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Article: When your national language is just another language. (international communication)(includes related article on a universal digital code for computers)
- Article from:
- Communication World
- Article date:
- May 1, 1991
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1991 International Association of Business Communicators. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Take the example of a US business team in recent negotiations with a Japanese group in Tokyo. Things seemed to be going well. Then there was a pause, the Japanese apologized, and began speaking to each other in Japanese. The US businessmen suddenly felt isolated and frustrated, whereas moments before they had been an integral part of the action. The advantage was with the Japanese because they had two languages and the Americans but one.
Another example - this one in Hong Kong. Employees of a Hong Kong-based, US, owned bank were talking about an opportunity they had to acquire an important Taiwanese account. However, knowledge of Chinese was paramount in the ...