Transmodal Meaning-Making: Unraveling Transcultural Reception and Interpretation

This research aimed to investigate how children (aged 8 to 12 years) interpret and understand narratives depicting a foreign culture. The sample comprises narratives written in English by popular contemporary Pakistani writers, ensuring a representation of Pakistani culture. Using a deductive coding technique and a thematic analytical approach, data from 10 individual semistructured interviews were analyzed. Participants’ profiles were crafted, taking into account demographic factors that could influence their interpretation, such as cultural, ethnic, religious, or linguistic backgrounds. The interviews were video/audiotaped, transcribed, and subsequently coded to identify relevant themes. Findings reveal that transmodal communication, intertwining visual and verbal modes, facilitates the conveyance of cultural concepts across diverse spaces. Material objects and the decentering of human characters played central roles in enriching children’s understanding of the narratives. Moreover, the study highlights how differing cultural contexts influence the participants’ interpretations, fostering cross-cultural awareness and empathy. The study underscores the importance of encouraging open dialogue and embracing diversity to cultivate empathetic and culturally sensitive individuals in our increasingly interconnected world.