Characteristics of silence among Chinese people in intercultural communication: a proceduralized grounded theory analysis.

Introduction: While silence is a pivotal communicative resource in Chinese culture, existing research often remains fragmented and static, failing to capture its dynamic evolutionary mechanisms in intercultural encounters. This study aims to move beyond essentialist stereotypes by investigating the pragmatic characteristics and underlying psychological processes of Chinese silence. It addresses how silence is strategically negotiated and how it evolves from a situational choice into a habitual response in intercultural settings. Methods: Adopting a proceduralized grounded theory approach, the study utilized constant comparative analysis to inductively develop a theoretical framework. Data were gathered from multi-source authentic intercultural interactions, including semi-structured interviews, naturalistic observations, and textual artifacts. This methodology allowed for a participant-driven exploration of the lived experiences and strategic agency of interlocutors. Results: The analysis identifies a dynamic ecosystem of intercultural silence consisting of four interrelated stages: Culture-Driven Predispositions provide the normative foundation for silence, which is then recalibrated through Context-Mediated Negotiations; this adaptation enables Strategic Enactment, and the perceived effectiveness of such enactments fosters Ego-Protective Inertia, reinforcing silence as a habitual response. Discussion: These findings reframe Chinese silence as dynamic cultural semiotics rather than a mere communicative void. The study contributes to intercultural communication theory by integrating situational adaptability with identity-linked habit formation. Practically, the results provide diagnostic tools for distinguishing strategic silence from passive absence, offering valuable insights for enhancing intercultural sensitivity and fostering mutual understanding in increasingly multicultural environments.