Cross-Cultural Communication between Chinese and Thai People in the Special Economic Border Zone: Problems and Sustainable Solution Guidelines

Abstract

This research aimed to study the problems in cross cultural communication of Thai and Chinese people in the Special Economic Zones in Chiang Rai with special attention to Maesai, Chiang Saen and Chiang Khong Districts. The data collected were cross cultural communication problems with questionnaire based on the Thai and Chinese values was administered to the Thai samples in all the three districts with 30 samples from each district totally 90 samples. The cross-cultural communication problems questionnaire based on the Chinese values was administered to the Chinese samples travelling to the three districts with 20 samples in each district totally 60 samples.

                   The cross-cultural communication problems that occurred resulted from the differences in those values of both parties, Thai and Chinese samples.  The cross-cultural communication problems of the Thai samples towards the Chinese were in respective order as follows: problems in following rules and regulations, traffic rules; problems in personal and community hygiene; problems in language use and culture; problems in dress code and mannerisms with regards to space and time;  problems in differences of attitudes, perspectives and thoughts, customs including life styles such as study and work; problems in personal rights, attending to personal and others’ rights, and gender rights, and punctuality; other problems;  problems in social status, social positions, family values and problems in the understanding of religion and the royal institution.

                   The cross-cultural communication problems of the Chinese samples towards the Thai were in respective order as follows: other problems (which mainly resulted from tourism related inconveniences and problems), problems from different kind of relations; ethics related problems; face and integrity related problems; solidarity related problems; helpfulness, conflicts, forgiving, and acceptance; family honoring and gratefulness; custom and tradition related problems; respect and compassion related problem; and success related problem.