There was an interesting article published last Friday on the BBC News: New lingua franca upsets French
It is the end of this article that I find most interesting.
International business professionals are finding themselves confronted with a new breed of English language.
- Non-native English speakers have a distinct way of speaking English.
- And the native English speakers are having a hard time understanding this new form of their own language.
Some people call this new form of English “Globish”. I have used “International English” to describe it here. I have also heard the term “Global English”.
This Globish or International English is picked up by non-native English business professionals who need to communicate effectively in English. They need to have results and they also need to limit cross-cultural communication blunders and barriers.
Here are some particularities of this new form of the English language:
Less Vocabulary
Vocabulary is drastically reduced. In this article, it states that Globish only has 1,500 words.
Non-native English business professionals use their words wisely. They get straight to the point. They use the minimum amount of words to make their point clearly.
Less Fun
Certain things are avoided:
- Humor
- Metaphors
- All abbreviations
These are major pitfalls in cross-cultural communication.
Lack Of Personality
Native English speakers often feel that Globish leads to a lack of warmth or personality in the English language.
And in many ways this is true.
National metaphors add life to communication. So does humor. And abbreviations mean that you can get onto the more interesting part of your discussion faster.
But Globish speakers avoid them like the plague because they can easily create confusion, misunderstandings and this simply slows down communication. You often only pick up the confusion or misunderstanding much further down the road.
Reasons To Use Globish
But this stark way of communicating also has a distinct advantage:
- You communicate more effectively to a broader audience
There is also another advantage:
- Globish or International English is very clear.
This is why such a wide audience can quickly understand what is being said.
- Clarity and consistency are key elements for good web content.
Globish speakers are also very good at identifying possible areas that can lead to cross-cultural confusion. They know when it is best to give more details or ask for confirmation of understanding.
- People with good Global English or International English skills are good communicators.
Yes, some of the non-native English speakers may still make grammar mistakes. But do not underestimate their power of communication.
If you need to communicate across a wide international audience, which includes non-native English speakers, contact me to find out more about the International English copywriting services I offer.
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
I live in London and if anyone says to me “everyone speaks English” my answer is “Listen and look around you”. If people in London do not speak English then the whole question of a global language is completely open.
The promulgation of English as the world’s “lingua franca” is unethical and linguistically undemocratic. I say this as a native English speaker!
Unethical because communication should be for all and not only for an educational or political elite. That is how English is used internationally at the moment.
Undemocratic because minority languages are under attack worldwide due to the encroachment of majority ethnic languages. Even Mandarin Chinese is attempting to dominate as well. The long-term solution must be found and a non-national language, which places all ethnic languages on an equal footing is long overdue.
Well, when there is an ethical and linguistically democratic lingua franca I’m sure everyone will jump on the band wagon and use it. Right now, the people who want to do business internationally use what they can. And this is what has created the Globish phenomenon. I think they are too busy communicating to start a new language, not even mentioning the task of pushing this new language.
With regards to minority languages, it is very interesting to observe the differences in how different cultures express their pride in their own culture. The essence of culture itself.
In my house, if anyone complains about how the dinner was cooked, my response is to tell them to go make it themselves the next time. Instead of spending time complaining, get up and do something about it. This will be a pleasure for everyone.
I agree with Brian, we need a non-national language. I live and work in Chicago, I hear at least 3 different languages everyday. Everyone speaks broken English (which is what I say it should be called, not Globish) but it is easily misinterpreted or confusing. I think everyone should be taught 3 languages: Spanish/English/French (I say we don’t need French, but I’ll put it up) and either some Mid-Eastern (Urdu, Farsi, etc.) or Eastern European (Polish or Russian) language as those are non-romantic and are important because they represent the emerging populations.
Utopia and ideal living environments are wonderful personal debates.
People develop language skills at different levels, at different speeds and get stuck at different barriers. It is easy to see that when you look at the success of mandatory languages taught in different countries. Which is probably the reason behind the “broken English”, “International English”, “Globish” and however you want to call “that other thing people are speaking resembling my language that is not familiar to me”.
Also, reminds me of the essay I wrote in high school and my subsequent study of communism.
What about communication solutions for international business? …today?
I’m for Esperanto too. I’m in Cameroon in West Africa at present, and I’ve found Esperanto useful. In fact I’ll be going to the AGM of the Cameroon Esperanto Association on Saturday!
Thank you for sharing. Do you have any knowledge of businesses using Esperanto?