Interrupting a meeting (Mediterranean)
A Mediterranean who doesn't interrupt is seen as disinterested; a German who does interrupt is seen as unlearned.
Meaning
Target direction : Interrupting a meeting = active engagement, enthusiasm, proof of interest and participation.
Interpreted meaning : Interrupting = rudeness, lack of listening, intolerance of the speaker (erroneous German interpretation).
Geography of misunderstanding
Neutral
- france
- italy
- spain
- greece
- lebanon
1. The gesture and its expected meaning
In Mediterranean (Italy, Spain, Greece, Lebanon, Egypt) and Latino contexts, interruption is a positive form of participation. This is what Tannen (1984, Conversational Style) calls "overlapping speech " - an overlapping of speech turns that signals enthusiasm and involvement. Interrupting a colleague means: "I'm listening carefully, I'm interested in your idea, and I want to contribute." It's a mark of relational commitment. In Italy, family conversations or business meetings are punctuated by natural, warm interruptions. A silent participant is perceived as mentally absent or - worse - disapproving.
2. Where things go wrong: the geography of misunderstanding
Classic clash: at a multicultural meeting (Italy + Germany, Spain + Netherlands, Lebanon + Switzerland), the Mediterraneans interrupt, overlap, speak loudly, come back repeatedly. The Germanics (Germans, Austrians, Dutch, German-speaking Swiss, Scandinavians) perceive this as chaos, disrespect for the speaker, a violation of turn-taking rules. Conversely, when Germanic speakers strictly respect speaking turns, Mediterranean speakers find them cool, disinterested, even hostile. Silence between turns is perceived as relational rejection. Tannen (1984) documents this phenomenon in New York Jewish communities (Mediterranean/Slavic heritage) vs.Angles-Saxon. She notes that interruptions are not perceived as conflictual in Mediterranean contexts, whereas they systematically are in Anglo-Saxon or Germanic contexts.
3. Historical background
Mediterranean conversational styles are linked to a tradition of orality: less formal written tradition, more public rhetoric (Greek agora, Roman forum, Italian piazza). Conversation is a participatory social spectacle, where everyone has the right to speak and interrupt. Hall (1976) analyzes this divide in terms of polychronism (Mediterranean) vs. monochronism (N. Europe): polychronic cultures value multiple, simultaneous relationships; monochronic cultures value a strict sequence of tasks and turns. Hofstede (2001) ranks Italy and Spain low in "Uncertainty Avoidance" (accept the ambiguity of overlapping speech) vs. Germany very high (prefer clear rules). Tannen (1984, Conversational Style) and Gumperz (1982, Discourse Strategies) specifically analyze overlapping speech as a marker of community belonging and intimacy, not aggression.
4 Famous documented incidents
European debate in Parliament (2010s) : journalists regularly remark that MPs from the South (Italy, Spain, Greece) are more "talkative" and "interruptive" than those from the North (Germany, Sweden, Netherlands). The moderator must constantly shout "Order!" to restore speaking time. Western misinterpretation: the South is "less disciplined"; correct interpretation: radically different conversational styles. Italy-Germany banking meetings (2008-2015) : regular tensions between Commerzbank's German management and Italian teams when making cross-border decisions. Germans frustrated by Italian "chaos"; Italians frustrated by German "glaciation". Gradual realization that it wasn't a problem of intelligence or seriousness, but of conversational style. **German-speaking Switzerland (German-speaking, monochronic) and Latin France (Mediterranean, polychronic) regularly clash over budgetary issues. Swiss perceive French as "uncontrolled"; French find Swiss "rigid".
5. Practical recommendations
To do : - In a Mediterranean context: Interrupting with enthusiasm is normal and welcome. Overlap = commitment. - Speak loudly and energetically. Silence is misinterpreted as disapproval. - Return to a point several times if you insist on it - it's seen as passion, not insistence. - Value interruptions: "Your remarks are excellent, keep going!" - In Germanic context: strictly respect the speaking turn. Wait for the end of a sentence, raise your hand if necessary. - Speak calmly, without overlapping. - An interruption = a sign of hostility or rudeness. Do not: - Do not interpret Mediterranean interruption as aggression. - Don't impose "Germanic silence" in a Latino meeting. - Don't interpret "strict turn to speak" as personal rejection. - Don't confuse style with character or competence.
Practical recommendations
To do
- {'En contexte méditerranéen': 'interrompre avec enthousiasme, chevauchement = engagement normal.'}
- Parler fort et avec énergie ; le silence passe pour désapprobation.
- Revenir plusieurs fois sur un point si passionné — c'est vu comme conviction.
- Valoriser publiquement les interruptions comme participation active.
- {'En contexte germanique': 'respecter strictement tour de parole, attendre la fin de phrase.'}
Avoid
- Ne pas interpréter interruption méditerranéenne comme agression.
- Ne pas imposer « tour de parole strict germanique » en réunion latino.
- Ne pas percevoir silence germanique comme rejet personnel.
- Ne pas confondre style conversationnel avec manque d'éducation.
Neutral alternatives
- Clarify in advance the preferred meeting style ("formal turn-taking" vs. "free discussion").
- Use neutral moderator in cross-cultural meetings to balance styles.
- Record meeting and playback in "playback" mode to show that there is no aggression.
Sources
- Beyond Culture
- Conversational Style — Analyzing Talk Among Friends
- Discourse Strategies
- Culture's Consequences: Comparing Values, Behaviors, Institutions and Organizations Across Nations