communication tips with chinese translation, interpretation, face to face
TRANSCRIPT
WWW.LAN-BRIDGE.COM
How to communicate effectively with Chinese people
- through translation, interpretation & face to face
Frances Nichol
www.meetup.com/china-unbound
WWW.LAN-BRIDGE.COM
About me
• Lived in China for 6 years• Studied Chinese• Taught English, worked
with BritCham Southwest China
• Lan-bridge – top 4 LSP in China
• Translation, interpretation, language training, branding etc.
www.meetup.com/china-unbound
WWW.LAN-BRIDGE.COM
Topic today
• What I won’t really talk about
• What I will talk about – communication in a broad sense.
– Communicating through translation
– Communicating who you are
– Communicating through interpretation
– Communicating face to face
www.meetup.com/china-unbound
WWW.LAN-BRIDGE.COM
Translating your name
• Transliterate • 阿/伯/德/斯/尔/克/恩/特 etc
• Invent
• Mix it up
• Languages and dialects
• Learn a lesson from the US embassy in Hong Kong.
www.meetup.com/china-unbound
WWW.LAN-BRIDGE.COM
Translating your company name
• Transliterate• Mix it up• Even better if the characters
have a related, positive meaning.• Textbook example:
– Coca Cola 可口可乐 kekou kele– Sounds like ‘pleasing and fun’
• You can also keep your name in English, for a foreign flavour
• First to file trademark system!
Example: Swedish baking equipment manufacturerSveba-Dahlen斯巴达能 reflects the sound达means achieving能 reflects energy-saving
www.meetup.com/china-unbound
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Translating brochures, introductions, marketing
• Content
• Wording
• Background knowledge
• Solutions:
• Translation
• Transcreation
• Copy-writing
"Let's make sure we get good capital allocation... build a
culture of ownership… productive science...
opportunity to domicile... putting together the
headcount…” Pfizer chief executive Ian Read at MP
committee hearing.
www.meetup.com/china-unbound
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Materials & communications in English
• Keep it short and sweet
• One topic per email or correspondence
• Proposals – send in advance
• Make it “win-win” & next steps
• Cut the buzzwords
www.meetup.com/china-unbound
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Websites & online
• Do you want to look foreign?
• Research
• Content – adaptation, unique content
• Technical considerations
• SEO & ads on Baidu & other search engines
• Importance of social media (WeChat, Weibo)
www.meetup.com/china-unbound
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Communicating through contracts
• Which language controls? Which language is just for reference?
• What is your jurisdiction? England?
• When you must have a Chinese contract
– Conforms to Chinese law & Chinese IP
– Arbitration abroad or litigation in China?
• Proofreading & checking
• A note on service contracts & sales tax
Special thanks to Dan at China Law Blog: http://www.chinalawblog.com/
www.meetup.com/china-unbound
WWW.LAN-BRIDGE.COM
Face to face: How do Chinese people feel?
• Groups who have international experience and those who don’t
• Second language
• Nervousness, fear
• Tolerance goes both ways
• Difficulties in communicating
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Face to face
• Speak slower! & enunciate
• Avoid buzzwords and colloquialisms
• Rephrase & confirm
• Don’t assume background knowledge
• Be careful with humour
• Find positive topics, small talk
• Avoid sensitive/negative topics
www.meetup.com/china-unbound
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Through an interpreter
• Ad hoc/liaison/escort, consecutive, simultaneous
• Prepare well
• Ask questions to your interlocutor, not the interpreter
• Pause after every main point & short sentences
• Cut the buzzwords & idioms (again!)
www.meetup.com/china-unbound
WWW.LAN-BRIDGE.COM
Summary
• Give yourself positive associations
• Know your audience
• Adjust your message
• Know your channels
• Slow down and simplify
• Thank you!
www.meetup.com/china-unbound
WWW.LAN-BRIDGE.COM
Questions & discussion
• What problems have you faced in your communications?
• Where have you gone wrong? How did you correct it?
• What successes have you enjoyed?
www.meetup.com/china-unbound