Abstract
When communicators share the same cultural scripts, communication between them is likely to be smoother and more effective than when they do not. Critically, in an intercultural environment, intercultural communication awareness, or a reciprocal understanding of the cultural, behavioural and social norms of communication by those in interaction, is more important than learning each other’s language. Thus, knowing how to listen, how to interrupt, how to praise and how to scold is likely more important to foreign counterparts as they strive to minimise intercultural communication challenges, such as using ineffective or inappropriate language behaviours in communication. This case study explores intercultural communication experiences and perspectives of Chinese and African colleagues, highlighting the issues and challenges that arise.
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According to the South African Employment Equity Act (Act 55 of 1998), the term “Black” is a generic term used in reference to Africans, Coloured and Indian people. However, for the purpose of this case study “Black” refers to Black Africans, in the sense of the indigenous Black African people.
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Chigwendere, F.B. (2019). Case 2: “Not who I am, not what I mean”: Intercultural Communication in Chinese-South African Interactions. In: Mayer, CH., Louw, L., Boness, C.M. (eds) Managing Chinese-African Business Interactions. Palgrave Studies in African Leadership. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-25185-7_5
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