One World, Many Languages,
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If you’re an English speaker, you can easily make your way throughout Great Britain, Australia, and New Zealand, where English is the native language. However, along your journey, you may struggle to understand a few words here and there due to distinct accent differences. Or, you may notice that certain spellings or phrases are different…
Body language is an integral part of how we communicate with one another. It always has been and it always will be. Some of us talk with our hands, most of us shift in our seat when we start to get nervous, and all of us do it without thinking. Unfortunately, we live in a…
Having an interpreter at a business meeting can prove to be a huge asset when you are doing business with international clients and business prospects. So, when is it appropriate to provide an interpreter to help you conduct international business more easily? When you’re dealing with clients that do not speak your language comfortably or…
As you make your way across the United States, you will hear similar words with different meanings. For example, if you are on either of the coasts, the word dinner means the last, and often largest, meal of the day. However, to older generations in the south or Midwest, dinner means the largest middle meal of the day, while supper refers…
Asian cultures are said to be more collectivistic whereas American culture is said to be more individualistic. The very idea that you should be deferential to superiors doesn’t always jibe with the American sense of rugged individualism, perhaps best personified by the brash Gordon Gecko in the movie Wall Street. Although Gordon Gecko is clearly a…
Businesses generally go to a lot of trouble to set up international business meetings. That’s why they’re often reserved for important deals and transactions where face-to-face interaction can make or break a deal. Consider how much time and effort you spend traveling out of the country for what could be a short meeting, it’s no…
Anthropologists and cultural historians have long noted the differences in lifestyles and communication styles between the Japanese and Americans. While the Japanese prefer delicate wording and the opportunity to save face, Americans opt for a more direct communication style. Even in business, Japanese entrepreneurs are more attuned to body language and non-verbal cues, on average,…
U.S. corporations, working with printed documents, need the services of a professional translator if, for example, they want their employee manual printed in German, they have reports they want to share with a Japanese subsidiary, or they are launching an advertising campaign in China. For non-linguists, buying translation services are daunting because written words reflect on…
International business meetings are where cultural differences manifest. Every culture has its own interpretation of professional conduct and etiquette, and definitely has its own corporate rules too. As a result, professionals can and do clash during such meetings. Language barriers, for instance, can make communication difficult. It slows down the pace of a negotiation, and…