Global Trends: Focusing the Lens of Communication Training

Global Trends: Focusing the Lens of Communication Training

Accent Reduction Blog | Accent Neutralization Blog

If I were ‘fluent’ in a foreign language, most people would take it to mean that I’d mastered the  grammar, vocabulary, reading, writing, and pronunciation rules of that language.   I’d like to suggest another aspect of language proficiency that isn’t typically included, one that deals with the relationship between language and culture.  Linguists call this often neglected, but absolutely essential, part of speech, ‘phatic’ communication.  This is the area of discourse that has nothing to do with requesting information (interrogatives), or telling someone what to do (imperatives), or giving new information (declaratives).  ‘Phatic’ communication falls into a more elusive category…the realm of using language to build, maintain, and negotiate relationships.  Expressions like “thank you,” “I’m sorry,” “you’re welcome,” and “please” are all examples of ‘phatic’ communication.

In our multicultural workforce, sometimes the intent of our message gets lost in translation.  For example, when we use idiomatic expressions that mean, “you’re welcome,” we may lose the sense of gratitude.  “You’re welcome” sounds sincere and appreciative.  Can’t you just feel the sincerity in the phrase?  Yet other phatic expressions – “don’t worry about it,” “not a problem,” “no big deal,” “just trying to be helpful,” “it was nothing” –hardly do justice to a good ol’ fashioned “you’re welcome.”

The American workforce, with its international supply chain, is becoming more and more diverse. Corporate training now reflects an unprecedented focus on communication training programs.  And language skills are now rightly viewed as being either “enablers” or “disablers.”  Language can facilitate collaboration and innovation, or isolation and stagnation.  

We know that the top Fortune 100 companies are also the organizations with the strongest diversity and inclusion programs.  My goal is to help companies leverage the connection between language and culture to increase productivity, mind-share, and the bottom line.  One way we do this is to provide communication training programs that get people thinking about word choice.  When we speak, what do we convey in addition to basic information?  What is the message behind the message?  Is it ‘you’re welcome’ or ‘no problem’?  To a non-native English speaker, the phrases may suggest two very different sentiments.  Practice English, whether it’s your first language or second, using ‘phatic’ speech that conveys the very best of your intentions.  Use language to create bridges of communication. 

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Industry Vocab Video- (S2,5)

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IT Vocab Vide (S2, 4)

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Accent Training: It’s Not Just What You Say, But How You Say It

Accent Training: It’s Not Just What You Say, But How You Say It

Accent Reduction Blog | Accent Neutralization Blog

It’s easy to see how the language we speak can influence our perspective.  For example, the Chinese word for ‘tragedy’ conveys not just a sense of disaster, but also the idea of opportunity.  In other words, good can occur out of bad situations.  While many people in the West may agree, this particular view is not implicit by definition.

In this month’s issue of Scientific American, Lera Boroditsky takes the connection between language and thinking one step further.  In her article, How Language Shapes Thought, Boroditsky gives numerous examples where the words we use not only affects what we think, but how we think.  In other words, word choice determines the way we process information.  That’s new…and her examples are nothing short of fascinating!

For example, an experiment was conducted whereby people from a variety of language backgrounds were asked to find their way out of an unfamiliar building.  Which language speakers did the best?  An Aboriginal community in Australia who speak a language called Kuuk Thaayorre.  Rather than using spatial terms like ‘left’ and ‘right’, they talk in terms of absolute cardinal directions; “the pen is southwest of the paper” or “Sue is sitting north of John” for example.  Boroditzky cites that speakers of Kuuk Thaayorre ability to keep track of spatial locations are “better than scientists thought humans ever could.” 

As it turns out, language use seems to affect nearly every area of cognition, from spatial recognition to memory to color identification to the ability to learn mathematics.  We used to believe that thinking shapes language.  But cross-linguistic differences clearly demonstrate that language shapes thinking.  What does this mean for the adult learner?  How we process and use new information depends on what, and how, we speak.

This has a profound impact on ‘best practices’ for ESL speakers and students of English pronunciation.  As we know, a simple ‘listen and repeat’ methodology doesn’t work.   And while requiring students to look at visual cues is important, this is merely a piece of accent training.  Verbal explanations of what to do with the tongue, teeth, lips, and jaw are what completes the picture.  Why?  Because as socio-linguists tell us: “there may not be a lot of adult human thinking where language does not play a role.” 

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How to pronounce the last 's' sound...

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If you would like to find out how you could speak with a British accent then watch the videos about my British accent training course.  Follow the link to get more information about the accent course and view the videos:  BRITISH ACCENT TRAINING