ABSTRACT
Communication is central to successful intercultural encounters and work of any kind, be it for travelling, interpersonal interactions or international business. M. LaFrance and C. Mayo consider status differences as one of the central factors in intercultural miscommunication. Communication of any type involves a great deal of interpretation. Conflict can be triggered by virtually anything in intercultural settings. Ranging from inadequate hotel selection, mismanaged hosting practices, inappropriate seating arrangements, to non-verbal expressions such as staring or pointing, transgressions regarding age, status, gender, language or simply lack of verbal response. Understanding that virtually any difference, however small, can contribute to conflict, forms a vital platform for exploring the dynamics of communication across cultural contexts. To ameliorate their impact, a willingness and ability to adapt and accommodate to social, situational and contextual circumstances constitute a basic pre-requisite for intercultural effectiveness. As interactional partners rarely completely align in their views and goals, managing intercultural interactions and transactions is particularly prone to conversational conflict.
