An Analysis of Language and Culture Link-Pins

This presentation discusses the development a current state of the link-pin concept in business communication theory. Likert originated the concept when he described managers who tied together groups in American organizations. The link-pin was simultaneously a member of two overlapping groups. Du-Babcock and Babcock extended the link-pin concept. They showed how multilinguals connect people speaking different languages in international business communication. In further developing the link-pin concept, link-pins also ca connect people from differing cultural groups. A case study of an American company will be used to demonstrate the cultural link-pin communication process. This case study will show how individuals at the headquarters and in the Japanese country organizations served as language and cultural linkpins.