LITERATURE AS A TOOL FOR INTERCULTURAL UNDERSTANDING
Keywords:
Intercultural understanding; Literature and culture; Empathy in literature; World literature; Translation studies; Multicultural education; Postcolonial literature; Digital literatureAbstract
This article examines literature as an effective tool for fostering intercultural understanding in a globalized world. It explores how literary texts function as both a mirror and a window, enabling readers to reflect on their own cultural identities while gaining insight into other cultures. The study highlights the role of literature in developing empathy across cultural boundaries by engaging readers with diverse human experiences related to migration, conflict, identity, and social inequality. Particular attention is given to the inseparable relationship between language and culture in literary discourse, as well as the significance of world literature and translation in building cultural bridges between nations. Furthermore, the article discusses the pedagogical value of multicultural literature in education and the contribution of postcolonial and minority voices to intercultural justice. Finally, it considers the impact of digital literature and online reading communities on contemporary intercultural dialogue. The article concludes that literature remains a vital medium for promoting cultural awareness, tolerance, and global interconnectedness.
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