This paper discusses how an examination of plagiarism in a cross-cultural context can reflect on some of the controversial issues in intercultural communication. It examines how rethinking our attitudes towards traditional views of how plagiarism should be viewed and how these views compare to attitudes held in other parts of the world can exemplify an alternative perspective on research in intercultural rhetoric. This alternative perspective responds to many, though not all, of the criticisms leveled against contrastive rhetoric. Pedagogical approaches based on this alternative perspective are suggested.