Abstract:
The purpose of this research was to study the communication strategies and its
sequences used by the employees of a department store in Pattaya City, Chonburi Province when
communicating with foreign customers. Population in this research were four employees at a
department store. The data were collected by voice record, non-participant observation and
retrospective interview. The data were analyzed by content analysis method through the coding
scheme and summarized the frequency of communication strategies used by percentages which
brought to the conclusions of the results as follows:
1. Through audio record and non-participant observation, it was revealed that
communication strategies which was mostly used was achievement or compensatory strategies
94.80% comprise of the three most frequently used sub-strategies were word simplification,
use of non-linguistic means and code switching, respectively. Stalling or time-gaining was
frequently-used also at 3.94%, followed by the additional communication strategy, word spelling
.67%. And avoidance or reduction strategies were the least used at .60%.
2. The results from audio record and non-participant observation disclosed that there
were two emergent patterns of the sequences of communication strategies. First patterns
comprised of word simplification, followed by non-linguistic means, literal translation, and code
switching.Second patterns included word simplification, followed by non-linguistic means, code
switching and literal translation.
3. Based on the results from the non-participant observation and retrospective
interview, it was found that employees employed word spelling strategy, word simplification,
code switching, approximation and appeal for helps.