deposited 13 Jul 2023 15:31)

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