Metaphor as a Tool for Preparing Sojourners

• In Event: The State of Adaptation/Assimilation Research

Abstract

Sojourners, or people who live in a foreign country for a limited period of time, must prepare if they wish to adjust quickly to a foreign culture. Current theory suggests that sojourners learn to develop primary social interaction schemas to prepare for intercultural communication. Because sojourners may not stay in a country long enough to develop schemas, sojourners could benefit from a tool designed to help them acquire schemas for their host countries. Situation metaphors may help sojourners gain useful insights into the cultures they prepare to face. To investigate situation metaphors, international students studying in the United States were interviewed to see if new metaphors could be created to assist future sojourners. The situation metaphors uncovered are discussed in within the framework of schemas and Anxiety Uncertainty Management theory.

Author

• Lauren Bayliss, University of Florida