CHALLENGES OF TRANSLATION IN THE LIGHT OF INTERCULTURALISM

Through our research paper we try to get to the translation as one of the most important bridges that links between the different cultures, as well as the transition of translation from it's communicative function that guarantees confluence and dialogue of cultures, to a function that guarantees the cultural interaction between peoples and civilizations, through the principal of cultural interaction which states the recognition and respect of all the cultures, without preferring one over another and fight all the ideas of globalization that seek to impose domination and unilateral cultural profiling.

Cultivating Cultural Self-Awareness

This chapter analyzes the importance of using appropriate pedagogic and practical tools to develop cultural self-awareness in international business (IB) students in a classroom setting, establishing the foundations for future international business executives. Based on recent research, the author posits that IB students need to develop three basic knowledge bases: (1) their cultural intelligence level, (2) their potential implicit biases, and (3) the use of critical thinking to avoid certain psychological traps or hijackers. Using cultural self-assessments, developing the understanding of psychological factors affecting decision-making processes, and incorporating the use of critical thinking should reduce the negative role of unconscious biases during cross-cultural interactions. The author posits about the effectiveness of cultural profiling tools in predicting and identifying potential cultural pitfalls and challenges. Finally, the author recommends incorporating the practical use of cultural profiling tools in simulation or case studies.

Cultural Profiling During Passport Control: Ugandan Migration Officers’ Informal Selection Practices

Recently, northern Uganda has become a destination for inner-African immigration. As a result of new security policies, passport controls are intensifying at border posts and are being expanded across the country. During passport checks, officers often refer to natio­nal-cultural stereotypes in order to verify statements in identity documents. Stereotyping and profiling of ‘Somalian terrorists’ or ‘militant South Sudanese’ are used as pre-selection tools. At the same time, officers try to establish informal networks with immigrants as informants to make use of their cultural and linguistic expertise. The article is based on an ethnographic study of Ugandan police and immigration officers in 2014. Keywords: Uganda, South-South migration, profiling, citizenship, passport

Cultural profiling and a Chinese experience

Purpose This paper aims to analyze the effectiveness of cultural profiling tools in predicting and identifying potential cultural pitfalls and challenges that the executive could encounter during an interaction with an individual or group from a different national culture. The initial analysis is based on the author’s experience in China. Over a two-year period and as part of the wider strategy to implement account management principles within the local sales teams across China, the strategy and sales development team (composed of two Chinese nationals lead by a Spanish/USA experienced expatriate/author) engaged senior members of the sales team through a series of workshops. Design/methodology/approach Despite the top management support and the alignment of the program with the organizational culture of the company, the coaching program had limited success. Using a past experience in China and as part of a preliminary study on cultural profiling models available to executives, professors and students exposed to global environments, the author reviewed three popular cultural models to potentially identify sources of conflict, cultural gaps and misalignments between individual culture and the national cultures. Findings The paper found that culture profiling tools could have a guiding value for executives and other individuals visiting a different culture, as it identified potential sources of conflict and pitfalls to avoid. Originality/value The paper offered a fresh look at proliferating culture profiling tools.

It's the Bush: Foreign Perceptions of Australia — A Comparative Study

Cities compete to host the Olympics because it is a unique global public relations opportunity to attract tourism, foreign investment, and international respect. However, hosting an Olympics also entails risks because host cities and countries must survive intensive international media scrutiny. Whether the Sydney Olympics will redefine overseas perceptions of Australia either positively or negatively is still to be established. Our study will address this question through an empirical, cross-cultural profiling of foreign perceptions of Australia from 1999 to 2001 in various countries to see whether responses differ, and/or whether similar patterns of change are observable across cultures at different points in time (pre- and post-Olympics). In parallel, media coverage of the 2000 Olympics (and Australia) is being monitored in the countries being studied. If any attitude shift is detected from 1999 to 2001, explanations can be sought from the recorded media coverage. This article represents the results of the first stage of the study — an examination of overseas attitudes towards Australia and stereotypes of Australians in 1999.