<div dir="ltr"><div><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr"><div><div><div><a href="https://medium.com/@mollyclare/taming-the-steamroller-how-to-communicate-compassionately-with-non-native-english-speakers-d95d8d1845a0" target="_blank">https://medium.com/@mollyclare/taming-the-steamroller-how-to-communicate-compassionately-with-non-native-english-speakers-d95d8d1845a0</a><br></div>A good essay.<br></div><br>TL;DR:
Some detailed examples of how to improve communication and
interactions, for the benefit of anyone who uses English as a second language. <br><br><br>Excerpts, to whet [sharpen or stimulate] your appetite:<br><br>> Phrasal verbs in English can be particularly hard to master. Just think
about “cut off” vs. “cut up” vs. “cut over” vs. “cut in” vs. “cut out”
vs. “cut down” vs. “cut back” and you’ll see how confusing it can be
when you recommend “cutting back” on something, or asking someone to
“cut it out”. [...]<br><br>> Make your message very clear, especially your request. This is doubly
true for me, because I work with Germans, who are famously direct. The
American habit of softening and burying a request is just confusing and
pointless to them.<br><br>> The last thing you and I want to do is overwhelm. We work across
language barriers, not because it’s glamorous or fun or easy, but
because we care about collaborating with people who are different from
us [...]. And non-native speakers
are committing to this collaboration even more than we are: they’re
reaching out to us by working in English. [...]<br><font size="2"><br></font><div><font size="2">n.b. Yes, there are some over-generalizations and stereotypes in there. It's still good overall, though! ;-)</font></div><span></span><br clear="all"><span></span></div><span><div><br>Quiddity<br><br>[Fwding by request.]<br></div></span></div>
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