Sociological approaches to intercultural communication: Exploring the 'Silent Zones'

Uttaran Dutta and Judith N. Martin's chapter identifies influential sociological concepts and methods across various paradigmatic approaches, including the influential concept of Simmel's 'stranger' as well as the contributions of European critical sociologists (e.g. Habermas, Foucault). In particular, this chapter is a plea for more attention to the 'silent zones' in intercultural communication research - the geographical and conceptual gaps in current scholarship. It identifies historically under-researched topics (e.g., hidden/forbidden cultural practices, posthumanism) and addresses issues of socioeconomic and structural disparities particularly in the 'silent zones' of the Global South region. The aim is to incorporate community authorship, alternate wisdoms and, ultimately, facilitate meaningful societal changes towards plurality, sustainability and the ecology of culture and languages.