Languages in business
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The document discusses the impact of language, particularly English, as the global language of business, highlighting both benefits and challenges when companies adopt a global language policy. It emphasizes the importance of language proficiency and cultural understanding in enhancing communication and collaboration while warning of potential negative effects on employee morale and productivity. Various strategies for improving language skills in a business context are also provided, along with considerations for effective cross-cultural communication.
Languages in business
- 1. Languages in Business By Muhammad Dhafi Iskandar
- 2. Language is a system of communication consisting of sounds, words, and grammar, or the system of communication used by people in a particular country or type of work.1 It is a common knowledge that English is now the global language of business. Many multinational companies are mandating English as their common corporate language in an attempt to facilitate communication and performance across geographically diverse functions and business endeavors.2 The policy to use English even in company internal environment (Adopting a global language policy) is aimed to force its employee to engage internal communication in English which will improve the English proficiency. This proposed policy could be regarded as a positive sign that the company is aiming to become more international on its system and working culture. It also could be used as company’s branding method for achieving the status of ‘Global’ company. On the contrary, there are also negative effects that must be faced if such policy is being implemented. Using English as a business language could damage employee’s morale, create unhealthy divides between native and nonnative speakers, and decrease the overall productivity of team members. It must avoid and soften these potential pitfalls by building an environment in which employees can embrace a global English policy with relative ease. In this way, companies can improve communication and collaboration. 1 Cambridge Dictionary: Language. 2 Tsedal Neeley, Global Business Speaks English, Harvard Business Review, May 2012 Issue.
- 3. The ability to know a language also means that we understand its culture. It is an inseparable thing and greatly aids us to face clients with the right ethics and approach which have direct impact for the success of winning international work. Even though we did not speak very well on another language and we ended up doing the conversation in English, client will appreciated the effort and affect their mood and impression toward us. Learning a language is hard work, so the motivation and desire to undertake a language course really needs to come from the individual. Guy Blaskey, founder of premium pet food manufacturer Pooch & Mutt, notices the importance of speaking other languages, even if you are not fluent, a few words can go a long way. At trade shows, especially, people appreciate the effort more than the accuracy. If your language skills aren’t great, there’s no point in trying to fake it. But it’s always good to try. There are several methods that need to be considered and could be used to learn languages: 1. Increase Your Vocabulary We could minimize our exhaustion of remembering vocabulary by improving only the specialized words used in business. Learning commonly-used business idioms and abbreviations can also enhance your vocabulary. 2. Read Business-Related Material This knowledge is beneficial when you are communicating with third parties or working on customer contracts.
- 4. 3. Play Games Business language could also be learned by playing games like crosswords and word search games especially that are based on financial terms, important concepts and terminology from banking or industry. 4. Watch Business-Oriented Programs These Television programs are often hosted by experts in their own field of education and professional experiences which could be an important source of valuable information and knowledge. 5. Practice The best way to remember and understand language is by regular practice. For example, we can try to write business memos, letters and interview or public speaking simulation.
- 5. Cultural interpretations There are cultures where people need many words to express themselves, such as in Italy or in India, while in other cultures people limit themselves to the minimum number of words possible, such as the Danish or the Dutch. Sending valuable employees and their families on assignment abroad is an important investment of company's time and money. However, many expats leave unprepared to tackle the language barriers they face upon arrival. There are now electronic translators to help with email and websites, although the accuracy still needs more improvement, and natural language patterns are lost. Even with the current technology does not help you with real-time, face-to-face business. Oftenly, partners or employees will feel more comfortable using their own language to communicate important issues, which in many cases are sensitive and need to be expressed carefully. If you conduct the business in English, you may not learn that your partner did not understand until something does not turn out as expected. The measure of the success of an interpreter for your business objectives goes beyond his/her skill in translating. Experience to uncover several other key issues that were critical and should be considered is:3 1. Personality; 2. The status with the host culture; 3. Whether the interpreter is available for the duration of business interaction. 3 Jennifer Roney, Language, Culture and Global Business: The interpreter as a tool for effective cross- border communication, 2001, Volume 4 Issue 1.
- 6. Another version of critical key issues is for using another language in business are: 1. Personality The personality may be important in establishing trust with your business partners or employees and in providing a bit of sanity and perspective for you. The personalities of participants impact all interpersonal exchanges, and interpreters are participants in these exchanges. It would be preferred to have interpreter whose personality will not antagonize the other party, but harmonizes with your own. 2. Humor In many cultures humor is critical for building trust and thus it may be important to have appropriate humor in business transactions. For it to be useful rather than detrimental, the interpreter must have a keen sense of not only what is appropriate humor in the other culture, but what is appropriate in this particular situation. A good interpreter can feel if your sense of humor is out of line or can break the tension by using his or her own humor. 3. Warmth It is something felt from the heart and transferred to others through verbal and non-verbal clues. A reassuring tone or voice and body language can greatly assist in breaking down barriers and building trust, especially in the initial stages of the negotiation. The first words the other party understands are those of the interpreter. His or her personality can be crucial here. On the other hand, a business interaction is not primarily a social occasion, and the interpreter must be able to convey a sense of professional reserve when it is appropriate as well.
- 7. For further assistance & consultation, kindly contact: Muhammad Ikhlas Modjo E: mim@mimconsulting.co.id P: +62 815 8200 890 Doddy Oktavianus Iskandar E: doddy.oktavianus@mimconsulting.co.id P: +62 813 1835 9197 Dian Oktaviani E: dian.okta@mimconsulting.co.id P: +62 816 184 7683 Website: www.mimconsulting.co.id Wisma Kodel - 11th floor Jl. HR Rasuna Said Kav. B-4 Jakarta Selatan 12920 T: +62 21 5290 2028 F: +62 21 5290 2027