This paper argues for an investigation of intercultural communication from a sociocultural perspective where communicative action is firmly anchored in social practice and sociocultural context. The section on 'Rejections, denials and other non-acceptances', examines the linguistic representation of saying 'no' in a discursive framework. The results obtained are categorized in the interactive tripartite system of a minus-validity claim based on thruth, appropriateness and sincerty ...