Book Reviews 373

REFERENCE

LINCOLN, J. R. (1989, Fall). Employee work attitudes and management practice in the U.S. and Japan: Evidence from a large comparative survey. California Management Review, pp. 89-106.

Lea P Stewart Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey

New Brunswick, New Jersey

HANDBOOK OF INTERNATIONAL AND INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION

Molefi K. Asante and William B. Gudykunst (Editors)

Newbury Park, CA: Sage, 1989, 520 pp, $49.95 (cloth)

The editors of the Handbook of International and Intercultural Com- munication explain that the purpose of this important volume “is to summarize the state of the art on international, intercultural, and devel- opment communication and set the agenda for future research in the three areas.” These ambitious goals form the basis for evaluation of both the individual contributions and the entire volume. Overall, the editors have brought together an impressive collection of works that substantially accomplishes their objectives, particularly in the area of intercultural communication.

Particularly useful in understanding the link between intercultural, international, and development communication is the authors’ “Preface,” in which they describe the relationship of culture to communication as the common thread among these specializations. A helpful schemata graphically organizes the relationships among the three areas along the dimensions of interpersonal-mediated and comparative-interactive. For the beginning scholar trying to sort out the boundaries and overlap among these specializations, the discussion provided in the “Preface” is very useful.

The editors present the Handbook’s contribution in four parts with 23 articles. Part I, “Overview,” explicates theoretical and research issues in intercultural, international, and development communication, followed by a historical piece on the New International Information and Commu- nication Order. B.vo contributions are noteworthy because they exemplify the goals set for the overall volume. Gudykunst and Nishida, in “Theoret- ical Perspectives for Studying Intercultural Communication,” provide an

374 Book Reviews

opportunity to examine an array of theories that represent “objectivist” and “subjectivist” approaches to intercultural communication, as well as theories developed both within and outside the communication disci- pline. The presentation of the theories both narratively and in summary tables provides a rare opportunity to examine the domains and proposi- tions of the theories side by side. In his summary, entitled “Inquiry in International Communication,” MacPhail links major theoretical themes to very specific research imperatives. One such theme is that technologi- cal innovations are creating a sophisticated global infrastructure while simultaneously functioning to fragment mass audiences.

Part II, “Processes and Effects,” includes most of the articles in the book. Giles and Franklyn-Stokes provide an excellent review of the litera- ture investigating the effect of “Communicator Characteristics” on “com- municative beliefs, intentions, tactics, and language patterns.” The sec- tion on the misinterpretation of communication characteristics is particularly praiseworthy because it describes intercultural communica- tion consequences rather than cross-cultural phenomena. Hecht, Ander- sen, and Ribeau, in “Cultural Dimensions of Nonverbal Communica- tion,” argue for organizing research along six dimensions on which cultures vary (immediacy, individualism-collectivism, uncertainty avoid- ance, masculinity-femininity, power distance, and context). In so doing, these authors attempt to explain “why” particular cultures exhibit unique variations in nonverbal behaviors. Gudykunst and Gumbs, in “Social Cognition and Intergroup Communication, offer a useful model of how social cognitive processes operate differently as individuals categorize encounters as intergroup and interpersonal. Matsumoto, Wallbott, and Scherer, in “Emotions in Intercultural Communication,” call for the use of meaningful models of culture in order to answer questions on the perception of facial expressions across cultures. Dorothy Pennington’s article on “Interpersonal Power and Influence in Intercultural Communi- cation” explores the intriguing idea that styles of interpersonal power and persuasion vary among cultures. Yapple and Korzenny’s piece on “Elec- tronic Mass Media Effects Across Cultures” is significant for its excellent coverage of theories of mass media effects. Interesting as well is their call for greater use of ethnomethodology because it has “the greatest potential for innovative contribution to the understanding of phenomena of cross- cultural mass media effects.”

Part III, “Contexts,” has a number of articles of particular interest. Stella Ting-Toomey’s article on “Interpersonal Bonding” is a good exam- ple of theory construction, in this case about the establishment of inter- personal-intergroup relationships. “Encounters in the Interracial Work- place” by Asante and Davis has immediate value because of its descriptions of the effect of cultural differences on communication be-

Book Reviews 375

tween African Americans and Anglo Americans in the workplace. Glen Fischer’s article on “Diplomacy” is an interesting portrayal of the tensions and problems inherent in diplomats’ communication. He offers a thought-provoking question: If the diplomats asked for advice, would there be any coherence in what intercultural specialists would tell them? He joins Pennington in directing attention to implicit assumptions about persuasion, styles of reasoning, and debate.

Part IV, “Research Issues,” is the weakest of the four sections. There are only two articles, “Problems in Intercultural Research” by Johnson and Tuttle and “Translation” by Gonzalez. While each does an adequate job with its subject, the research issues in cross-national, cross-cultural, and intercultural communication cannot be adequately addressed in only two articles. The Johnson and Tuttle article, for example, is primarily concerned with survey research, which is an important methodology, but not the only one that ought to be considered.

Despite the book’s range of material, a number of commonalities emerge. Many of these scholars argue that theory and research must be based in the common dimensions along which cultures vary. Hofstede’s dimensions of culture, for example, have become an important founda- tion for the study of communication both cross-culturally and inter- culturally. Characteristic of the articles as well are descriptions of specific research agendas. Beginning graduate students in intercultural communi- cation, for example, who are eager to expand their knowledge while simultaneously sharpening their focus, should find this volume to be a valuable tool to accomplish their objectives.

The Handbook is strongest in its exploration of intercultural and cross- cultural interpersonal communication phenomena. But aside from the opening review articles on international and developmental communica- tion, these subjects receive short shrift. Indeed, the two excellent articles that deal specifically with media and its effects do so with an eye toward the consequences of media consumption on interpersonal behavior and intercultural communication. Two other omissions characterize the vol- ume. First, there is a surprising absence of alternative theoretical (non- Western) approaches to communication reflected in the selections. Sec- ond, little research using qualitative methodologies are represented, although each of the overview articles includes references to research that uses these approaches.

Despite these shortcomings, the Handbook of International and Inter- cultural Communication makes a valuable contribution. The book should be in the personal library of any scholar whose work explores the nature of the culture-communication relationship. The Handbook is also an excellent choice for a text in graduate-level seminars. Molefi K. Asante and William B. Gudykunst present an impressive collection of scholar-

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ship that admirably accomplishes their objectives of summarizing pre- vious research and charting the course for future research efforts.

Jolene Koester California State University, Sacramento

Sacramento, California