Why native English audio system can’t communicate English!

OK, native English audio system really CAN communicate English.

Nonetheless, when presenting in English to an viewers of non-native audio system, native English audio system are sometimes misunderstood or not understood in any respect. Why? There are a selection of potential causes.

It may very well be the speaker’s accent. Maybe the speaker is talking too quick, or utilizing jargon and idioms. It is perhaps that the speaker is utilizing linguistic constructions which can be difficult for non-native audio system. Possibly it’s all the foregoing.

Regardless of the purpose(s), it’s a drawback. And since English is the world’s lingua franca and lots of occasions are held in English, it’s a massive drawback. Monetary Instances columnist Michael Skapinker has written about this example. He says that it’s widely known that many non-native English audio system don’t perceive what native English audio system are saying. Moreover, Brits, People, Australians, Canadians and others who’ve spoken English all their lives “are largely oblivious to the incomprehension they go away behind at conferences, enterprise conferences and on convention calls”.

In April 2024, I spoke on the annual convention of the European Speechwriter Community at Cambridge College. The aim of my speak was to assist native English audio system join extra successfully with non-native-speaking audiences. It was based mostly on my years of expertise working individuals from everywhere in the world, each throughout my years on the United Nations and my years as knowledgeable speaker who works world wide.

Adjusting your English for a non-native viewers

In my speak, which you’ll watch under, I examined the issue and the explanations for it. I then provided a “basket” of concepts for individuals to contemplate when chatting with a non-native viewers. Lots of the suggestions can even be helpful for native audio system of any language when talking in that language to a non-native viewers. Nonetheless a number of the suggestions are associated to linguistic constructions in English—equivalent to contractions and phrasal verbs—that aren’t current in lots of different languages.

I additionally created the easy infographic under that comprises 12 suggestions for native audio system when presenting to a non-native viewers. For extra ideas on this subject, you may also learn this publish which I wrote a number of years in the past.