title: A Thai culture-centred study of communication between Thai immigration police officers and English-speaking travellers at the northern borders of Thailand

authors: Rodpan, Sommai

subjects: Thai Culture-Centred Study

abstract: This qualitative study explores communication where English is the 'third' language used between participants whose cultures are different. The purpose was to investigate the communication experiences of Thai Immigration Police Officers (ITIPOs) and travellers to understand TIPOs' role within an orgnaisational and cultural context. I took a Thai culture-centred approach incorporating Thai values, Buddhist teachings, the organisational context, and TIPO's communication goals in the interactions. My thesis is that individual language skills, communication competence and goals, organisational roles and functions, and Thai cultural values influence communication at the border. 
Data-collection methods included: (1) Semi-structured interviews with 18 TIPOs and 71 travellers at five immigration offices in two Thai provinces (January-April 2018); (2) Documents from the Thai Royal Police and Thai Immigration Bureau that informed the TIPO role. The thematic analysis resulted in three main findings. 
The first finding centred on TIPO and travellers’ perceptions of each other's communication politeness. Results suggest that TIPOs' English-language competence influenced travellers' perceptions of the TIPO’s ability to communicate politely. Travellers saw TIPOs’ competence in spoken language as essential for TIPOs to communicate successfully with them. Also, travellers perceived politeness in TIPOs’ ability to engage in relational communication rather than just focusing on the task. This finding has implications for TIPOs’ communicating relational and identity goals at the border. Limited English-language competence impacted TIPOs' ability to communicate politely (relational goals), undermining their identity communication goals to be seen and respected as police officers. 
The second finding concerned the influence of the role requirements for TIPOs in their interactions with travellers. First, TIPOs needed to enact Buddhist values upheld by the Thai Royal Police and Thai Immigration Bureau while managing the power distance between themselves as law enforcers and travellers. Second, TIPOs needed to enact a “service mind” when serving travellers while exercising the authority inherent in the role. The implications centre on TIPOs communicating their instrumental, relational, and identity communication goals; that is, they need to be seen as Thai Immigration Police (identity) while simultaneously enforcing the law (task) and serving the traveller (relational). 
The third finding featured the practicalities, benefits, restraints, and opportunities for TIPOs in enacting Thai values and Buddhist teachings in their service provision interaction with travellers. At the interaction level, TIPOs responded to travellers' communications with Thai terms incorporating Thai values. However, the TIPO’s responsibility to enforce the law constrained TIPOs in fully enacting Thai values and Buddhist teachings. Even so, TIPO had some latitude in observing Thai values. The findings have implications for organisational commitment to Thai and Buddhist values (identity goals) and support for TIPOs to serve travellers (relational goals) in carrying out tasks associated with enforcing the law (instrumental goals). 
Taking a Thai culture-centred approach to investigate TIPO-traveller interactions at the border, was significant in revealing the task, identity and relational communication challenges for TIPOs in enacting their role. Further research opportunities lie in investigating how the organisation’s values, processes and training can help TIPO in managing such challenges at the border.

text: A Thai culture-centred study of communication between Thai immigration police officers and English-speaking travellers at the northern borders of Thailand This qualitative study explores communication where English is the 'third' language used between participants whose cultures are different. The purpose was to investigate the communication experiences of Thai Immigration Police Officers (ITIPOs) and travellers to understand TIPOs' role within an orgnaisational and cultural context. I took a Thai culture-centred approach incorporating Thai values, Buddhist teachings, the organisational context, and TIPO's communication goals in the interactions. My thesis is that individual language skills, communication competence and goals, organisational roles and functions, and Thai cultural values influence communication at the border. 
Data-collection methods included: (1) Semi-structured interviews with 18 TIPOs and 71 travellers at five immigration offices in two Thai provinces (January-April 2018); (2) Documents from the Thai Royal Police and Thai Immigration Bureau that informed the TIPO role. The thematic analysis resulted in three main findings. 
The first finding centred on TIPO and travellers’ perceptions of each other's communication politeness. Results suggest that TIPOs' English-language competence influenced travellers' perceptions of the TIPO’s ability to communicate politely. Travellers saw TIPOs’ competence in spoken language as essential for TIPOs to communicate successfully with them. Also, travellers perceived politeness in TIPOs’ ability to engage in relational communication rather than just focusing on the task. This finding has implications for TIPOs’ communicating relational and identity goals at the border. Limited English-language competence impacted TIPOs' ability to communicate politely (relational goals), undermining their identity communication goals to be seen and respected as police officers. 
The second finding concerned the influence of the role requirements for TIPOs in their interactions with travellers. First, TIPOs needed to enact Buddhist values upheld by the Thai Royal Police and Thai Immigration Bureau while managing the power distance between themselves as law enforcers and travellers. Second, TIPOs needed to enact a “service mind” when serving travellers while exercising the authority inherent in the role. The implications centre on TIPOs communicating their instrumental, relational, and identity communication goals; that is, they need to be seen as Thai Immigration Police (identity) while simultaneously enforcing the law (task) and serving the traveller (relational). 
The third finding featured the practicalities, benefits, restraints, and opportunities for TIPOs in enacting Thai values and Buddhist teachings in their service provision interaction with travellers. At the interaction level, TIPOs responded to travellers' communications with Thai terms incorporating Thai values. However, the TIPO’s responsibility to enforce the law constrained TIPOs in fully enacting Thai values and Buddhist teachings. Even so, TIPO had some latitude in observing Thai values. The findings have implications for organisational commitment to Thai and Buddhist values (identity goals) and support for TIPOs to serve travellers (relational goals) in carrying out tasks associated with enforcing the law (instrumental goals). 
Taking a Thai culture-centred approach to investigate TIPO-traveller interactions at the border, was significant in revealing the task, identity and relational communication challenges for TIPOs in enacting their role. Further research opportunities lie in investigating how the organisation’s values, processes and training can help TIPO in managing such challenges at the border.

year: 2024-07-23

title: Tidal inlet configuration and bathymetric changes resulting from active sedimentation, Buffalo Bay, New Zealand.

authors: Steeghs, Lauren

subjects: accretion

abstract: The Whitianga tidal inlet lies within Mercury Bay, on the northeast coast of New Zealand. The Whitianga Estuary harbours many recreational and commercial vessels. Terrestrial sediment inputs into the Whitianga Estuary catchment are high, due to the erodible tertiary sediments and the steep nature of the catchment, which suffers intense rainfall that results in high sediment influxes, much of which becomes deposited within the estuary. In recent years active shoals have appeared in Buffalo Bay and the inlet channel has noticeably shallowed, both of which inhibit the use of the inlet by boat traffic. The past and present bathymetry of Buffalo Bay is compared to establish changes in morphology and zones of accretion and erosion within Buffalo Bay. The outcomes of this research contribute to a larger research programme which aims to use numerical model simulations to identify sediment transport pathways and patterns within Buffalo Bay. This research will particularly provide information which can be used to calibrate a sediment transport model. Comparison of the Buffalo Bay bathymetries over the 38 year period from 1938 to 1979 and Whitianga inlet bathymetries between 1979 and 1995, show extensive accretion in the ebb discharge channel which is predominantly associated with the migration of the tidal inlet channel and growth of the ebb delta, and within the inner inlet area which are attributed to the growth of the flood delta system.

text: Tidal inlet configuration and bathymetric changes resulting from active sedimentation, Buffalo Bay, New Zealand. The Whitianga tidal inlet lies within Mercury Bay, on the northeast coast of New Zealand. The Whitianga Estuary harbours many recreational and commercial vessels. Terrestrial sediment inputs into the Whitianga Estuary catchment are high, due to the erodible tertiary sediments and the steep nature of the catchment, which suffers intense rainfall that results in high sediment influxes, much of which becomes deposited within the estuary. In recent years active shoals have appeared in Buffalo Bay and the inlet channel has noticeably shallowed, both of which inhibit the use of the inlet by boat traffic. The past and present bathymetry of Buffalo Bay is compared to establish changes in morphology and zones of accretion and erosion within Buffalo Bay. The outcomes of this research contribute to a larger research programme which aims to use numerical model simulations to identify sediment transport pathways and patterns within Buffalo Bay. This research will particularly provide information which can be used to calibrate a sediment transport model. Comparison of the Buffalo Bay bathymetries over the 38 year period from 1938 to 1979 and Whitianga inlet bathymetries between 1979 and 1995, show extensive accretion in the ebb discharge channel which is predominantly associated with the migration of the tidal inlet channel and growth of the ebb delta, and within the inner inlet area which are attributed to the growth of the flood delta system.

year: 2007

title: Claiming Spaces: Proceedings of the 2007 National Maori and Pacific Psychologies Symposium 23rd-24th November 2007

authors: Levy, Michelle Patricia

subjects: Maori

abstract: This is the full conference proceedings of Claiming Spaces: Proceedings of the 2007 National Maori and Pacific Psychologies Symposium 23rd-24th November 2007.

text: Claiming Spaces: Proceedings of the 2007 National Maori and Pacific Psychologies Symposium 23rd-24th November 2007 This is the full conference proceedings of Claiming Spaces: Proceedings of the 2007 National Maori and Pacific Psychologies Symposium 23rd-24th November 2007.

year: 2008