Intercultural Interactions of Selected Staff at Bible Translation & Literacy, Nairobi: An Exploratory Approach

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore intercultural communication experi- ences of Bible Translation Staff. The study was qualitative in nature. A selected sample of 12 BTL members of staff, six Kenyans, and six western missionaries were subjected to in-depth inter- views. The information and stories that they gave, were then subjected to Hesselgrave's grid on cultural distance to find out the cultural distance between Kenyan and Western culture. Another group of selected BTL staff, comprising of five Kenyans and seven mis- sionaries participated in two separate focus-group discussions. The information and stories that they gave, about their intercultural communication experiences were also subjected to the same theoretical model. Through this study, it was discovered that the degree of cultural distance be- tween Kenyan culture and missionary culture was greatest on worldview, behavioural patterns and linguistic forms. There was little cultural distance in the cognitive processes, mainly due to academic and professional training of staff. It was also discovered that gender role differentiation was greatest among the Kenyan staff. Further, it was discovered that non-Kenyan staff preferred the use of e-mail for communication while the Kenyans preferred face to face interactions. In addi- tion, it was discovered that the intercultural communication training that the mis- sionaries received helped them to adjust in a foreign culture, although they felt that it should be modified and expanded to make it more relevant for them. Kenyan staff do not receive any intercultural communication training and recommenda- tions have been made to this effect.