Global English

Global EnglishIs NOT: superficial English.

Is: about AWARENESS (and, when possible, AGREEMENT) about the English language, its speakers around the world and all the pitfalls we could step into.

Glo

bal E

nglis

hWhat do you think our students use

English for when working or doing practical training at:

PITFALL:

“We teach English so that our students are able to communicate with native speakers”G

loba

l Eng

lish

Source: Voertaal English – Ronald van de KrolGlo

bal E

nglis

hVisitors to the 2007 edition of the FD Summit witnessed first hand the new face of the English language. No, they didn't hear a new dialect, nor did they probably run into very much vocabulary that they hadn't encountered before.

Instead, they watched and listened as Dutch, Chinese and Indian experts - all of them speaking English - entered into a serious debate about the emergence of the world's new economic superpowers.

This is increasingly how English is spoken. That is to say, more and more non-native English speakers use the language to communicate with fellow non-natives. What superficially may seem like a handicap is actually a blessing. French speakers often find it easier to speak English to Finns - and Greeks to Guatemalans and Hungarians to Hondurans, and so on - than to native English speakers.

Reality:

Source: Voertaal English – Ronald van de Krol

Why is this so? For one thing, native English speakers tend to mumble and to slur over letters, syllables and even entire words. They frequently use too much slang and jargon. And, worst of all, they assume everybody speaks English so well that they needn't bother to slow down to check whether the poor non-native speaker is able to follow what they are saying.

Besides simply speaking English, then, it is important to know how to speak to a real native. More specifically, it pays, as a Dutch speaker, to have a stock number of phrases at your disposal which you can use to slow the native speaker down and ask for clarification.

In normal business conversation it simply will not do to say 'Huh?', 'What?' or 'Come again?' in moments of confusion. In stead you need to come up with polite but insistent ways of getting the natives to brake their flow of words and, if necessary, to repeat what they have just finished saying.

Reality:

Glo

bal E

nglis

h

PITFALLS :

1. Pronunciation (from ‘to pronounce’) vs Spelling

People

i:

Piece

Jeans

Deep

Phoebe

Receive

??

Jeans vs. Sweater

Receive vs. Veil

Veil vs. Veal

Glo

bal E

nglis

h

but also:

PITFALLS:

2. British English vs. American English

UK USA

Labour Labor Judgement JudgmentOrganise OrganizeProgramme ProgramTraveller TravelerGrey Gray

Same meaning, different spelling = more options!Glo

bal E

nglis

h

Mate: Friend Partner

Rubber:

Mad: Crazy Angry

Same words, different meaning!!! Like ‘just ‘

PITFALLS:

3. British English vs. American English

Glo

bal E

nglis

h

PITFALLS:

4. Dunglish:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEfZKQ0YCEw&feature=relatedGlo

bal E

nglis

h

PITFALLS:

5. Indianglish:The following is a telephone exchange between a hotel guest and room-service somewhere in Asia ....... 

Room Service : "Morrin. Roon sirbees."

Guest : "Sorry, I thought I dialed room-service."

Room Service: " Rye . Roon sirbees...morrin! Joowish to oddor sunteen???"

Guest: "Uh..... Yes, I'd like to order bacon and eggs.."

Room Service: "Ow July den?“Glo

bal E

nglis

h

Guest: "Oh, the eggs! How do I like them? Sorry.. Scrambled, please."

Room Service: "Ow July dee baykem? Crease?"

Guest: "Crisp will be fine."

Room Service: "Hokay. An Sahn toes?" 

Guest: "What?"

Room Service: "An toes. July Sahn toes?"

Guest: "I... Don't think so."

Room Service: "No? Judo wan sahn toes???"

Glo

bal E

nglis

h

Guest: "I feel really bad about this, but I don't know what 'judo wan sahn toes' means." 

Room Service: "Toes! Toes!...Why Joo don Juan toes? Ow bow Anglish moppin we bodder?"

Guest: "Oh, English muffin!!! I've got it! You were saying 'toast'...   Fine...Yes, an English muffin will be fine." Room Service: "We bodder?"

Guest: "No, just put the bodder on the side."

Room Service: "Wad?!?"

Guest: "I mean butter... Just put the butter on the side." 

Room Service: "Copy?"

Glo

bal E

nglis

h

Guest: "Excuse me?"

Room Service: "Copy...tea..meel?"

Guest: "Yes. Coffee, please... And that's everything."

Room Service: "One Minnie. Scramah egg, crease baykem, Anglish moppin, we bodder on sigh and copy .... Rye ??" 

Guest: "Whatever you say.."

Room Service: "Tenjooberrymuds."

Guest: "You're welcome"Glo

bal E

nglis

h

PITFALLS:

6. Culture

When speaking English in an international context culture should never be underestimated! Customs, habits, dos and taboos…..

Meaning of ”YES”. Ford Pinto

Glo

bal E

nglis

h

Successful European billboard campaignFailure in Middle East!

PITFALLS:

6. Culture pt. 2G

loba

l Eng

lish

TIPS:

-Be specific

- Use structure(Reports, articles, presentations)

- Use short, simple sentences

- Prepare

- 4 Skills: 2 active, 2 passive

Glo

bal E

nglis

h

CONCLUSION:

Using Global English means being aware of the pitfalls, working with the solutions and avoiding miscommunication

When possible/necessary: cooperate, learn from eachother’s strenghts, cover your weaknesses.How?

Glo

bal E

nglis

h

Or are there any questions?