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TIPS
for International Speakers of English
CULTURAL TIPS
THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE IS BEING CHANGED BY THE GLOBAL PROLIFERATION OF INTERNATIONAL SPEAKERS OF ENGLISH
Welcome to World English.
Languages are living systems constantly undergoing change. The history of the formation of English is quite remarkable. The dissemination of English through the colonial influence of the British empire is also fascinating.
However, the most exciting moment in the history of English is right now, as international speakers from all over the world are increasingly using English to communicate across national boundaries and the Internet.
For professional purposes, it is best to recognize the present standard and duplicate it as much as possible, even as it changes. However, keep in mind that you and others like you are now in the process of making major changes in the English language. Many of the special qualities of English will unfortunately be lost; this cannot be helped. But, in the end, more will be gained. The English language will vastly benefit from the new usages of its international speakers.
It might seem inevitable that just as the Roman Empire declined and Latin broke up into mutually distinct languages such as French, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian, that the same will happen as English, the lingua franca of the 20th century, first spreads and then localizes. However, the Internet, television and films may intervene, with the result that we may see local variations functioning simultaneously with a more or less standard 'global English' in the 21st century.
So be as careful as you can in acquiring standard English (be it American/Canadian, British, or even Australian). However, do be aware that, in your own usage, you are greatly enriching English by bringing to it some of the unique characteristics of your native language-characteristics that resist being translated into English, but instead require that English change to incorporate new features and capabilities.
ENGLISH SPEAKERS OF THE WORLD, UNITE! WE ARE, IN OUR DIVERSITY, CREATING A NEW GLOBAL LANGUAGE IN THESE MOST INTERESTING OF TIMES.
GLOBAL VILLAGE / GLOBAL METROPOLIS
It seems the world is getting both smaller and bigger every day. National economies are irreversibly linked and technological innovations in communications and media offer real-time connection. People are moving around more than ever—re-locating home base—seeking opportunity in a larger playing field.
Information is now more available to more people than at any time in history. Yet, it’s an open secret that Western media is controlled by those who own it, and that the media conglomerates pay for their access to government and celebrity sources with cooperative treatment. Recipients of the information barrage are thus obliged to examine for ourselves both facts and context, and assess their veracity and relevance.
Some wonderful things are developing as communications processes advance. Now, more intimately and powerfully than has previously been possible, people all over the world can know how things are in other places. We are also better able to access information directly, by-passing parties ‘spinning’ it in their own interest. We can see that even mutually contradictory points of view can both be valid. We can begin to connect the dots ourselves, discern the working of cause and effect, and come to our own conclusions about the state of the world and the living of life.
FOR RAW INFORMATION TO BECOME USEFUL KNOWLEDGE REQUIRES THE MEDIATION OF THE HUMAN MIND AND HEART. WHAT PEOPLE DO WITH THE INFORMATION BEING COMMUNICATED IS THE CRUCIAL FACTOR.
TRAINING YOUR HEARING
Training hearing is a very valuable tool generally overlooked in language instruction, that accurately, efficiently, and most of all quickly, improves pronunciation, grammar, usage patterns and the acquisition of idiomatic and slang expressions.
International speakers have been hearing English more or less crudely (distorted by the customary sounds of your native language) and reproducing it likewise. Enhancing your hearing is like a visually-impaired person gaining improved sight—suddenly everything is clearer and sharper, in more proper relation. Peripheral hearing is like peripheral vision—nuances and impressions around the edges of your main focus that provide additional and/or more refined information. You are presently aware of a lot more than you think. The trick is to bring what’s in the periphery into central focus (letting the periphery fill with new data).
Obviously, we all learn to speak—before, or without, going to school—by hearing and imitating. Trying to remember every little point is a virtually impossible effort with limited chance of success. Whether you are learning a language, a musical instrument or a new form of physical exercise, it takes experience to progress and experience takes time. However, one thing (the only thing) that can cut the time element is training the faculty of attention itself. As your hearing improves, you will hear the sounds of English more accurately and, in mimicking the sounds you hear, you will automatically produce them.
At first you may wonder how a person ‘trains’ his or her hearing. Suppose someone told you that you’d received a package and it was down the hall among a pile of packages. In the same way as you would set about finding the package, you train your hearing. You focus because you’re seeking something you have every reason to believe is awaiting your discovery. When you arrive at the pile, your search narrows—now you’re looking for the package with your name on it. You begin to perceive a previously unnoticed level of detail.
Likewise, as you listen closer to the English around you, you begin to realize that native speakers are pronouncing virtually all the syllables in the words, and all the consonants (including those ending the words), and all the words in the sentence—English, especially American English, is very full and clear in respect to articulating all internal sounds.
You’ll also become aware that native speakers are speaking in clusters of words—grouping words that go together, with slight pauses or changes in stress or taking of a breath in between. You’ll begin to notice repeating patterns—such things as certain verbs always taking certain prepositions; you’ll see the structure and utility of the various tenses; you’ll appreciate the mood associated with particular idiomatic and slang expressions. This is how you learn correct usage of the many elements of English not governed by rules.
As you start paying more attention, you’ll be impressed how much there is to hear that you haven’t been hearing before.
For example—you live a life (short vowel ‘I’), you don’t ‘live’ a message; you leave a message (long vowel ‘E’).
What you want to do is focus on the contrast between close sounds, noting the differences in pronunciation and maximizing them. For instance, the words contents and condense, which may at first sound similar, actually have three distinctions—syllable stress, T / D and TS / S:
CON-tents
con-DENSE
In contrasting vowels, try making up tongue-twisters by changing only the vowel—for example:
Bitter batter is better with butter.
In contrasting consonants, such as ‘F’ ‘B’ ‘V’ and ‘W’ (often a problem for various international speakers of English), try making up sentences changing only the consonant—for instance:
A fat bat went into the vat.
One more thing to be aware of is uneven development—words and phrases learned early may not be as accurate as those picked up more recently—as your English continues to improve. So you’ll want to bring yourself up to date. And also realize that in speaking more standard, elegant and dynamic English, you’re in a new category in regard to your ability to communicate.
THE MORE STANDARD YOUR ENGLISH—IN PRONUNCIATION, GRAMMAR, USAGE, SLANG AND IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS—THE MORE INTIMATELY YOU ARE INCLUDED AS A MEMBER OF THE LANGUAGE, AS INCLUDED AS YOU WANT TO BE.
PHONE SKILLS FOR INTERNATIONAL SPEAKERS OF ENGLISH
The ability to speak on the telephone, especially in a professional context, is a required skill in today’s world, particularly for international speakers of English for whom accent issues may complicate clear communication.
Keep in mind that when you speak on the phone, your voice is the only thing that represents you. Facial expression, body language, good looks, appropriate dress and all the other associated elements of communication are not available, so your voice and manner of speaking have to do the whole job. Likewise, you have limited information about the other party—so it’s wise to proceed cautiously until you have some impression as to whom you’re dealing with and how to tailor your approach.
Here are some useful hints:
Making a call:
Before phoning, have a good idea of the purpose of your call and what you intend to say. Also make sure to have all information at hand. This way, you won’t cause unnecessary interruptions or appear uninformed or unprepared. Choose an appropriate time and adapt your style (formal/casual) to that of your contact. Be ready to leave a brief but complete message, so you won’t be taken by surprise if your call is answered by a receptionist or machine.
Begin with “Hello” “Hi” “Good afternoon” (whatever greeting is appropriate), “This is [your full name].” Make sure to pronounce your name slowly and carefully, especially if it is one that is likely to be unfamiliar to English speakers. Then state your purpose in calling or ask for the party to whom you wish to speak. At this point stop—allow the person on the other end to respond—then continue accordingly. You don’t want to go into unnecessary detail until you know that the person and timing are right.
When you sense that the call is nearing completion, re-state or summarize important details. In the U.S., thanking the person for their time and consideration or assistance is customary. If further action is anticipated, create a link to the next call by adding something like “I’ll speak with you again next week.”
Answering the phone:
If you are in an office with an established protocol, use it as comfortably as you can. Otherwise, it is increasingly common for professionals to answer their own phone with “This is [your given name].” Of course, you can precede this with “Good morning” or whatever greeting is appropriate, or add “May I help you?”—but avoid unnecessarily long introductory remarks. If it is not clear who is calling or what the purpose of the call is, ask for clarification as soon as possible, trying not to interrupt. It’s polite to finish with some form of “Thank you for calling.”
Leaving a message:
It’s not considerate to leave unnecessarily long messages, and also unhelpful to speak very quickly. On the contrary, it’s good to pronounce your words as fully and clearly as you can (without speaking too slowly), repeating any important details. Always leave your phone number for the call back, even if you think the party already has it.
General points:
The most important factor in speaking on the telephone effectively is naturalness and comfortability—neither hesitant nor hurried, neither aggressive nor unfocused.
Speak directly into the mouthpiece of the telephone. Speak or don’t speak—avoid any mumbling or rambling in between.
Avoid questions that can be answered ‘yes’ or ‘no’ (e.g. "Is the meeting at 4 p.m.?”), as this leaves a 50% chance of error—instead, phrase your question in a way that requires a specific answer (e.g. “What time is the meeting?”). Avoid allowing your voice to rise at the end of declarative statements; intonation should rise only for actual questions—otherwise you may sound immature or unsure of yourself. Avoid interjecting pauses like ‘uh’ or ‘ah.’ Re-state important points and/or ask for confirmation.
Above all, always be cordial—remember your goal and avoid saying anything that you might later regret. It may be momentarily satisfying to express impatience or frustration, but it is invariably counterproductive. If it is necessary to be firm, accomplish this by very slightly raising your voice in volume, and using it to pointedly suggest clarification, emphasis and determination.
IF POSSIBLE, LISTEN TO A RECORDING OF YOUR VOICE AS THOUGH YOU ARE LOOKING IN A MIRROR. IDENTIFY THOSE QUALITIES THAT YOU FIND UNATTRACTIVE OR INEFFICIENT, AND WORK ON CHANGING THEM. LIKEWISE, IDENTIFY THOSE QUALITIES YOU FIND DESIRABLE AND EXPEDIENT, AND DEVELOP THEM FURTHER.
AGE AS A FACTOR IN LANGUAGE LEARNING
It is commonly believed that increasing age diminishes a person’s capacity to learn new things, particularly in regard to language. While there is some validity to this assumption, in fact things are not that simple.
Modern science has discovered that the brain of an infant is categorically more capable of discriminating between close sounds, as well as capable of making more perceptual ‘connections,’ than the adult brain. Sounds that are repeatedly heard and connections that are repeatedly stimulated determine that person’s perceptions—neural pathways that are unused or unstimulated fade into nonexistence. This process accounts for the astonishing psychophysical accomplishments of the first years of life.
As a person matures, however, evidence suggests that it is stimulation, not biological age, that is the decisive factor in learning. In other words, it’s not degree of age but level of interest that makes the critical difference. The young learn not only because they are young, but because they are interested.
WHETHER YOUR CONCERN IN IMPROVING YOUR ENGLISH IS ENLARGING YOUR VOCABULARY, CORRECTING YOUR ACCENT, PERFECTING YOUR GRAMMAR, OR BEING MORE COMFORTABLE SPEAKING IN PUBLIC, YOUR INTEREST—NOT YOUR AGE—IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR.
MIXED LANGUAGE MEETINGS
These days, whether State-side or abroad, it is increasingly common for persons of mixed language backgrounds to meet for professional or business purposes. Such meetings are often conducted in English. However, if important details are to be discussed, or if all participants are not fully fluent in English, talks can be bi- or multi-lingual.
When arranging and/or attending mixed language meetings, consider the following:
Prepare pertinent documents in all relevant languages.
Allow extra time, even as much as twice as long, for meetings in which statements will generally be repeated by interpreters in other languages.
At the meeting, speak to your counterpart, not to the interpreter.
Before and after the meeting, when mixing socially, a few words of greeting in the visitors’ language(s) are a thoughtful expression of respect and good will. Clumsy approximations, however, are no longer regarded as amusing. To achieve the desired purpose, make sure in advance that the expressions you use are appropriate, and that you are comfortable pronouncing them correctly.
PREPARE PROPERLY, BE FULLY INFORMED, AND MAKE SURE QUALIFIED TRANSLATORS AND INTERPRETERS ARE ON HAND TO MAKE MIXED LANGUAGE MEETINGS EFFICIENT AND PRODUCTIVE.
SAYING "YES" ACROSS CULTURES
Since "yes" and "no" are such critical (and contradictory) statements, it is very important that their meaning be clear through the transition from one language and culture to another. This can sometimes be tricky when answering negative questions in English.
For example:
Do you have the tickets?
This is a positive question, the short answer to which is 'yes' or 'no.'
You don't have the tickets?
This is a negative question-the speaker assumes you do not have the tickets.
The problem in answering negative questions is that in some (particularly Asian) cultures, the word for 'yes' is the same as the word for 'correct.' This can lead to confusing communication such as:
You're not going to the game?
You can answer [assuming you are not going]:
Correct, (I'm not going).
Or you can answer:
No, (I'm not going).
However, the answer, "Yes, I'm not going . . . ." is confusing, especially if all you say is "Yes."
The only 'yes' answer in this case would be to contradict the speaker's assumption:
Yes, I am going to the game.
WHEN REPLYING TO A NEGATIVE QUESTION, IF YOUR ANSWER AGREES WITH THE NEGATIVE ASSUMPTION, SAY "CORRECT,' OR AGREE WITH THE ASSUMPTION BY SAYING 'NO.' ANSWER 'YES' ONLY IF YOU DISAGREE WITH THE NEGATIVE ASSUMPTION-AND FOR THE SAKE OF CLARITY, FOLLOW UP WITH A POSITIVE FORMULATION.
SAYING "NO" ACROSS CULTURES
In many of the world's cultures, particularly in Asia, a direct and unmediated "no" is considered too blunt and impolite. "No" may be the reality of the situation, but other terms are used to express it.
For example, if you were to ask for an appointment with a certain person at a certain time, you may be told the person is "unavailable", or that the time is "inconvenient." You may wish permission to take a certain action and be told the request is "under consideration" or that it is "being discussed." Rather than being told the item you're requesting is not on hand, you may be offered something "better."
Asian speakers may wish to continue the pattern of their native culture using English words. If so, keep in mind that people from Western cultures prefer direct communication, even if it is negative. In fact, Westerners may not understand the coded message--they may expect, for instance, that the person will indeed be available at a more convenient time. Or, if they do perceive their request is being denied, they may even feel that the use of such circuitous language is dishonest.
"When in Rome, do what the Romans do." is a well known expression. If, however, you aren't comfortable doing what the 'Romans' do, try to find a compromise. It's not a matter of one way being better than another. What everyone really wants is accuracy of understanding.
PUT YOURSELF IN THE POSITION OF THOSE WITH WHOM YOU ARE SPEAKING. WHEN CULTURAL CUSTOMS CONFLICT, TRY TO MEET THE OTHER PERSON HALF WAY.
CULTURAL DIFFERENCES CAN RESULT IN WORDS AND CONCEPTS MEANING DIFFERENT THINGS TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE
For example, the dictionary definition of circumlocution [circum = around; locutio = speech] is the use of an excessive number of words to express an idea; indirect or evasive speech.
This sounds pretty bad, and indeed, in modern Western society, circumlocution is considered old fashioned, tiresome, self-indulgent, discourteous, possibly devious, and a waste of valuable time.
However, Asian speakers have a very different concept. In Asia, circumlocution is a characteristic feature of the art, and business, of conversation.
It's not easy to speak around a point and still make the point clear. If you simply make a point directly, it can be considered too blunt, too cut-and-dry, not interactive enough-lacking sufficient malleability. From the Asian perspective, you have to give those with whom you are speaking some room in which to formulate their response to what you've said-to elaborate on what they like, and diminish or ignore what they don't like. And they, while making their meaning as precise as possible, will frame their response to you in a manner ambiguous enough to give you the same privilege.
What may appear to be an obtuse game of manners to an outsider, is in fact, throughout Asia, an exchange saturated with communication in regard to both information and intention.
OTHER PEOPLE'S WAYS OF REGARDING THINGS AND DOING THINGS ARE NOT AS EXOTIC, QUAINT OR OFFENSIVE AS THEY MAY APPEAR. SUCH THINGS EVOLVE EVERYWHERE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAME RULES-SOMETHING EITHER WORKS OR IT'S MODIFIED ACCORDINGLY. AS AN OUTSIDER, YOU MAY PERHAPS ALSO SEE FLAWS AND CONTRADICTIONS NOT RECOGNIZED OR ACKNOWLEDGED BY GROUP MEMBERS. HOWEVER, IF YOU MAKE THE EFFORT, YOU'LL ALSO SEE THE LOGIC, THE PRACTICALITY AND THE ART.
HISTORICAL OUTLINE OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
The history of English is long and complex. Familiarity with it allows speakers of the language to appreciate how its size, diversity and power to communicate have come about.
1500 BCE
Celts, Gaelic language descendants of original migrating Indo-Europeans
55 BCE—410 CE
Roman empire, spread of Latin and Latin alphabet
449
Anglo-Saxons (and Jutes), Germanic branch of Indo-Europeans
Old English—no vestige of Celtic languages
597
Introduction of Christianity, abstract Latin vocabulary and more developed culture
750—1050
Viking Invasions, Saxon / Viking intermarriage morphs old English and old Norse
(Creation of synonyms: e.g. wish / want, craft / skill, hide / skin, respectively)
Beowulf (epic poem—Old English)
Vikings assimilated into English culture
1066
Norman (French) conquest unifies ‘Englaland’ (Angleterre—land of the Angles)
Introduction of French as language of court and commerce
Latin as language of church, academia and science
English as language of common life
Intermarriage of French and native English speakers
1150—1500
Middle English
Hostilities between England and France confirm separation of countries
Loss of Old English word endings replaced by prepositions
Geoffrey Chaucer (Canterbury Tales) and publisher-printer William Caxton establish London English as standard
Introduction of (paternal, occupational and place) surnames: Johnson, Tailor, Brooks, etc.
1558
Elizabeth I, Queen of England—inaugurates Elizabethan Age (incl. Shakespeare)
Communications revolution, adds 12,000 new words to lexicon
1611
King James I—authorized version of the Bible
17th century
English scholar-explorers introduce English language to New World colonies
19th century
Victorian Age—English adopted as common language of the British empire
20th century
Post-WW II—Countries all over the world increasingly adopt the use of English
English becomes official language of international aviation, the Olympics, the World Council of Churches, the Internet, etc.—more widely spoken and written than any other language in history, used world-wide by upwards of 750 million people, about half of whom speak it as their first language; most extensive vocabulary of all the world’s languages [French, 100,000 words; German, 185,000], with 500,000 standard words (plus almost as many more technical terms)
21st century
English becomes the first truly global language; begins diversifying into regional hybrids
THE EARLY 21ST CENTURY IS ANOTHER GREAT TIME IN THE HISTORY OF ENGLISH, AS SPEAKERS FROM LANGUAGE GROUPS ALL OVER THE WORLD ADOPT IT AS A SECOND TONGUE, IN MANY CASES EVENTUALLY COMMUNICATING IN ENGLISH MORE THAN IN THEIR ORIGINAL LANGUAGES.
CULTURAL IMMERSION
When Idiomatic and slang expressions are, by definition, always unique to the cultures that produce them. Thus, they are difficult for newcomers to understand and use. However, you are certain to pick up these very useful expressions, especially as you immerse yourself in the new culture.
Idiomatic expressions are like poetry—you can say a lot with just a few words. Some idioms, though, can be quite obscure if you don’t know the references.
For example, the expression, “the last straw”, as in:
His forgetting the file was the last straw, and he was fired.
The last straw?
“The last straw” is actually a shortened form of the expression: “the straw that broke the camel’s back”—meaning, the one thing too many after all the preceding ‘straws’ that are already a great burden.
While international speakers of English might be able to figure out the long expression, few would understand the short version without explanation. It takes immersion in English-language culture, over time, for speakers of English as a second language to grasp the array of cultural references that native speakers take for granted.
DEGREE OF CULTURAL IMMERSION IS ALWAYS A PERSONAL CHOICE. HOWEVER, LANGUAGE AND CULTURE ARE NOT REALLY SEPARABLE. THE MORE INTERESTED AND INVOLVED YOU ARE IN ENGLISH-LANGUAGE CULTURE, THE BETTER YOUR ENGLISH WILL GET AND THE MORE YOU WILL ENJOY IT.
LANGUAGES ARE DYNAMIC, ALWAYS EVOLVING. BY VIRTUE OF THEIR STRENGTHS, THEY CAN FACILITATE COMMUNICATION. BY VIRTUE OF THEIR WEAKNESSES, THEY CAN LIMIT THOUGHT ITSELF. BY VIRTUE OF THEIR MALLEABILITY, THEY ARE ALWAYS BEING PUSHED TO EXPRESS NEW DIMENSIONS IN HUMAN CONSCIOUSNESS.
Keep in mind that no language is ever perfect-they're all too busy always adapting to changing conditions to ever entirely avoid deficiencies and confusions.
Thus, even highly educated, English-specialized, native speakers often inadvertently say or write things that are simply unclear or incorrect. Likewise, they often fail to understand, or misunderstand, something said or written by someone else. This is why professional writers have editors.
So it's a good idea to have perspective. Don't jump too quickly to the conclusion that any lack of clarity you may perceive is due to some failing on your part. It may not be!
INTERNATIONAL SPEAKERS OF ENGLISH OFTEN WISH TO BECOME FULLY BI- OR MULTI-LINGUAL, AND THIS IS INDEED A REALISTIC GOAL. JUST REMEMBER THAT EVEN FOR NATIVE SPEAKERS, THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE-DUE IN PART TO ITS GREAT CAPABILITIES, IN PART TO ITS FRUSTRATING LIMITATIONS-IS ALWAYS A CHALLENGE.
THERE IS NO END TO ENGLISH
Like Language is a living power—it shapes the world of those who use it, yet is itself constantly being reshaped by them as new developments introduce new usages. There is no end to learning English—even for literate native speakers. In fact, the more literate you get in English, the more you realize what you can do with it, what it will allow you to do. Like a musical instrument, the better you learn to ‘play’ English, the more you can play what you want.
The more accurate your English is, the more relaxed you become; the more relaxed you become, the more accurate you get. ‘Accurate’ means that you can express your thoughts and feelings concisely and completely, that you have communicated both what you have to say and also who you are.
Another thing is remembering to periodically update your image of yourself. You are changing in a very intimate way. Make sure your self-image corresponds with both your increasing English language proficiency and associated improvements in personal and professional development.
And keep in mind also that oftentimes words have no meaning, regardless of the language in use. People wish to communicate information other than what is obvious or even conscious—both feelings and thoughts—whether the words represent meaning in themselves or are just an excuse to be noisy and connect. Whether it’s bogus pronouncements at the highest levels or hours-long conversations, even arguments, about trivialities, speech—spoken, signaled and written—is how human beings make contact with, and stimulate and influence, each other in ways that have nothing to do with the verbal content of what they’re saying.
So that when you adopt a new language, above all be yourself. Just because you may be limited in your use of English, your self-esteem and your concept of yourself remain affirmative. Being yourself forces the English to come to you—the more you intend to express yourself, the more frustration automatically gives way to improvement.
In structure, vocabulary and style, English has an amazing array of capabilities for communication—concerning both the world of the present and that of the oncoming time. Last but not least, is the capacity of English to bring insight and joy to the world in the form of classical and modern literature, theater and cinema of all kinds and, best of all, as humor.
THE MORE YOU APPRECIATE WHAT A GREAT LANGUAGE ENGLISH IS, ESPECIALLY NOW IN THE CONTEXT OF ITS GLOBAL USE, THE MORE IT WILL REWARD YOU WITH NATURAL AND SPONTANEOUS MASTERY.