Intercultural Communication Barriers and Strategies of Thai Buddhist Monks with Foreigners at an International Buddhist Center in Thailand
คำสำคัญ:
Intercultural Communication Strategies (IC), Communication Barriers, Buddhist Monks, Foreignersบทคัดย่อ
This research explored intercultural communication (IC) barriers and strategies employed by Thai Buddhist monks during interactions with foreign visitors at an International Buddhist Center (IBC) in Thailand. Recognizing the growing importance of English as a lingua franca (ELF), especially in religious and cultural exchanges, the study aimed to investigate how monks manage linguistic and cultural challenges while communicating in English. As monks often serve as cultural ambassadors, effective intercultural communication is crucial for sharing Buddhist teachings and enhancing cross-cultural understanding. This mixed-methods study utilized both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Data was collected through questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with 30 and 10 monks respectively. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics and conceptual content analysis. The findings revealed that language barriers were the most significant challenge for monks, followed by philosophical/religious and cultural barriers. Interviews also highlighted language and cultural barriers, including difficulties with Buddhist vocabulary, pronunciation, and cultural differences. Regarding communication strategies, verbal strategies were most frequently used, followed by non-verbal and interactive strategies.
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