DISSIMILAR SILENT OTHERS: CROSS-CULTURAL COMMUNICATION CHALLENGES FOR ACADEMIC DISCOURSE

P. 110–118.

Moshnyaga E., Hussain I.

The paper examines a communicative phenomenon of SILENCE as
an element of enacted identity construction in cross-cultural interaction. SILENCE
is explored cross-culturally in multicultural class settings within a glocal eduscape
environment, i.e. in the conditions of an international university promoting educational
programs worldwide (in a Russian university, as an example). The students tures.
The concept of SILENCE is interpreted, translated into life, and practiced
diff erently by students and faculty members from diff erent cultures. Close and direct
contacts with culturally dissimilar Others who are viewed as Dissimilar Silent
Others pose challenges for appropriate and effi cient communication in academic
discourse. SILENCE in communication can be interpreted diff erently, under-interpreted,
or misinterpreted by faculty members as well as students from other cultures
if they lack previous experience of interaction with culturally dissimilar Others.
The research methods used for the study are participant and non-participant
observation, case studies (including a “case-within-a-case” approach), free association
experiment, ethnographic interviews as a tool of survey, and duoethnographic
interpretation of the fi ndings from the perspectives of Russian and
Pakistani cultures. A number of cross-cultural cases provide some instances of
misunderstanding, communicative failure, and culture shock at its climax expressed
through adherence to the practice of SILENCE and a sharp departure
from a silence-based habitual behavior in academic discourse. Free association
experiment conducted in the multicultural class of an eduscape showed some differences
in perception and practicing of SILENCE in communication.

Keywords: academic discourse, cross-cultural communication, Silence, culturally dissimilar Other, dissimilar silent Others

In book

Proceedings of the International Science Conference “Scientific research of the SCO countries: synergy and integration” - Reports in English (June 3, 2026. Beijing, PRC)

Vol. 3. , Scientific publishing house Infinity, 2026.