Empowering dialogue in intercultural settings

The essay introduces the conceptual framework used in the book. This framework is based on the linguistic and sociological analysis of communication systems and their cultural presuppositions. Cultural presuppositions consist in expectations regarding guiding values, ways of positioning, and results of communication processes, specifically of interactions in which the linguistic cues for these expectations can be analysed. In particular, the analysis considers (1) presuppositions of educational interactions involving children, with a specific focus on intercultural settings, and (2) opportunities for promoting children’s agency and active participation in these interactions. Empowering dialogue is observed as a possible presupposition for promoting active participation and effective conflict management in interactions involving children and adults. Empowering dialogue is distinguished from disempowering monologue, which presents different cultural presuppositions.