A Cultural Approach to Discourse

by S. xu

Overview

Shi-xu critiques universalism in discourse studies in terms of the cultural consequences of its current white, western standpoint and advocates a culturally pluralist approach, a theory and research methodology from an innovative position between Eastern and Western cultures. Practical research strategies are illustrated by examples drawn from culturally wide ranging discourses. This is a book to interest any scholar or student of discourse looking outside their own intellectual tradition.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780230577626
Publisher:	Palgrave Macmillan UK
Publication date:	12/10/2004
Edition description:	2005
Pages:	233
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

SHI-XU is Professor and Director of the Institute of Discourse and Cultural Studies, Zhejiang University, China, and was previously Research Fellow at the University of Amsterdam, Lecturer at the National University of Singapore, and Reader at the University of Ulster, UK. His other books in English include Cultural Representations, Read the Cultural Other (lead-editor) and Discourse as Cultural Struggle (editor). He is the founding Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Multicultural Discourses.

Table of Contents

Preface and Acknowledgements Introduction PART 1: THEORY AND METHODOLOGY Discourse and Reality Introduction Representationalism A Reality-Constitutive View of Discourse Meaning and Context Conclusion Discourse and Culture Introduction The Universalist Discourse Critical Studies of Culture Theorizing from In-Between Cultures A Pluralist Account of Discourse The Goals of CAD Conclusion Political Ethnography Introduction Foundationalism versus Interpretivism An In-Between-Cultural Stance Discourse Research Strategies Conclusion PART II: PRACTICAL STUDIES Deconstructing the Other Place Introduction The Construction of the Other Place and Contradiction Imperialist Pleasure and Prejudice Conclusion Reading Non-Western Discourses Introduction Discourse and Reading Cultural Others Contextualizing Research on Non-Western Discourse Making Sense out of the Other's Accounts Conclusion Fanning the Sparks of Hope from History Introduction Identity: A Historical-Comparative Approach The Reconstruction of Historical Data Analysing Discourses of Identity Conclusion Promoting New Discourses of the Other Introduction Intercultural Studies Power in Intercultural Communication Formulating and Warranting New Discourses of Cultural Others Conclusion Notes References Index

Editorial Reviews

'This volume is a welcome and significant contribution to the existing literature on discourse and cultural studies and social science more generally and will be enlightening and inspiring for both western and non-western readers who are interested in better reading of their own as well as each other's discourses and making real efforts towards unity within diversity in intercultural communication.' - Discourse & Communication

From the Publisher