Younger Supervisors' Perceptions of Intergenerational Communication in the Sri Lankan Workplace. (March 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jeevaratnam, Grace Ashna; Jones, Elizabeth
• Is Part Of: Journal of language and social psychology. Volume 42:Number 2(2023)
• Page Start: 217
• Page End: 230
• Publication Date: 2023-03
• Subjects: communication accommodation theory -- organisational communication -- supervisor-subordinate communication -- intergenerational communication; Sociolinguistics -- Periodicals; Psycholinguistics -- Periodicals; 401.905
• DOI: 10.1177/0261927X221128991
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0261-927X

Abstract

Workplaces are increasingly seeing younger supervisors supervise older subordinates, reversing traditional norms. Using Communication Accommodation Theory, we investigated younger supervisors' perceptions of communication with same-aged and older subordinates in Sri Lanka. Eighty young supervisors rated four vignettes describing formal and informal interactions with same-aged and older subordinates. Participants rated older subordinates' communication as less accommodative and more nonaccommodative than same-aged subordinates, particularly in formal interactions. They rated their own communication as more polite and respectful with older than same-aged subordinates.