ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the following Problem Question is posed: ‘What are the standards that make intercultural communication possible?’
The chapter starts by presenting the two versions of ‘Sapir-Whorf hypothesis’ or ‘linguistic relativity.’ It is noted that, in this light, cultures appear to be arranged into formally complete yet incommensurable systems. Based on these ideas, the Commensurability Principle of intercultural communication is introduced.
It is shown that the nature of commensurability is dynamic; at its core is the general human ability of bringing the world, culture, and the mind together in meaningful ways. It is also shown that commensurability operates at three levels of meaning representation. At the low (corporeal, most concrete) level, meaning is manifested in the form of image-schemas; at the intermediate (cognitive, intermediate) level, meaning is manifested in the form of concepts; and at the high (semiotic, most abstract) level, meaning is manifested in the form of symbols. Overall, intercultural communication can be seen as a spiral process of different people comparing their cultural maps. This way, cultures measure up against one another and understand better other worldviews and their own worldview. Finally, both the possibility and necessity of intercultural communication are emphasized.
