Cultural Terms for Communication: Sources of Intercultural Asynchrony in ESL Settings in Finland

Abstract

This work presents an analytical approach to assessing intercultural communication through cultural terms for communication. Using data drawn from discussions and interviews with Finnish informants I show how the term asiasta puhumisen [speaking to the fact of the matter] functions in Finnish classrooms for adult education and what impact it has on Business English classes for English as a Second Language (ESL). Intercultural analysis based on these descriptions shows that the asiasta puhumisen term is one source of asynchronous communication when a foreign expressive order meets the Finnish one and has the potential to undermine the success that foreign teachers feel they are having when they teach Business English for ESL in Finland.

Keywords:

• Cultural Terms for Communication
• English as a Second Language
• Intercultural Communication

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Richard J. Wilkins

Richard J. Wilkins (PhD, University of Massachusetts, 1999) is an Assistant Professor of Communication Studies, Baruch College, City University of New York, New York City