Linguistic Elements of Communication

Apart from cross-border cultural differences, the linguistic element of international communication can be difficult to handle, even when something has been correctly translated. The same word can imply different meanings in different countries. In a country like England, ‘yes’ implies that the person in question has agreed to do a task, whereas in Portugal it means that an individual has understood that a task needs to be completed, but not with a personal commitment of doing it.

Even a professional interpreter cannot solve this kind of fundamental communication issue; delivering a successful multilingual project goes much deeper than that and cannot be managed by translation alone. Building a common understanding depends on the emotional intelligence of the project management team, the adaptability and flexibility of the project owner, and a training technique based on ability to listen and respond to both spoken and unspoken concerns.

Individuals directly involved in a project must be first prepared to understand the “project language” and able to send and receive communications in the same. They also need to have a clear picture of how their communication as individuals may affect the project as a whole, on top of having effective communication skills, which a successful project manager must have.

Having successfully managed multiple global teams in Europe, Africa and Asia, klimeck consulting knows how to successfully deliver multi-lingual projects across borders without slowing down your forward momentum. We can assist you in building strong relationships with your international clients.

Whether you need a new website, want to move your SEO forward or accelerate a cross-border technical project, our experts can assist you in English, Dutch, and German.

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