Abstract
Taking turns in intercultural business meetings is sometimes very challenging for non-native speakers. This study, based on simulated business meetings, investigated what factors are more influential when taking turns, with a special focus on linguistic ability and business experience. In the current study, 12 participants were divided into three groups, each of which consisted of a native speaker of American English, a Japanese businessperson and two Japanese university students. The data were analysed both quantitatively (such as floor-holding time or speech rate) and qualitatively (such as discourse analysis). The analysed results indicated that the participants’ linguistic ability was the strongest factor dominating the meeting; in each group, the native speaker and the university student with higher proficiency took more turns. However, the businessperson played a key role in the meeting by making important suggestions from time to time, utilising his professional insights and changing the conversation’s direction where necessary.
Recommended Citation
Fujio, Misa
(2014)
"The role of linguistic ability and business expertise for turn-taking in intercultural business communication,"
Global Advances in Business Communication:
Vol. 3:
Iss.
1, Article 4.
Available at:
https://commons.emich.edu/gabc/vol3/iss1/4