This research concerns the use of humour in Japanese language by Malaysian Japanese-speaking tour guides. The goal is to explore the pattern of humour strategies in communicating with Japanese tourists in the context of a clash of Malay and Japanese cultures. Data were obtained from four recorded conversations between tour guides and tourists. The conversations were transcribed and coded. Tour guides consisted of four Japanese-speaking Malays and the tourists were all native speakers. The study identified four categories of humour employed in a cross-cultural context. The outcome of cultural and linguistic clash helped to influence the coordination and adjustment of communication behaviours. Malaysian tour guides adopted humorous strategies to foster a friendly relationship so that the tours may run smoothly. It is hoped that this research will serve as reference to those involved in Japanese language education for tourism, besides serving as a guide to strengthen cross-cultural communications to the next level.
Japanese Language Education and Cross-cultural Understanding in the Global Era
