Think communication isn’t important? Try traveling for an extended period to a country with a different primary language than yours. I’m now approximately halfway through a month-long trip to Guatemala and if nothing else, it’s certainly driven home for me how much easier it is for me to communicate in my native tongue. Thankfully, I have some background in Spanish, although my last official classes were 14 years ago, and a large portion of my trip here is daily one-on-one classes to help me remember and improve on that. In addition, there are a surprising amount of people in Antigua (where my home base is located) that speak at least some limited English, due to Antigua’s reputation as a vacation destination within Guatemala.
As someone who communicates for a living and who doesn’t like to be wrong, I’ve had to move past my discomfort at communicating awkwardly or incorrectly in order to make it through my day to day experience. (Side note: a little wine doesn’t hurt.) It can be frustrating to struggle to make someone understand what you’re trying to get across, stumble over pronunciation, or be unclear what the grammar should be.
It also takes a lot more mental energy to understand a conversation in a language you’re attempting to learn. Not only do you need to concentrate harder, but you also must quickly adapt what you want to say to words you know in the new language. It’s helped me realize how often I use slang or colloquial sayings that don’t translate into the same meaning across cultures, even if you know the words. It’s also helped me realize I need to bring back out the flash cards and learn some additional vocabulary, as well as how often I use context clues to follow a conversation.
How does this relate to my career as a communication consultant? First, it’s helpful to have a background in another language, even if you’re far from fluent, in today’s ever-shrinking world. Second, it drives home the point that when communicating with populations where English isn’t the native language, it’s even more important to have a clear message and select your words carefully. Direct literal translations may not be the best option and it’s always important to have a native speaker review them, if possible.
Third, it’s helpful to remember that even when communicating with native English speakers, there are differences in culture, understanding, and literacy levels – both within and outside of the United States. Although my specialty is words, it’s a clear reminder of how important graphics and nonverbal cues are in helping to communicate your message. I’ve never been so grateful for signs with pictures! Lastly, regardless of the language I’m communicating in, it’s my responsibility as a consultant to make sure my clients keep the needs of their audience in mind when creating the message and selecting the venues of distribution.
I’m looking forward to what I learn in the next two weeks and applying those lessons to my work for my clients when I return stateside!
