Cross Cultural Confirmation!

Recently I received an email acknowledging a phone call I had made for a work related appointment. They thanked me for my call, my interest, and included a link to examples of their work. They listed the date, time, and venue for our meeting. As I read the last sentence, ‘will you please just confirm that this is in order,’ I analyzed the wording. As I thought about what they were saying, I realized how words change meaning in literal translations and how this can easily misrepresent what someone wants us to understand in their communication.

With English as my primary language ‘just’ infers I need to do the right thing. It hints at being commanding with a slight impatience. Was this the intent of the person writing the email? No. English is not their primary language. They speak it with a definitive accent. The word ‘just’ as used in the sentence from their cultural position was intended to say, ‘everything is taken care of, only, please confirm it is okay for the date and time, etc.’

Quite a difference, don’t you think?

How often do misunderstandings occur when we do not listen with grace, and we react too quickly with words that should not have been spoken.

#communication #culture