By Toomore Chang (Creative Commons)
Dr. Stephen Luft of the University of Pittsburgh's Department of East Asian Languages & Literatures will present "Intercultural Communication in Japan and Beyond" on April 7 at the First Unitarian Church in Shadyside.
This talk will address issues that arise in intercultural communication. When communicating with people from different cultures, differing expectations can result in misunderstood intentions. This misunderstanding often leads to a misjudgment of a person’s character. Examples of behaviors such as refusal, apology, listening, etc. will be used to show how actions that are considered polite in one culture can be considered impolite in another. Specific examples will be drawn from learning, teaching, and working in Japanese culture.The talk runs from 9:00 to 10:15 am in the church's Schweitzer Room. The church is located at 605 Morewood Ave. (map).