Resumen de Cross-cultural responses to cross-cultural communication

Michael Clyne, Connie Giannicos, Deborah Neil

• This paper builds on ongoing resarch on communication in English between migranta of diverse backgrounds in Melbourne work-places. Subjects from various European and South-east Asian backgrounds were videoed responding to videoed role plays between European and South-east Asians based on instances of communication breakdown (apology, complaint, small talk) in our corpus. The paper discusses the differences in the mode of argumentation between the cultural groups. Special attention will be paid to the use and non-use of yes and no, the presentation and elaboration of arguments, identification of and with their own work experience. Responses will be related to cultural value systems and the co-operative principle.