Perspectives on the study of intercultural communication from the viewpoint of cultural studies

The ethnological foundation of the interdisciplinary subject of Intercultural Communication is elucidated in this article. It is argued that culture is both the result of individual communicative networking and the prerequisite of individual practice. Intercultural practice, as will be shown, cannot be considered independently from the societal framework. Furthermore, it is suggested that the micro-perspective on intercultural communication as face-to-face communication should be complemented by an approach from a meso-perspective. The example of a German-Japanese business co-operation will illustrate the knowledge potential to be gained from this shift in perspective. One of the main research subjects of Intercultural Communication-"adaptation to the host culture"-will serve to demonstrate how this approach allows for new research questions transcending previous limitations. Finally, it is recommended that the new interdisciplinary subject should adopt the critical practice of self-reflexivity as it is well-tried in Empirical Cultural Studies in order to promote intercultural learning.