The way things aren't : : deconstructing 'reality' to facilitate communication / / edited by John Backman and Małgorzata Wójcik.

• TeilnehmendeR: Backman, John,; Wójcik, Małgorzata,
• Place / Publishing House: Oxford, England : : Inter-Disciplinary Press`,, [2015]; ©2015
• Year of Publication: 2015
• Language: English
• Physical Description: 1 online resource.

In a world of continual conflict, rethinking the way we communicate with other cultures, religions, or nations is of paramount importance. Standing in the way is the unconscious assumption that our own views reflect ‘the way things are’ – an assumption both inefficient and harmful. The Way Things Aren’t: Deconstructing ‘Reality’ to Facilitate Communication explores communication as a meeting point between different perceptions of reality, presenting how our assumptions and convictions hinder effective communication with those who are different from us. Featuring case examples from Somalia, Romania, and other regions, the chapters describe how authorities and the media often create ‘reality’ to relegate some people, cultures, languages, or religions to ‘the wrong side of the tracks’. Featuring scholars and practitioners from many disciplines, this discussion challenges readers with the idea that in order to remain open for new perspectives we must be aware that things are not always ’the way things are‘.

Table of Contents

Preliminary Material / John Backman and Małgorzata Wójcik -- Uncommon Ground: Cultural Differences in Space Perception / Richard Harris -- Discourse in Canadian News: The Victim Blaming of Amanda Todd / Hailey Finnigan -- Views of the Arab Revolts: Representations in the News by Brazilian Weekly Magazines / Fábio Ferreira Agra and Marcus Antônio Assis Lima -- The Somalis and the Americans: The Communication Challenges of Somali Piracy / Sarah Craze -- Communication Breakdown during Involuntary Resettlement in Poland / Małgorzata Wójcik and Igor Pietkiewicz -- The Politics of Multilingual and Non-Verbal Multicultural Communication: Case Studies and a Research Agenda / László Marácz -- Before We Talk: Discovering Dialogue as a Habit of the Heart / John Backman.