Cross- cultural Communication This page intentionally left blank

Fast/slow
This refers to whether the speed of communication is fast or slow and 
corresponds to Lewis’ (2004) distinction between ‘ping-pong’ cultures (fast 
speaking, interrupting and tolerance of interruptions) and ‘bowling’ cultures 

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10 Cross-Cultural Communication
(slower speaking, observing strict turn- taking in conversation and avoiding 
interruptions whenever possible). In a ping- pong culture, a conversation is 
like a game of table tennis, moving at a fast pace with people interrupting 
each other and not minding interruptions. Conversely, a conversation 
in a ‘bowling’ culture is like the game of bowls, where players roll a ball 
along the ground to see who can get closest to another ball thrown earlier. 
‘Bowlers’ pause before speaking, give themselves time to consider and then 
speak. They may find interruptions offensive. ‘Ping-pongers’ can be seen as 
rather shallow and inconsiderate listeners.
Although all foreign speech probably sounds fast to a non- native speaker, 
the speed of delivery of languages like Spanish or Hindi has been found to 
be on average significantly faster than, for example, German or English. The 
pace of life in large cities, for example, in New York, Los Angeles or Chicago 
in the USA, may have an effect on the speed of speech delivery compared 
with that in surrounding areas, and the North of the USA is considered to 
have a faster speech rhythm than the Midwest or the South. The issue of 
speed of speech is probably less important than the significance given to 
interruptions. Some cultures accept interruptions called ‘overlapping’, but 
others consider it impolite.
Practical implications
The communication framework is a useful tool for identifying key verbal 
communication features, but it is important not to over- generalize. Clearly, 
the style of communication will vary according to the location, profession 
and lifestyle of the individual. The communication style may also vary 
between social groups. Nevertheless, it is a useful guide for applying theory 
to practice.