Some English expressions catch foreigners off guard
The problem is extremely acute – some claim that no one expresses their thoughts as poorly as native English speakers. As a result, more and more people are forced to go back to school lessons to learn English anew – to learn to speak it in a way that English-speaking foreigners can understand them.
BBC Capital surveyed its readers on which words and expressions most confuse them in other varieties of English and what can be done to simplify communication. The responses were enough for an entire article.
What kind of language is this?
"If a language is native to both the speaker and their audience, then the person is confident that everyone will understand them, no matter what they say, how fast they speak, or what expressions they use," writes Mike Conroy.
What exactly causes inconvenience for our readers? For example, the fact that the British and Americans call a handheld flashlight by two different words: some say "torch," others say "flashlight." The same problem with a wrench: in the UK it's a "spanner," in America it's a "wrench."
Some complain that expressions like "the umpteenth time," "like watching paint dry," and "taking the mickey" were unfamiliar to them. In other situations, difficulties can arise even from differences in spelling – "centre" or "center."
"I went to America on vacation, and people there understood me worse than colleagues and clients in continental Europe," writes Briton Ray Gloster. "By the way, in Europe, when speaking English, you can choose words with Latin or Germanic roots, which are understandable to more people."
"In British and American varieties, such differences are ubiquitous," comments Martin Hawkins. "As a Briton living in the US, I can confirm that 'two cultures divided by a common language' is about us."
Your own language is the hardest
Martin Searle, a native English speaker living in Asia, gives three tips on how to adapt your speech for locals: "First, never ask negative questions like 'Didn't you go to the office today?' From the answer, you most likely won't be able to tell what they mean – 'yes' or 'no.' Second, many Asian languages have no direct equivalent of the words 'yes' and 'no,' so say something like 'correct.'
Third, even those who have learned English excellently often express themselves more bluntly than desired – all the nuances of politeness and tact inherent in this language are very difficult for foreigners. But they don't even think of being rude to you – so taking offense at them is pointless."
Australian Erran Ears worked in an English pub where, among 22 employees, there were representatives of 14 different nationalities, and they all spoke English. And non-native English speakers understood each other perfectly. But they did not understand Ears, for whom English is native. "They couldn't make out my accent and various Australian turns of phrase. They constantly asked me to speak more clearly and not rush. It even became a local joke. But over time, I learned to speak more slowly – now I'll probably be understood even in the States!"
When in Rome
Some readers were horrified by the thought that someone, living in their home country, might try to change their speech for the convenience of others. "English is not my native language, and I would not want native speakers to talk to me in any special way – it's humiliating. As if they immediately decided that my knowledge of the language is not enough to understand them," writes Isabella Chan.
John Smith expresses a similar position: "When learning a foreign language, you want to rise to the level of its native speakers, not use some watered-down 'simpler' version that they invented especially for you."
Other readers also noted that asking questions and exploring linguistic nuances when learning a foreign language is very useful.
Help me help you
At the same time, many readers who have spoken English since childhood said they are happy to adapt their speech for foreigners. This is "a prerequisite for effective communication in a multinational environment," believes Denise Willmott-Green, a Briton living in Belgium. She also added that when communicating with representatives of other cultures in an informal setting, she uses her native language in all its fullness – with slang, idioms, and cultural allusions.
"But when establishing professional contacts, giving a presentation, or speaking with someone at work, you need to be able to express yourself so that most people understand you. If you don't want to or can't do that, then some opportunities will be closed to you," she added. "The English spoken in Brussels is not as rich and varied as the one I spoke every day before I left the UK."
Some noted that the need for adaptation is often dictated by the specifics of a particular task. For example, technical manual writer Tara Ballance recently had to replace the idiomatic expression "rule of thumb" with the simpler word "guideline."
"After all, the goal of my text is simply to convey an idea," she reasoned.