Intercultural communication in professional and workplace settings

The situated nature of professional and other workplace-based communication continues to receive attention in intercultural communication research (see, e.g., Cheng and Kong 2009; Ladegaard and Jenks 2017; Schnurr and Zayts 2017). Inevitably, these studies provide accounts of the intercultural nature of such communication which go beyond ‘macro categories’ and adopt a more emic perspective (Cheng and Kong 2009: 8). Studies which highlight and seek to explain the complexities of intercultural workplace communication are the focus of this chapter. The authors provide an overview of the types of studies conducted to date, paying attention to where, and how, data were collected and the extent to which participants were involved in the analysis of the data as advocated by Sarangi (2002: 99). Schnurr and Zayts (2017: 148) describe the complexities which need to be understood if we are to better understand language and culture in the workplace. These are the dynamic norms, values, and behaviours of professionals; the nature of the professional contexts and workplaces in which intercultural communication takes place; and the specific context in which each interaction takes place. These aspects are foregrounded when the studies are reviewed and conclusions and implications for future research are discussed.