Englanti on maailmanlaajuinen kieli, mutta sen vivahteet ja idiomit voivat toisinaan aiheuttaa epäselvyyksiä eri kulttuurien välillä. Tämä johtuu siitä, että englannin kielessä on monia sanontoja ja ilmaisutapoja, jotka ovat syvästi juurtuneet tiettyihin kulttuurisiin konteksteihin ja historiallisesti kehittyneisiin merkityksiin. Esimerkiksi sanonnat, kuten "raining cats and dogs" tai "barking up the wrong tree", voivat olla hämmentäviä niille, jotka eivät ole syntyperäisiä puhujia tai jotka eivät tunne näiden ilmaisujen alkuperää. Lisäksi englannin kielen moninaiset murteet ja alueelliset variaatiot voivat lisätä sekaannusta, kun samat sanat tai lauseet saattavat tarkoittaa eri asioita eri puolilla maailmaa. Tämän vuoksi on tärkeää olla tietoinen näistä eroista ja pyrkiä käyttämään selkeää ja yksinkertaista kieltä, kun viestitään kansainvälisesti. 

Lue blogimme yleisesti ymmärrettävästä englannin kielen viestinnästä. Blogin ohjeet perustuvat kieliasiantuntijoiden, Michael Skapinker ja Jean-Paul Nerriéren Globish-vinkkeihin sekä Galimatiaksen englannin pääkouluttajan, Claire Rytkösen, näkemyksiin. 

Keep it direct and simple

Global English favours clear sentence structures such as Subject-Verb-Object e.g., "We need more data" or “Please update these figures” rather than the passive “ These figures should be updated.” or “More data is needed.” Also avoid using idioms, don’t say "you hit the nail on the head” or “sales went through the roof” instead use direct language like “ you are absolutely right” or” sales increased dramatically”.

 Select common, familiar vocabulary

When choosing vocabulary, choose standard, widely understood terms. Instead of complex Latin-based words like "fortify" or "convene," opt for simpler Germanic equivalents like "strengthen" or "meet." One way to check this is to look up the word in a thesaurus and check for more recogisable synonyms. This approach makes communication easier for a global audience. Avoid old-fashioned or archaic terms like "herewith" or "thereafter," and use more straightforward alternatives like "here" and "after that." This can be checked from a dictionary by noting if the word has (arch.) listed next to it.

Global English dos and don’ts

Watch your phrasal verbs

Try to avoid using phrasal verbs e.g., get off, get over, get up to. These are verbs made of a verb plus preposition where the preposition can change the meaning. Sometimes one phrasal verb can have several meanings depending on the context e.g., to back up a file, to back up a car, to back up a colleague. Phrasal verbs can confuse non-native speakers and reduce clarity. Instead, choose straightforward verbs and nouns that deliver a message directly. Rather than saying “call off a meeting” say “cancel a meeting”, or avoid saying “ we can get by “, instead say “we can manage”.

Don’t be too modern!

English is changing all the time and new words are entering its vocabulary constantly.

It takes time before a word becomes well known internationally. In this situation perhaps it is best to check that a word has been in a major dictionary ( the Oxford English Dictionary/ Merriam-Webster) for a minimum of, say, 5 years.

Limit localised and foreign words

Realise that some words are peculiar to only one variant of English. It is best to choose words that work all across the world. For example, Brits favour words such as “ mend”, “cross”, and “frock” but globally the words “ fix”, “angry” and “dress” are much more common. Likewise, although Americans use the terms “ faucet”, “zip code” and “kitty-corner”, the British terms “tap”, “post code” and “diagonally” are more widely accepted.

A dictionary will tell you whether a term is localised with a note such as (Brit.Eng) or (Scot.) next to it.

Also watch for foreign words that have entered English. Some single words like "cliche" and "entrepreneur" are widely known. However, foreign phrases like "cul-de-sac" or "prima facie" although in a dictionary, may seem foreign and obscure, so choose simpler phrases like "dead-end" or "at first glance." These foreign phrases will also be marked with a note in the dictionary.

Avoid culturally specific expressions

References to local culture, religious texts, or folklore like "a Cinderella tale" or "a golden calf" might not be universally recognisable . Choose neutral terms that explain the situation instead of terms that have cultural connections. This applies to high culture as well as low culture so references to opera are just as unclear as those to pop music!

Use Globish principles to communicate clearly and inclusively. By using universal language, you ensure your message is accessible to a worldwide audience. If you wish to learn more about globally accessible English do not hesitate to contact us.