University of Kwazulu-Natal

Pdf 10 Strategies For Overcoming Language Barriers

Bonisiwe Shabane
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pdf 10 strategies for overcoming language barriers

Academia.edu no longer supports Internet Explorer. To browse Academia.edu and the wider internet faster and more securely, please take a few seconds to upgrade your browser. Language barriers are a common challenge in international business settings-and a two-way process. What native speakers often don't realize is that frequently it is not the other person's accent but their own way of speaking that creates the greatest barriers to effective communication. Use the strategies below to ensure you're not putting up your own roadblocks to effective international communication. In global, multinational or multicultural organizations, cross-cultural communication barriers can have a significant effect on the efficiency of organizational communication.

Communication barriers can consequently lead to conflicts within organization, the creation of various power groups, misunderstandings with stakeholders and profit loss. The aim of this paper is to present how language differences, nonverbal misinterpretations, assumption of similarity, preconceptions and stereotypes, tendency to evaluate and high anxiety affect managers and employees in cross-cultural context. Developing intercultural competences is regarded as the solution to overcoming the abovementioned barriers, and the role of education, emotional intelligence and the development of reliable digital tools is emphasized. In the following article, we propose to analyze elements likely to obstruct the proper development of intercultural communication, contributing to the decrease of the degree of fidelity, accuracy and efficiency of the message transfer. In order to have a successful intercultural communication, it is necessary to take into account the characteristics of a certain type of national culture, whose representatives come into contact. The model disscused in the present paper is the most popular one, that of Geert Hofstede with its 6 dimensions, and their values and contribution to communication in the Republic of Moldova.

Language barriers between nurses and patients increasingly affect nursing practice, regardless of where care is delivered. In the United States, a language other than English is now spoken at home in one of five households, the highest level since just after World War I.1 Patients with limited English skills are... This article provides background information about language barriers between nurses and patients, and how these barriers affect patient outcomes. Practice-based strategies are offered to improve outcomes and reduce readmissions. Although this article doesn’t address barriers to communicating with patients with hearing loss, many of the same principles apply to these patients. Globalization means more people move around the world for work and educational opportunities.2 When people migrate, they tend to follow immigrant networks and start recreating communities in their new country.3 People also migrate and...

Structured refugee resettlement has been going on in the United States since after World War II.4 With the exception of Native Americans, just about everyone in this country is descended from immigrants. When patients have a language barrier, it’s often related to when they migrated to the United States. The largest group of migrants in the last 30 years speaks Spanish.5 With only 5% of U.S. nurses identifying as Hispanic or Latino, it’s very common for patients in this group to encounter a language barrier.6 (No publicly available record of language skills of U.S. nurses exists.) Mandarin and Cantonese Chinese speakers are the next largest group.1 They’re also underrepresented in nursing.7 The number of Russian-speaking people in the United States is growing quickly. However, for many Russian-speaking patients, Russian is their second or third language.

In many countries under Soviet rule in the latter half of the 20th century, people continued to speak their original languages as well as Russian. With the dissolution of the Soviet Union, their preferred language may be the language of their home country.8 In some parts of the United States, some older immigrants still face a language barrier. For example, many Italians who migrated to the United States in the early 1900s never developed English language skills and may still need interpreter services.9 Language demographics depend on who’s moved into your organization’s... As people age, some may lose skills in their second language due to how the brain changes with aging.10 Even those who developed strong fluency in English as adults can lose those skills if... Some of these older adults may end up needing interpreter services.

1 2007 Where Growing Minds Go 10 Strategies for Overcoming Language Barriers By Kate Berardo Language Barriers are a common challenge in international business settings and a two-way process. What native speakers often don't realize is that frequently it is not the other person's accent but their own way of speaking that creates the greatest bar-riers to effective communication. Use the Strategies below to ensure you're not put-ting up your own roadblocks to effective international communication. 1. Speak slowly and clearly. Focus on clearly enunciating and slowing down your speech.

Even if you re pressured for time, don t rush through your communication. Doing so often takes more time, as miscommunication and misunderstanding can result and you ll ultimately have to invest additional time in clearing up the confusion. 2 2. Ask for clarification. If you are not 100% sure you ve understood what others say, politely ask for clarification. Avoid as-suming you ve understood what s been said.

3. Frequently check for understanding. Check both that you ve understood what s been said and that others have fully understood you. Practice reflective listening to check your own un-derstanding ( 'So what I hear you saying ') and use open-ended questions to check other peo-ple s understanding. Ask, 'what's your understand-ing of this process?' instead of 'is that clear?' 4. Avoid idioms.

Business Language is often contextual, and there-fore culture specific. For example, in the US, base-ball terms are used extensively: Straight off the Bat, Ballpark figures, Out in left field, Touch base, Strike a deal. 3 As a good general rule, if the phrase requires knowledge of other information be it a game or metaphor recognize that this may make your communication more difficult to be un-derstood. 5. Be careful of jargon. Watch the use of TLAs (Three Letter Abbreviations) and other organizational Language that may not be understood by others.

If you use them, provide in parentheses a description of what these are so oth-ers can learn to use the same Language you do. 6. Define the basics of business. In international business contexts terms such as: success , doneness , meetings , punctuality , etc. may mean different things to different people. Spend time early in your communication defining what these mean to you and others.

4 Invest in build-ing a shared vocabulary. 7. Be specific. Spell out your expectations and deadlines clearly. Instead of, Please get back to me shortly, say Please email the completed report by 5 pm Eastern Standard time on Wednesday, February 21. 8.

Choose your medium of communica-tion effectively. Carefully choose your form of communication (phone or video conference, email, instant mes-sage, etc.). Be mindful not to overuse email. While useful, there are times when the medium is likely to be ineffective. When a message is complex and complicated or there is tension or conflict that needs to be resolved, switch to another medium. 9.

Provide information via multiple channels. 5 Follow phone calls with emails that summarize what s been said. When possible, provide presenta-tions, agendas, etc. in advance so those working in their non-native Language can get familiar with ma-terials. 10. Be patient.

Cross-cultural communication takes more time. If not at all times, certainly initially you cannot expect your communication to occur with the same speed and ease as when you are communicating with someone from your own culture. Kate Berardo is an intercultural trainer and consultant who specializes in programs on cross-cultural awareness, international relocation, and multicultural teambuilding. She is the founder of the global resource site and co-author of Putting Diversity to Work. This article may be reprinted with the author s permission. As the world becomes more interconnected, the ability to communicate across linguistic boundaries is more important than ever.

Language barriers in business, education, or personal relationships can create significant challenges that hinder collaboration and understanding. However, these obstacles are not insurmountable. We can bridge the communication gap and foster a more inclusive and effective dialogue with the right strategies and tools. This guide explores the top 10 ways to overcome language barriers and communication challenges, offering practical advice and innovative solutions to help you connect with others, regardless of their language.

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