ABSTRACT
In today’s globalized world, English has become the lingua franca of business. But the use of English in business encounters does not mean that the interlocutors share meaning. Misunderstandings and misperceptions can escalate into interpersonal conflicts if they are not properly managed by the interlocutors. Conflicts, by their very nature, are complex and involve various causes at the individual, interpersonal, and cultural levels, including identity, perception, and lack of trust. With an examination of these causes, it is possible to identify why misunderstandings and misperceptions arise and how they might be overcome. Social metacognition may offer a means of overcoming misunderstandings and misperceptions and, thus, deescalate interpersonal conflicts or prevent them from erupting.
