Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10321/3918
Title: Assessing the impact of language diversity on communication : a narrative inquiry conducted at a South African stevedoring company
Authors: Naidoo, Ashegan 
Keywords: Language diversity;Language diversity on communication;Inclusion and education;Accountability
Issue Date: 14-Nov-2021
Abstract: 
Prior to 1994, South Africa was a country that had segregation among race
groups due to apartheid legislation. Post 1994 South Africans had to deal with
the combining of culture and races. The merging of communities required
businesses to employ previously disadvantaged groups for a more diverse
organisation. Although this produces superior results over uniformity, since
development and creativity are more reliant on diversity working together and
capitalising on their individuality than on high-intelligence sole thinkers
(Herring, 2009). It also has its own set of unique challenges, according to
Herring (2009) diversity can present conflict, separating a nation and other
issues that diminishes an organisations effectiveness and productivity. There
is a rising pressure placed on employers and employees for accountability in
the workplace and an increasing importance for evaluation of performance
(Denzin and Lincoln, 2003). Twenty-three years post-democracy South Africa
faces many challenges in various sectors of society. Living in a rainbow nation
means living amongst people of different nationalities, beliefs and customs. At
the organisation which this research is based upon, there are people of varying
races and culture. The problem with this is that in a predominantly English
medium of instruction, the employees who communicate via other languages
are finding it difficult to understand and follow instruction.
Hence, the purpose of this study was to assess the impact of language
diversity on communication at a South African stevedoring company. This
study was driven by three research questions, namely: What are the identities
of the participants of the study? Secondly, what are the employee experiences
of the effects of language diversity on communication? And lastly, how does
communication style between the participants affect the rate of productivity at
the workplace?
This research study was supported by using the principles of the Social Identity
Theory and the Communication Accommodation Theory. The paradigmatic
approach used viewed this research study through the lens of the interpretivist paradigm in order to understand and learn from the narratives of casual
employees at a South African stevedoring company. This research study was
performed within the boundaries of the qualitative design. The narrative inquiry
methodology was applied to this study in order for the researcher to narratively
explore the lived experiences of the participants. Five participants were
selected for this study by putting into effect the principles of the purposeful
sampling method. Field texts (data) were generated by employing the
unstructured interviews and the collage inquiry method. The generated data
was then analysed through two methods of analysis. These methods are the
narrative analysis and analysis of narratives. The findings of this study show
that one of the key components of high productivity is effective communication.
Due to many employees including all five participants being second language
(Isizulu) speaking, a barrier to language could be considered as a
communication barrier. Communication barriers arise when the individuals
involved speak in completely different languages from one another (van Rosse
et al., 2016). Language barrier or linguistics barrier can be defined as
miscommunication (Harzing and Feely, 2008). In any company or
organisation, communication is the pillar of strength for any organisation, and
poor communication has severe repercussion to productivity. The success of
an organisation depends heavily on the flexibility and the effectiveness of the
internal organisational communications between all levels of employees. For
this reason, it is the job of managers to lead employees with effective
communication.
Description: 
Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Management Sciences
in Business Administration, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2021.
URI: https://hdl.handle.net/10321/3918
DOI: https://doi.org/10.51415/10321/3918
Appears in Collections:Theses and dissertations (Management Sciences)

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