‘He Suggested a Date, but All I Got Was Some Dried Fruit!?’ - (2) #DiversitySaturday

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INFO:

IT’S THE NIGHTMARE FOR NON-NATIVE SPEAKERS: MISCOMMUNICATION AND MISUNDERSTANDING.
AND IT CAN LEAD TO CONFUSION AND HURT.

In our global and multilingual world, it may seem like we always understand each other, but that’s an illusion.

To native English speakers, (others as well), I ask you to be aware that:
⁃ While it may appear that we, as non-natives, speak English well, we don’t always grasp everything. Often, we don’t even realize we’ve misunderstood because we thought we understood correctly.
⁃ There are many expressions that are unfamiliar to us.
⁃ Cultural differences affect the connotations and definitions of words. E.g., friendship in the Netherlands involves deep connections. Americans can make friends more quickly, but these relationships can be more superficial. So when you talk about someone being a friend, expectations may differ. Just an example.
⁃ If we respond oddly or come across as impolite, please ask for clarification. (I once used the word “brutal,” which looks like the Dutch word “brutaal,” but they have completely different meanings. I wasn’t aware of this, with consequences I didn’t anticipate. Thank you, Serge Sonnino: you did ask!)
⁃ Take us seriously when we say we don’t understand something: we really don’t.
⁃ Take the time to explain things clearly and be explicit about what you mean.

REMEMBER: NO ONE INTENDS TO CAUSE HARM. BUT MISCOMMUNICATION CAN STILL HURT. BE MINDFUL!