Small Business Today Magazine MAY 2014 CUSTOMIZED REAL STATE SERVICES | Page 18

EDITORIALFEATURE Unexpected Differences with   English-Speaking Cultures                       By Ludmila (Mila) Rusakova Golovine M ost of the time when Americans think of doing business abroad, the first obstacle that pops into their minds is the language barrier.  They believe that this is their greatest obstacle to succeeding abroad.  Nevertheless, oddly enough, most American expatriate workers experience some of their most challenging assignments in English-speaking countries like the United Kingdom, Australia, and even Canada.  Quite simply, Americans do not expect to have any problems or culture shock when going to other English-speaking countries.  Thus, they are caught off guard by seemingly insignificant misunderstandings and subtle differences. has subtle differences among the two cultures.  In American usage, a “moot point” is one where the issue is decided and no longer worthy of discussion.  In the British context, it means that the point is open for discussion.  It is apparent how these subtle differences can lead to drastic misunderstandings between the two parties.  Misunderstandings also occur between Australian English and the other English-speaking regions.  In this case, different words are employed.  “Mate” is used more often for “friend” and “Sheila” is used for “woman.”  The equivalent American English words are still used in Australia but it is a matter of frequency that is different and The most common misunderstanding leads to misunderstanding or uneasiness between English-speakers is, in fact, lin- on the part of the American interlocutor guistic.  Since American, British, Canadian, if he/she is not accustomed to this manner and Australian cultures evolved separately of speech.   from each other, they can be radically difWith Canadians, it is more of a differferent.  Thus, many cultural idioms entered into usage are meaningless outside of their ence in pronunciation than word choice.  country of origin.  Most of these idioms The most recognizable difference would are derived from sports.  For example, be in words that have “ou” in them.  This Americans will say “I dropped the ball” or is why “about” is pronounced “aboot” by “I fumbled” when they make a mistake.  most Canadians.  Also, occasionally CaThese terms come from American foot- nadians pronounce “t” as “d.”  Thus “Otball, so they are absolutely meaningless to tawa” sounds like “Oddawa.”  These are, non-American English-speakers and they of course, little things but since they are render difficult the concepts they are try- unexpected, they sometimes give the interlocutor a sense of uneasiness and aping to convey. prehension. For British English-speakers dealing with While linguistic differences are the most Americans, there are also many words used that have subtle differences.  The simple ad- obvious variation to point out, it is not as jective “quite” is very different between the important as the mentality differences.  As two versions of English.  In the American previously stated, all of these cultures deversion, it means “a lot” but in the British veloped separately or in the case of the version, it means “sort of.”  Consequent- United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, ly, if the American says that something is only connected politically with great geo“quite good” then it means “very good” graphic separation.  Thus, their mentalities but the British person will understand this and world views were shaped by differas only “so-so.”  Similarly, the word “moot” ent historical experiences.   The United 16 SMALL BUSINESS TODAY MAGAZINE [ MAY 2014 ]