ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the authors analyse the relationships and connections between the concept of language awareness (LA) and intercultural communicative competence. They consider the terms intercultural communicative competence (ICC) and intercultural competence (IC) of which the critical cultural awareness is a fundamental element. The most immediate connection between LA on the one hand and ICC and IC on the other hand needs to be seen in the context of the relationship between language and culture, but the authors also consider in what ways 'awareness of language' and 'awareness of culture' are different and similar. They discuss the implications of the analysis for foreign language education with respect to teaching and assessment. The authors also discuss ways to conceptualize languaculture awareness, as a concept which gives greater emphasis to language competence in intercultural communication. They examine the potential pedagogy for the integration of LA and ICC, with some evidence of how learners can become aware of questions of identity.
