The role of intercultural communicative competence in the Anthropocene

Author(s)

Cheng-Ming Chung

Abstract

This paper discusses the role of intercultural communicative competence (ICC) in the Anthropocene and the approach to the Anthropocene through teaching Chinese as a foreign language. The “Anthropocene(人類世 )” is proposed as a new geological epoch to the present (Crutzen, 2002). Its beginning date has been debated by many geological scientists (Crutzen, 2002; Development plan, 2005; Liu, 2004): for example, the start of the industrialisation period, or the beginning of the 18th century and even earlier up to approximately 10,000 years ago. However, it is undebatable that the Anthropocene relates to the human-dominated present, and humankind must take the responsibility for a better habitat on Earth.
The contributions to the Anthropocene can take various approaches, for example: through Chinese philosophy dealing with humans’ relationship to nature, such as Daoism, Confucianism and Fengshui (Snyder, 2006; Weigelin-Schwiedrzik, 2018). China can also make practical contributions; Weigelin-Schwiedrzik (2018) concludes that the idea of a green GDP for China could not only bring positive effects for the country, but also influence the whole world in the Anthropocene.
The language is not only the carrier of its cultural concepts, but also a communicative tool. ICC leads a person to understand a new culture deeper and better, and adopt the perspectives, philosophy and life styles of the culture in a scientific way for her/himself. Therefore, teaching Chinese as a foreign language can make an effort from this angle, for the Anthropocene, to develop the learner’s ICC in the Mandarin course, and as well to explain Chinese philosophical concepts to the learners.
This paper is discussing the Intercultural components in the novel "Anthropocene" written by the author Zhao Defa (Zhao, 2016), from the views of eastern and western religions and intercultural communications. The realism fiction is a life model in the Anthropocene, which guides the readers to reflect on the potential, or on the current catastrophes, resulting from humans and by the fact they did not start taking positive and protective actions towards nature. By the discussion of the intercultural contexts, the aim is to prove the importance of ICC for the Anthropocene, as well as to suggestions for teaching Chinese as a foreign language.

Organisation(s)

Department of East Asian Studies

Pages

83

No. of pages

11

Publication date

12-2018

Peer reviewed

Yes

Austrian Fields of Science 2012

602045 Sinology, 605004 Cultural studies, 503029 Language teaching research, 603126 Intercultural philosophy

Keywords

Portal url

https://ucris.univie.ac.at/portal/en/publications/the-role-of-intercultural-communicative-competence-in-the-anthropocene(ada0aec5-e5a4-41c4-8bca-a538d5231599).html