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Chapter 5. Intercultural interaction management

The case of Japanese and non-Japanese business professionals in the Japanese workplace
  • Hiroko Aikawa
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A Language Management Approach to Language Problems
This chapter is in the book A Language Management Approach to Language Problems

Abstract

Recent Japanese government policy and public rhetoric focus on fostering global human resources with strong English skills and a global mindset to succeed in the globalized economy. This study investigates how Japanese and non-Japanese professionals try to deal with linguistic and non-linguistic problems when they interact with their business partners and colleagues in English. The study shows how the identification of the source of these problems can affect adjustment design. The findings reveal that although various deviations were noted, the participants were rarely able to identify the source of the problems. This inadequate identification of the source of the problem at the interactional level was seen to lead to ineffective adjustment design and implementation, including at the institutional level.

Abstract

Recent Japanese government policy and public rhetoric focus on fostering global human resources with strong English skills and a global mindset to succeed in the globalized economy. This study investigates how Japanese and non-Japanese professionals try to deal with linguistic and non-linguistic problems when they interact with their business partners and colleagues in English. The study shows how the identification of the source of these problems can affect adjustment design. The findings reveal that although various deviations were noted, the participants were rarely able to identify the source of the problems. This inadequate identification of the source of the problem at the interactional level was seen to lead to ineffective adjustment design and implementation, including at the institutional level.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Acknowledgements ix
  4. Chapter 1. Introduction 1
  5. Part I. Theoretical perspectives of the management of language problems
  6. Chapter 2. The origin and development of a language management framework 31
  7. Chapter 3. Research perspectives from East Asia 49
  8. Chapter 4. Researching language management in Central Europe 69
  9. Part II. Managing language problems in contact situations
  10. Chapter 5. Intercultural interaction management 91
  11. Chapter 6. Language selection in contact situations 107
  12. Chapter 7. Diverging and intersecting management 133
  13. Part III. Managing language problems relating to standard varieties
  14. Chapter 8. Processes of language codification 159
  15. Chapter 9. Processes of destandardization and demotization in the micro-macro perspective 177
  16. Chapter 10. Processes of language enquiries 197
  17. Part IV. The researcher as part of the language management process
  18. Chapter 11. Language management in life story interviews 217
  19. Chapter 12. The bridging role of the researcher between different levels of language management 237
  20. Chapter 13. Epilogue 255
  21. Contributors 269
  22. Index 271
https://doi.org/10.1075/wlp.7.05aik

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Acknowledgements ix
  4. Chapter 1. Introduction 1
  5. Part I. Theoretical perspectives of the management of language problems
  6. Chapter 2. The origin and development of a language management framework 31
  7. Chapter 3. Research perspectives from East Asia 49
  8. Chapter 4. Researching language management in Central Europe 69
  9. Part II. Managing language problems in contact situations
  10. Chapter 5. Intercultural interaction management 91
  11. Chapter 6. Language selection in contact situations 107
  12. Chapter 7. Diverging and intersecting management 133
  13. Part III. Managing language problems relating to standard varieties
  14. Chapter 8. Processes of language codification 159
  15. Chapter 9. Processes of destandardization and demotization in the micro-macro perspective 177
  16. Chapter 10. Processes of language enquiries 197
  17. Part IV. The researcher as part of the language management process
  18. Chapter 11. Language management in life story interviews 217
  19. Chapter 12. The bridging role of the researcher between different levels of language management 237
  20. Chapter 13. Epilogue 255
  21. Contributors 269
  22. Index 271
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