![]() ![]() Moreover, in many cultures, it is not acceptable to crack jokes in a business context. It is often said that jokes don’t translate and that is because well, they don’t. You may have false friends interfering with the conversation.īe extremely careful with humour. Even when you speak the same language, your should try to avoid slang and ask for clarification when something that was said does not make sense. One and the same word may mean something totally different. Case in point are the differences between Dutch and Flemish (Belgian Dutch). If you speak the same language as your counterpart, but come from different countries, you are not out of the woods yet. Interpreters will hence translate both the words and the cultural context. ![]() An added bonus is that the interpreter does not only know both languages, but also the underlying cultures. When you and your counterpart speak different languages, work with an interpreter to avoid misunderstandings. ![]() As soon as people open their mouths to speak, you can more or less place them in a geographical region and a social/cultural subgroup. One of the culture’s main expressions is language. The fact that you’ve taken the trouble to do some research and that you try to do things right is often enough to show people that you care. You should not aim for a perfect mastery of their etiquette, though. In some countries, a hug, a tap on the shoulder or a kiss are quite normal, whereas in others these come close to harassment. Should you address your colleague by their first name or not? Something simple like how to greet them is probably culturally determined. And yes, this takes time, patience but mostly the will to truly understand what drives the person or the organisation you are dealing with.īefore you meet your foreign colleague, take the time to do read up on their country’s rituals and etiquette. As in marriage, a common culture is to be developed over the years. Your way is not THE way (and neither is theirs). It all starts with this: being aware that different countries have different ways and times of doing things. They will help you on your way to jump the cultural hurdles without falling flat on your face. So before you jump into that conversation with your colleague from abroad, stop to consider the following points. It is needless to say that when you operate across cultures, there are a couple of extra hurdles to deal with before you can truly connect. From the way we drink our coffee to the way we do business, culture creates the sense of security and belonging that we need to truly connect with each other. The clash of national cultures and an inability to understand each other’s languages has proven to be nothing less than toxic.Ĭulture is deeply ingrained in the fabric of society. However, a recently leaked internal company report shows that the evil is to be found within. Up until now, fingers were pointed at the deregulation of Europe’s skies, and increased competition from Gulf carriers. And yet, it looked like a match made in heaven… Thirteen years later, this high-flying marriage is facing serious cross-winds. Air France was founded in 1933 and merged with its Dutch counterpart in 2004. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |