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Humour across cultures: joking in the multicultural workplace 163

style of Samoan interaction in informal contexts, which contrasts markedly with
the serious and sober nature of Samoan ‘chiefly’ talk in formal contexts. In Sa-
moan culture, there is a marked contrast between the dignified and measured
style of speech adopted by chiefly leaders in formal tribal contexts and the
robust exchanges among others at the informal periphery, where tension is
released (Alfred Hunkin pc). Light-hearted jocular abuse and practical joking
are well-recognized as features of the style of Pacific Island workers (Daly et al.
2004). The direct, robust and confrontational nature of this style contrasts
markedly with the much lower key humour of the Maori team described in case
study 1.
Correspondingly, Ginette’s style, as team leader, is very different from that
of Yvonne. In keeping with her team culture, Ginette is confident, confronta-
tional and direct and does not suffer fools gladly, nor tolerate slack work, or
lateness. Though she generally spices her criticisms with sparky humour, she
mercilessly focuses on individuals who threaten to undermine the team’s high
performance levels. And, by contrast to the style which typifies the Ma ¯ori or-
ganization described above, individuals are frequently the target of sarcastic and
critical comment as example 4 illustrates.

5
(4) Context: Ginette, the team manager, is working in the scales area of the
packing line and talking to other members of the team.

1. Gin: dumb eh oh and it wa- I think it was yesterday or the day before +
2. he had Sam up there there must have been a blockage in the hopper
3. and lesia and I were standing (and Sam) was banging away +
4. I said to lesia why the fuck is he banging the dust extraction pipe
5. know that big thick pipe
6. Hel: yeah
7. Gin: instead of banging the hopper/he was =
8. Hel: /[laughs]
9. Gin: =banging the pipe /[laughs]
10. Hel: /[laughs]
11. Gin: [laughs]: and I said to him: what’s the matter Sam
12. Hel: ( )
13. Gin: [mimics Sam]: oh hopper’s blocked
14. powder’s not coming through to the head:
15. so why are you banging the dust extraction pipe
16. [mimics Sam]: oh:
17. Hel: [laughs]

Ginette here entertains Helen, her immediate neighbour on the packing line,
with a humorous story of Sam’s stupidity in banging the extraction pipe which