TY - JOUR
T1 - Multifaceted effects of host country language proficiency in expatriate cross-cultural adjustments
T2 - a qualitative study in China
AU - Zhang, Ling Eleanor
AU - Peltokorpi, Vesa
PY - 2015/9/16
Y1 - 2015/9/16
N2 - While expatriates often face language barriers in host countries, relatively little research has focused on the influence of host country language proficiency on cross-cultural adjustment. We drew on social identity theory and conducted an interview-based study with 70 expatriates and their host country national (HCN) colleagues to provide a contextual account of host country language proficiency's effects on work and non-work-related adjustment in China. Our findings suggest that expatriate host country language proficiency has multifaceted effects on expatriates' HCN interaction, social support, and network-related work and non-work adjustment.
AB - While expatriates often face language barriers in host countries, relatively little research has focused on the influence of host country language proficiency on cross-cultural adjustment. We drew on social identity theory and conducted an interview-based study with 70 expatriates and their host country national (HCN) colleagues to provide a contextual account of host country language proficiency's effects on work and non-work-related adjustment in China. Our findings suggest that expatriate host country language proficiency has multifaceted effects on expatriates' HCN interaction, social support, and network-related work and non-work adjustment.
U2 - 10.1080/09585192.2015.1072104
DO - 10.1080/09585192.2015.1072104
M3 - Article
SN - 0958-5192
SP - 1448
EP - 1469
JO - The International Journal of Human Resource Management
JF - The International Journal of Human Resource Management
ER -