When I came to the United States after being raised in England, I quickly discovered that the joke that they are “two countries divided by a single language” has strong elements of truth to it. How much more difficult can communication be between cultures that do not have a common source or a common language? Since September 1997, my experience in working with an international clientele and writing an e-zine that was reaching more than forty countries has taught me to be extremely careful when putting my ideas into words. Here are some thoughts may be useful to those who communicate across national and cultural boundaries.
1. Keep it supremely simple. Many people read English language ezines and other publications as a way to polish their use and understanding of the phrasing. If you need to use unusual words, do so in a context that will make their meaning clear. A great vocabulary needs to be an aid to clear communication, not a barrier to it.
2. Avoid idioms and slang. These change their meaning from one culture to another, sometimes with quite offensive (though occasionally hilarious) results.
3. Remember that the correspondence between weather and the calendar differs across the globe. When referring to a time of cold weather, write “winter,” not “December.” As an example, while I watch the snow fall, my cousins in New Zealand are complaining of the heat. Many Australians celebrate their Christmas dinner as an outdoor picnic, and a white Christmas is pure fantasy.
4. Remember that many nationally recognized holidays are just that. They are not internationally recognized. How many national holidays of other countries do you know? Should we expect readers to recognize ours if we are not aware of theirs?
5. Try to discover holidays and days of significance other than just those that affect you and your culture. An awareness of other holidays not only enables you to include mention of them with sensitivity, but it also puts all holidays in a clearer context. For example, Christmas is not universally celebrated, in any country, and Thanksgiving is largely American, though many other countries have a Harvest Festival of one kind or another.
6. Avoid being overly informal. In contacts with subscribers, clients, and customers, recognize that use of first names to people you do not know may be socially unacceptable, even insulting, in many cultures.
7. Be careful when referring to people well-known in your culture without explanation. While the scandals of national presidents are probably familiar world-wide, the name of a sports player famous in your country may mean nothing to readers elsewhere. If you need to use someone as an example, include a brief explanation as to why s/he is relevant. The same thing applies to sports teams. I sometimes show students a movie from New Zealand in which reference is made to the national Rugby team, known as “the All Blacks” because of the uniform they wear. It is always necessary to explain ahead of time to U.S. students that the words “Not an All Black in sight” does not have a racial connotation.
8. A similar principle applies to geography. Most people know where major cities are. However, if you refer to lesser known areas, add enough description to show where it is and why it is relevant to the point you are making.
9. Don’t sound condescending. To too pointedly acknowledge that some readers may not know what you mean may sound condescending. To assume that they do know is to appear insensitive. Best balance is to include a few words that clarify your meaning without being too obvious about it.
10. As you work, write from your heart, proofread with your mind, and in your thoughts keep an image of the many and diverse peoples who inhabit our fragile, wonderful planet.