The world superpowers of English speaking countries have historically been the USA, and the UK, and we have not always been the best at sensitively dealing with other countries. Our status has spoiled us to some extent. We do not know what it feels like to spend long periods of time from an early age learning another language, and having, by necessity, to use it to get along. Everyone has spent time learning our cultures and we have had to invest little time into learning other's.
Nowadays, there is technology that can supposedly translate for us, anything from documents to emails. The only issue is that languages do not translate directly. English and most other languages are full of so many expressions and idioms and figures of speech, that make communicating difficult if one decides to just translate word for word.
We also forget that our humour is unique to us. Yes, it's popular with us, but it is lost on many others, as is their humour on us. In fact our humour could be offensive in certain contexts. So we do struggle often to make a joke that other people can get when we focus much on sarcasm and irony and self-deprecation, where other countries may have a totally different approach to humour.
When your work requires you to work in an international setting, it helps to try and genuinely connect with people. As English speakers we have a lot of bad stereotypes to fight against. Making an effort, even a failed one, at speaking in a foreign language goes a long way, even if at the time if feels we are just being laughed at. When we take the trouble to try and really understand another culture, and embrace it, rather than simply observing it from the side-lines, we will find people much more willing to help us.
This is also why it is best to simply not hit "translate" on your important business email. Translation services specialize in helping people communicate cross culturally, in focusing on more than just the language, but on culture, context, and relationships.
Nowadays, there is technology that can supposedly translate for us, anything from documents to emails. The only issue is that languages do not translate directly. English and most other languages are full of so many expressions and idioms and figures of speech, that make communicating difficult if one decides to just translate word for word.
We also forget that our humour is unique to us. Yes, it's popular with us, but it is lost on many others, as is their humour on us. In fact our humour could be offensive in certain contexts. So we do struggle often to make a joke that other people can get when we focus much on sarcasm and irony and self-deprecation, where other countries may have a totally different approach to humour.
When your work requires you to work in an international setting, it helps to try and genuinely connect with people. As English speakers we have a lot of bad stereotypes to fight against. Making an effort, even a failed one, at speaking in a foreign language goes a long way, even if at the time if feels we are just being laughed at. When we take the trouble to try and really understand another culture, and embrace it, rather than simply observing it from the side-lines, we will find people much more willing to help us.
This is also why it is best to simply not hit "translate" on your important business email. Translation services specialize in helping people communicate cross culturally, in focusing on more than just the language, but on culture, context, and relationships.
About the Author:
Brian Brookes is a widley respected writer who has been writing for 5 over years often writes on translation services London and a wide range of other subjects.