OK, native English audio system truly CAN communicate English.
Nonetheless, when presenting in English to an viewers of non-native audio system, native English audio system are sometimes misunderstood or not understood in any respect. Why? There are a number of potential causes.
It might be the speaker’s accent. Maybe the speaker is talking too quick, or utilizing jargon and idioms. It is likely to be that the speaker is utilizing linguistic constructions which are difficult for non-native audio system. Possibly it’s the entire foregoing.
Regardless of the motive(s), it’s a downside. And since English is the world’s lingua franca and plenty of occasions are held in English, it’s a massive downside. Monetary Instances columnist Michael Skapinker has written about this case. He says that it’s widely known that many non-native English audio system don’t perceive what native English audio system are saying. Moreover, Brits, Individuals, Australians, Canadians and others who’ve spoken English all their lives “are largely oblivious to the incomprehension they go away behind at conferences, enterprise conferences and on convention calls”.
In April 2024, I spoke on the annual convention of the European Speechwriter Community at Cambridge College. The aim of my speak was to assist native English audio system join extra successfully with non-native-speaking audiences. It was based mostly on my years of expertise working folks from everywhere in the world, each throughout my years on the United Nations and my years as an expert speaker who works around the globe.
Adjusting your English for a non-native viewers
In my speak, which you’ll watch under, I examined the issue and the explanations for it. I then provided a “basket” of concepts for folks to think about when chatting with a non-native viewers. Lots of the suggestions may even be helpful for native audio system of any language when talking in that language to a non-native viewers. Nonetheless a few of the suggestions are associated to linguistic constructions in English—reminiscent of contractions and phrasal verbs—that aren’t current in lots of different languages.
I additionally created the straightforward infographic under that accommodates 12 suggestions for native audio system when presenting to a non-native viewers. For extra ideas on this matter, you may also learn this put up which I wrote a number of years in the past.
