Business
American English
Senseless Names
Frequently, Americans rename
boardrooms or the like to launch
pads, command central, or the like.
Stay clear with your wording.
Grammar and Vocabulary
The idea may seem right, but you
may be using the wrong word. Many
of those who speak English as a
second language are not privileged
to an extensive vocabulary and
sentence structure. However, the
English they are apt to speak may
be more technically accurate than
ours. We stopped learning early,
maybe in sixth or eighth grade.
They would avoid dangling
participles, misplaced modifiers
or metaphors. I’m not sure those
rules of grammar are taught in
the U.S. schools any longer. It
may be, but not like they used
to be emphasized.
Frequently, in our excitement,
we will use words like “fantastic,”
“fabulous,” or “disaster,” i.e, “The
meeting was absolutely fantastic
and produced fabulous results. ”The
non-American may view those two
words as make believe, imaginary,
or unreal. “The service was a
disaster.” “Disaster” to most
non-Americans means hurricanes,
war, deaths or the like. Using words
accurately matters.
English is spoken around the world
and every country has its own set
of short-cuts and sayings.
Americans are not unique in this
practice. But I do think we stand
out more than most. “When an
Englishman says a project will be
done at the end of the day, he
means it will be done when it’s
done.”(from Dos and Taboos). When
I was in Australia, I heard numerous
different terms. However, when
talking business, it can be the U.K.,
Switzerland, Germany, Australia,
Singapore, or anywhere in the
world, the English spoken is clear
and concise. We Americans need to
respond accordingly and gain good
business negotiations, attention
and respect.