Interculturality Between East and West: Unthink, Dialogue and Rethink

Description

This book urges readers to develop a radical capacity to unthink and rethink interculturality, through multiple, pluri-perspectival and honest dialogues between the authors, and their students. This book does not give interculturality a normative scaffolding but envisages it differently by identifying some of its polyphonic textures. China’s rich engagement with interculturality serves to support the importance of being curious about other ways of thinking about the notion beyond the ‘West’ only. As such, the issues of culture, identity, language, translation, intercultural competence and silent transformations (amongst others) are re-evaluated in a different light. This is a highly informative and carefully presented book, providing scientific insights for readers with an interest in interculturality. Acknowledgements Praise for Interculturality Between East and West Contents List of Figures List of Pictures List of Tables 1 Introduction 1.1 Looking for a Special Pearl 1.2 Working Method: Multidialogues 1.3 Dialogues with ‘China’ 1.4 Book Structure References 2 The Idea of Culture Is Worn Out 2.1 Introduction 2.2 ‘Culture’ in a Chinese Bookstore 2.3 What to Do with This Concept of Culture Then? 2.4 [Time to Reflect] References 3 ‘Killing’ or ‘Curing’ Culture? 3.1 Short Recap 3.2 Again: What to Do with ‘Culture’ Then? 3.3 Culture and Taste 3.4 On the Need to ‘Dispel the Familiarity of the Accepted’ (Foucault) 3.5 Five Problems About Culture 3.6 [Time to Reflect] References 4 Language Is Not What We Might Think It Is—Facilitating Interculturality by Unthinking and Rethinking Our Relation to Language 4.1 Multilingual Etymology 4.2 Demystifying Language 4.3 No Need to be ‘Perfect’ in a Language to Communicate with Others 4.4 [Time to Reflect] References 5 Translating Is Not Treason—Talking to Each Other About Interculturality 5.1 Problematizing Translation for Interculturality 5.2 Negotiating Translation 5.3 What Is Translation About? 5.4 Translation can be a ‘Treason’ When It Is Manipulated 5.5 A Few Concluding Words 5.6 [Time to Reflect] References 6 First Steps Towards Interculturality—Rethinking Identity 6.1 The Never-Ending Story 6.2 Where Are You Really From? 6.3 ‘What Would You Say I Am?’ 6.4 Conclusion: We Only Live with and Through Others—And Vice Versa 6.5 [Time to Reflect] Reference 7 Listening to Those Who Experience Interculturality to Learn About What It Is and How to ‘Do’ It 7.1 Students’ Views on Interculturality 7.2 What Is Interculturality? 7.3 How to ‘Do’ Interculturality According to Our Intercultural Experts? 7.4 [Time to Reflect] References 8 Examining Other Ways of Engaging with Interculturality 8.1 Swimming in the Pond of Interculturality 8.2 Minzu as a Mirror 8.3 Defining and Problematizing the 理念 8.3.1 Metalevel Perspectives 8.3.2 Colours of the 理念 8.4 Connections Between the Three 理念 8.5 Connections with Interculturality 8.6 Understanding and Problematizing the 理念 Amongst Chinese People 8.7 Passing Chinese Knowledge of Interculturality to Outsiders 8.8 [Time to Reflect] References 9 Silent Transformations with China 9.1 [Time to Reflect] References 10 Debunking Intercultural Competence 10.1 The Multiplicity of Interculturality 10.2 Can We Be ‘Good’ at Interculturality? Final Reflections 10.3 [Time to Reflect] References 11 待续 (To Be Continued) 11.1 The Tea Table Metaphor Revisited References