Cultural Communication Strategies and Ethnic Identity in Malaysian Chinese Education: A Historical Analysis from the 1980s to the 1990s

Resumen

Traditional traditions and cultural interactions shape ethnic identity and communication within Malaysia’s multi-ethnic society, especially among Malaysian Chinese. The role of indirect communication methods is examined as a factor influencing ethnic identity through cultural practices, intercultural communication tactics, and the era of the 1980s and 1990s. The study seeks to investigate the correlations among cultural practices, intercultural communication methods, and ethnic identity, emphasising the mediating role of indirect communication style in these interactions. A quantitative study design was employed, utilising a structured questionnaire survey administered to 100 Malaysian Chinese adults possessing experience in Chinese teaching. Spearman’s rho correlation and regression analysis were employed to examine relationships, while mediation effects and mediation analysis were conducted using SPSS. Cultural practices and intercultural communication methods are positively correlated with ethnic identification, with the indirect communication style serving as a mediating variable in these associations. Significant correlations between ethnic identity and cultural participation, including the use of festivals and specific languages, were identified. Cultural practices and communication methods exerted an indirect, communication-mediated influence on ethnic identification. The results illustrated the employment of indirect communication methods in preserving and negotiating ethnic identity, especially in mixed regions. This study elucidates the integration of cultural practices and communication tactics in the identity construction of Malaysian Chinese, offering valuable insights for educators and policymakers in multicultural settings.