1 Introduction

In the context of globalization, the importance of cross-cultural communication in the field of language education is increasingly prominent. It plays a key role in promoting communication and exchange among people from different cultural backgrounds, carrying out language education and cultural dissemination, and cultivating cross-cultural competence talents. The discipline of intercultural communication originated in the mid-20th century in the United States. Although domestic research started relatively late, significant progress has been made through continuous learning and absorption. This article aims to summarize international research hotspots, grasp research trends, and provide reference for domestic research in related fields through visual analysis.

2 Research Methods and Data Sources

This chapter introduces the method of using CiteSpace 6.1.R3 tool to search for literature on the topic of "intercultural communication" from the Web of Science Core Collection database, and to select and analyze research related to language education. The research involves keyword co-occurrence, clustering, timeline, researchers, co cited researchers, literature, journals, and visualization of emergent words. Parameter settings include time slicing, option standards, and graph pruning methods to ensure the integrity and visualization of the graph. The search terms include "intercultural communication," "cross-cultural communication," and "cross-cultural communication." Through refined functional and disciplinary screening, 1421 processable literature were ultimately obtained.

3 Results and Discussion

From 2012 to 2021, international cross-cultural communication research has shown a growing trend in the field of language education, with an average annual publication of over 120 articles, reaching over 200 articles in 2021. The research hotspots were identified through the analysis of keyword co-occurrence, clustering, and timeline maps using CiteSpace software. High frequency keywords include "intercultural communication" and "language", with "language" related research increasing from 14 in 2017 to 36 in 2021. As the third high-frequency keyword, 'English' is often used to discuss the communication situation of English as a second or foreign language. The keyword 'Identity' focuses on the impact of identity recognition and transformation on cross-cultural communication. High centrality keywords such as "perspective" and "discourse" represent important mediating concepts in research. Cluster analysis shows that the main research areas include specialized communication, translation, remote collaboration, as well as language ideology, foreign language education, and variant pragmatics. The forefront of research has found through the detection of emergent words that the intensity and time span of words such as "intercultural communication" and "self" indicate that they may become future research hotspots.

4 Research Conclusions and Implications

In the past decade, the field of international intercultural communication research has presented diverse perspectives, with a focus on pragmatic issues, identity construction, cultural stance shifts, and technological media communication, among others. It has intersected and integrated with disciplines such as sociology, psychology, and communication studies. The research trend is shifting from macro theory to specific applications, emphasizing the combination of language education and practical needs, which has a profound impact on the development of the discipline. The research implications include: emphasizing the role of language in cross-cultural communication, delving into the cultivation of cross-cultural communication skills, paying attention to issues of identity and cultural stance, and the mediating role of technology in cross-cultural communication. These insights provide new ideas for local research in China and promote the development of cross-cultural communication disciplines.