Are they two sides of the same coin? Conflict and silence in intercultural encounters: experiences of Turkish EFL sojourners within the context of Erasmus+

Abstract

Intercultural encounters and intercultural communication are becoming widespread. For language learners, especially those learning English as a foreign language, intercultural encounters play a vital role in the way they use the target language, their communication with individuals from different cultures, and their personal development. Conflict and silence in intercultural encounters arise from cultural differences, language deficits, and personal characteristics. In this study, the conflicts and silences experienced by two pre-service English language teachers in their intercultural encounters were examined in depth in terms of intercultural communication. In the present study, the qualitative research method was used. The data were collected from the participants through semi-structured retrospective interviews and follow-up interviews. The collected data were transcribed and analysed through content analysis. The study found that the participants employed avoidance strategies to mitigate conflict. Another finding of the study was that they used silence to avoid interrupting intercultural communication. From an intercultural communication perspective, remaining silent during a conflict is an important strategy for conflict management. This study showed that in intercultural encounters, silence and hesitation strategies in conflict situations ensure the continuity of intercultural communication.