School Successfully Holds the First Lecture on Intercultural Health Communication Series

On the morning of November 27, 2022, Dr. Zhenyi Li, Chair of the Department of Communication and Culture at Royal Roads University (Canada), tenured professor, doctoral supervisor, and founder of Canada’s Intercultural Master’s program, delivered the first lecture on the Intercultural Health Communication series. The session was hosted by Associate Professor Chen Jingqian from the Department of Communication Studies, School of Languages and Communication Studies at Beijing Jiaotong University.

In this lecture, Professor Li introduced the concept of intercultural studies, providing a macro-level overview of the historical development of Western intercultural research. He highlighted the limitations in how past scholars defined the concept of culture and presented his own perspective on the subject. At the beginning of the lecture, Professor Li referenced Milton Bennett’s book Basic Concepts of Intercultural Communication to introduce the core idea of intercultural studies: “Dealing with differences”.

The lecture focused on explaining and analyzing the key values and theories of intercultural scholars, enriched with Professor Li’s profound insights.

Using a chronological framework, Professor Li first introduced Edward Hall, the father of intercultural studies, and his viewpoints. He illustrated Hall’s ideas through a thought-provoking example from Ruth Benedict’s The Chrysanthemum and the Sword: “The Japanese Emperor does not correspond to the U.S. President but to the Stars and Stripes.” This example helped the audience understand that every culture, whether in tangible or abstract forms, possesses sacred and indelible symbols. Hall’s theory of high-context and low-context cultures emphasized the need to define such contexts based on actual situations, avoiding stereotypes. Professor Li also introduced the perspectives of scholars such as Clyde Kluckhohn, Fred Strodtbeck, and Geert Hofstede, offering concise summaries of their contributions. He further elaborated on Deborah Tannen’s research on gender differences in communication, John Berry’s acculturation theory, and W.B. Gudykunst’s anxiety/uncertainty management theory. He analyzed the significance of Stella Ting-Toomey’s Face Negotiation Theory and its implications for health communication. By introducing Nancy Adler’s theories, Professor Li pointed out that beyond “fight or flight”, there are multiple ways to respond to intercultural challenges. Finally, he discussed the work of Milton Bennett and Mitch Hammer, whose theories outline five stages of dealing with cultural differences. Using examples such as postpartum practices and dietary habits across cultures, Professor Li emphasized that in health communication, it is essential to consider not only physiological differences but also differences shaped by culture.

Professor Li argued that health is a universal concern, and Western intercultural studies should benefit everyone. He noted that while intercultural research has expanded from focusing on minority groups to broader populations, its application remains limited. He also emphasized that in the context of this lecture series, culture should be understood as choices and tendencies made in interactions involving at least two participants, which forms the foundation of their research.

The online lecture attracted over 200 participants, including students and researchers from various universities and institutions worldwide. During the Q&A session, attendees actively posed questions, which Professor Li addressed in detail.

At the end of the lecture, Associate Professor Chen Jingqian, the series coordinator and moderator, provided a brief commentary on Professor Li’s presentation. She expressed her gratitude to Professor Li and encouraged the audience to stay tuned for future lectures in the series organized by the School of Languages and Communication Studies, Beijing Jiaotong University.

编译：梁昱卓