A comparison of using L1 and L2 in small group business policy decision-making meetings

English is the international business language but other languages are also used in business communication. Previous research indicates that language competence and cultural patterns affect the communication process and that the communication dynamics with small groups develop distinctive patterns. This paper (a) compares and contrasts communication practice in L1 and L2 in terms of degree or amount of active involvement by the participants and (b) examines and compares the role of each individual plays in the small group decision-making meetings in terms of task-facilitating roles, group-maintenance roles, and self-oriented roles.