Language For Sustainability In Malaysia Construction Industry

Delays in the completion of projects are often related to communication errors in the transmission and interpretation of instructions at the construction site.It is well known that most construction firms use foreign labour on these projects as they are cheaper and available in greater numbers.The purpose of this study is to determine how such communication problems affect progress in the completion of a construction project.In particular, the effectiveness of using an interpreter as a mediator in giving site instructions to foreign construction workers is examined.In this context, the term "interpreter" refers to a person who is also a foreign worker but is responsible for giving instructions to other foreign workers.In order to test the hypothesis that inaccurate information during handover may affect project progress, an online survey was distributed to various construction companies in Malaysia.The respondents (civil engineers) from different states in Malaysia were asked to answer questions related to the issues in this research.The findings revealed that several companies have concerns about timely project completion, especially when they rely on foreign workers as interpreters to convey instructions at the construction site.These findings suggest that foreign workers (interpreters and intermediaries) need to be adequately trained, especially in the handling of important information that, if passed on incorrectly, could jeopardize meeting project deadlines.On this basis, adequate communication courses for interpreters should be provided before the start of a project.