How does slang impact intercultural knowledge transfer?

As the Western world transitions into a knowledge society, one must ask, “How does slang impact intercultural knowledge transfer and interaction?” What does slang mean? How do I keep up with all the new words and old words with totally different meanings, which are often times not defined or found in an older Dictionary. Let’s examine Wikipedia’s definition of slang below:

Wikipedia defines slang as sharing at least two of the following four traits:

1. First, it is markedly lower in dignity than Standard English.

My first question is who is defining our dignity? I suggest the slang communicator or the out-group users of slang were not offered the opportunity to contest and/or add input to this power and privileged definition created by the in-group. One must admit the out-group’s creation of a new language is awfully innovative. Organizations often create acronyms (business slang) to communicate in a special, privileged way. The intent of slang is to communicate and identify with a single group. The creation of an in-group necessitates the ability to keep out-groups out. Knowledge of slang and/or acronyms exclude others.

In intercultural interactions, including language barriers, how in the world are international counterparts going to learn English as a second or third language when slang words are used in place of defined words? Try training in another country using everyday English, including slang. For example, “That’s cool!” Are you cold? Or, “He is flying by the seat of his pants.” How does an individual get lift without a motor?

2. Second, it tends to first appear in the language of groups with low status, meaning they may have little power or little responsibility.

Am I wrong or is this an over stated generalization concerning status, power and responsibility? This generalization appears as an attempt to maintain one group’s status? Who is creating and defining the status? In the past, education has been a privilege, in the future education (knowledge consumption) is for all. Although education has never been an indication of intelligence, it is power. If we agree that knowledge is power, then why are we adopting social and business slang to keep others out and guessing? In a world where knowledge transfer is quickly becoming the key to power, we need a way to transcend beyond all natural language barriers. We need to ease the transfer of knowledge and remove barriers to understanding. The word dog (lacking social morals) should mean dog (canine).

3. Third, it is often taboo and would be unlikely to be used by people of high status.

The third point is again, a generalization of status and power, this time adding in a criminal element in the lower status groups of people. Is this suggesting that higher status people only use more scholarly, educated English and that they do not commit crimes? Is there no slang among the higher status? What is a statement like “The eagle has landed,” mean? White collar crime is usually more devastating than blue! Is Cordozar Calvin Broadus Jr. better renowned as Snoop Dog, part of the higher status in-group? Does wealth define the in-group today?

4. Fourth, it tends to displace a conventional term, either as a short-hand or as a defense against perceptions associated with the conventional term.

Today, marketing professionals are creating and adapting slang (new words) to market products. For example, Mazda’s use of an old word with a new word definition, “zoom-zoom,” I thought a car went Vroom and a camera Zoomed, I was wrong. “Zoom-Zoom starts with a visual promise. Mazda vehicles are designed to not only catch the eye; they convey an immediate image of youthful exuberance, style and driving fun (Mazda).”

In conclusion, slang continues to grow even though the use of slang is a detriment to a global society and successful global knowledge transfer. The ability to transfer knowledge over and around such barriers will continue to be a major challenge as long as we use and adopt slang. Scholarly writing is necessary to enable knowledge transfer among intercultural educated groups as it demands the nonuse of slang and standardizes the use of language for all educated groups regardless of diverse culture. In other words, it sets the stage for fairness in communication.

Intercultural Word for the Day: Translation

Some words do not translate well across cultures and languages. Companies like Babelfish provide an online translation tool that is becoming more popular in converting written text in one language into another (i.e., English to Spanish). Note to the wise, be careful when relying on an online tool to translate your message, as words are often times lost in translation. The message sent, is not always the message received. In translation efforts, it is crucial that translations are researched and reviewed by cultural experts in each language. It is very important to use expert translators that understand cultural metaphors, cultural taboos, cultural slang, and cultural perceptions.

A personal realization of this translation issue occurred when a Chinese counterpart was invited to an American “Brown-Bag” meeting. To the American workforce a brown-bag meeting is a lunch meeting. Global brown-bag meetings may be lunch in one region and the middle of the night for another. To my Chinese counterpart the brown-bag held no meaning. I was asked, “What is a brown-bag?” The light went on. Terms we use everyday may not be understood across geographies.

Some examples of global blunders include urban legends. A fun book to read on international translation faux pas is by David A. Ricks, titled, Blunders in International Business. Although, every story has two sides, the General Motors (GM) example of the Chevy Nova doing poorly in Spanish speaking countries is a classic. Urban legend or not, it sure emphasizes the importance of translation. The message was sent and received loud and clear. "No VA" in Spanish translates to "No Go" in English. Even if sales were high, they can always be higher. Don’t lose because you overlook the important aspect of translation. Be careful what you decide to translate.

Intercultural Word for the Day: Recognition (Gifts)

What is recognition? Recognition is an ambiguous word like love and it does not cross global boundaries well. An important question to ask is, “How does the individual or team like to be recognized? In America, an individual may be singled out and recognized for their efforts; however, in China or Japan the team is recognized - there are no individuals. Forgetting the cultural norms of recognition and/or appropriate gifts for each country is a major faux pas.

10 Things to consider with recognizing others:

1. Is the culture a collectivistic (i.e., Japan) or individualistic culture (i.e., USA)

2. Is the recognition appropriate for that culture (For example, in China, a clock symbolizes death and sharp objects send a message of conflict)

3. Is the number of items in a recognition or gift appropriate or inappropriate (Ask yourself what odd and even mean in the culture. In Russia, an even number of flowers (including 1 dozen), are used only for funerals. In China, the number 4 is associated with death).

4. Is the color of the item appropriate? (In many cultures, black often symbolizes a funeral or death. In the Philippines, red or green is suitable for wrapping paper. Green is a sacred color to Muslims.

5. Is the value appropriate? (In Taiwan, The Taiwanese give very generous gifts. Americans and other visitors should be prepared to reciprocate with gifts of the same value).

6. Is the symbol or object appropriate (You don’t want to select a gift that has a negative or unlucky association so be sure to understand what the cultural meaning is?)

7. Is it appropriate to plan a recognition event or is the element of surprise okay?

8. How many times will a culture refuse a recognition or gift before accepting it?

9. What is important to the person or group receiving the recognition?

10. Make a memorable moment and/or exchange that will create an excellent memory. Corporate recognition is generally placed into a box or thrown away after an employee leaves a company. Give a gift that will follow the person/team through life.

Diversity is, as Diversity Does. Recruit and Retain!

If you are to attract, hire, develop and retain the best talent (future employees), you must nurture an environment where talented employees of “all kinds” can thrive and do their best work. An inclusive workplace produces unique perspectives and enhances innovation at work. Diversity is more than just a workforce development strategy; it is a business necessity!

Businesses today must go way beyond its regulations to create a warm, trustworthy, inclusive environment that not only attracts, but also retains. Putting any ole buttock in a chair is easy. Finding the right person is a serious challenge. If your company measures its success (any buttock in a chair) with this data, I laugh out loud. Bad measurements are a waste of time and effort, equating to lost money. This measurement doesn’t measure “Jack.” A better measurement and change indicator is keeping the talent and tracking their retention. Top diverse employees desiring to stay and progress, is the part most companies over look. How long is your diverse staff remaining with your company? Why? What is your company doing wrong or right?

Top Ten Diversity Enhancing Techniques:

1. Be open to difference. Promote diversity initiatives at your company and the positives surrounding diversity; squash negative perceptions (quotas and tokens) with knowledge.

2. Ensure you are recruiting during the right time, at the right schools, and the right events. Be on target, which means doing some serious research.

3. Don’t overlook highly qualified candidates. It is important to look both holistically and individually at a candidate. In order to understand an applicant’s whole package and the candidate’s road to success, you must understand that all students have different backgrounds in regards to opportunity. Some roads have more barriers (challenges) than others. Understand these challenges! For example, disability, financial, head-of-household, 3 jobs while attending school and many others.

4. Ensure that your recruiting staff and interviewers are a good mirror reflection/representation of your corporate diversity.

5. Recruiters and interviewers should be knowledgeable on diversity and why your organization embraces it.

6. Organizational charts should reflect diversity. Charts with pictures work well. This lends itself towards proof there is opportunity for diverse candidates at your company. Pictures paint a thousand words.

7. Prepare to make offers quickly; Time is of the essence, as top talent is scooped up fast. Snooze and you will lose.

8. Show off and be proud of the diversity at your organization. Publications, magazines, video clips, and awards help disseminate the truth. Recruiters (sales men and women) have a job to do, some will say anything to fill a job. Back up your mouth with facts and data.

9. Track retention and diligently research trends that negatively impact your diverse hires staying with your company (understand why employees are leaving and more positively, staying).

10. Become very creative in your future hiring plans. Think about sponsoring opportunities for diverse candidates early on, like high school. Invest in the future! Develop and advertise internship programs. Offer sharp candidates opportunity they may not otherwise have. Mentor up the next generation and help guide them into careers.

What is your Cultural Intelligence?

A wise man once said, “I am the wisest man alive, for I know one thing, and that is that I know nothing” (Socrates).

Every company sets out to hire the most intelligent people they can, so I know your company is no different. I think it is safe to say, you have some of the most brilliant minds in the world working at your company. Will anyone admit, “I have nothing to learn?” Knowing in advance that no one will honestly admit they have nothing to learn, I ask you today, “Do you have cultural intelligence?”

In 1958, authors William Lederer and Eugene Burdick wrote a best selling book titled, “The Ugly American.” Are you an Ugly American?

"For some reason, the people I meet in my country are not the same as the ones I knew in the United States. A mysterious change seems to come over Americans when they go to a foreign land. They isolate themselves socially. They live pretentiously. They're loud and ostentatious. Perhaps they're frightened and defensive, or maybe they're not properly trained and make mistakes out of ignorance" (Lederer and Burdick).

In the global world in which we live, we can not afford to make mistakes out of ignorance. Knowledge and skills are available to everyone through Online resources and also through intercultural classroom training for a fee. Other resources are free for the avid seeker. Understanding the need for cultural awareness and sensitivity is just the beginning. The world is growing smaller every day, “How well you interact with others really depends upon your level of cultural intelligence and understanding.”

Enhancing respect and trust and eliminating the “Ugly American” stereotype requires each of us to act like ants. As the ant collects morsels of food in the summer to survive the winter, we should collect cultural tid bits in the same way, as one never knows when the knowledge and skills will come in handy. Just because you have no intercultural interaction today, doesn’t mean you won’t have an opportunity tomorrow. Intercultural lessons are a life time journey.

Cultural short-sightedness and/or a lack of cultural competency or care, is the reason many international relationships and ventures fail. I was told by a professional (anonymous) first generation immigrant to America, “People are very nice here, but they just don’t care about learning about other cultures.” The challenge isn’t the lack of technical or professional expertise, individuals have plenty intelligence, it is a lack of care or desire to look at the world differently. Developing global cultural competency is one of the most challenging aspects of working globally.

In today’s global workplace, being culturally savvy is no longer just “a nice to have,” but rather the key to success. “What are you doing to increase your cultural intelligence?

Intercultural Word for the Day: Respect

Every human being desires and deserves respect. What is it? Respect is a proper attitude and acknowledgement of every individual’s value as a person, regardless of personal bias, stereotype and lifestyle. Respect calls for making a genuine effort to understand and educate your self on another’s culture (sub-culture). Respect requires us to take a close look into another’s values, social customs, and traditions, without developing an ethnocentric misjudgment. Respect calls for putting your self outside your comfort zone. It takes courage to respect others, as it allows each person their dignity and worth.

Ten ways to show your Openness to Difference

1. Use the internet to research a specific culture or subculture
2. Attend formal intercultural training (Seek to understand)
3. Read a book on the culture or subculture (Author from the culture)
4. Look for celebrations/activities to attend (i.e., Asian heritage)
5. Get out of your comfort zone (Immerse yourself)
6. Volunteer to help
7. Learn a new language
8. Question your biases and stereotypes
9. Educate yourself
10. Have fun

Talking Bout My Generation

I am only one of 50 million (1/50,000,000) in Generation “X,” hear my cry! Instead of being tagged a generation X’er we should be called, “The generation that continually does more with less.” Are the older generations trying to force us into a routine to get us ready for their retirement? The generation with less people are doing much more to get the job done! In every professional position I have held, the “Do more with less,” business decision always raises its ugly head. Examples include the U.S. Military cutting loose its middle management under President Bill Clinton, Intel Corporation and other high-tech companies outsourcing positions to China and India, and it continues on today.

For example, Friday, April 27, 2006, Intel’s CEO, Paul Otellini announces further drives to do more with less. These initiatives often have nice names like, “Re-structuring, Re-alignment and Re-deployment.” Traditional “Lay-offs” just aren’t politically correct. Is this the right decision? Maybe.

In 1997, I was talking to manufacturing technicians about seeking advanced degrees, because I thought and predicted, 10 years out that high-tech manufacturing in the United States, manufacturing will die a horrible death. We are one year off of my ten year vision and the death of high-tech manufacturing is coming to fruition. It is called progression, although it might take a little longer than my 10 year prediction, it is coming. America needs to wake up and smell the roses. Don’t worry, they don’t really smell like “Poo-Poo,” as in the popular “C-RAP" genre, song by OutKast, titled, “Roses.”

The American future is not manufacturing matter, but rather knowledge and the dissemination of such.

I question the present model of upgrading computers and computer packaging. As a consumer, I don’t want to upgrade my whole computer every 4 years, there is no point. Let’s do more with less in consumer buying and marketing. If the Intel and Apple partnership want to be effective in consumer upgrades, implement a real plug and play strategy. Here is my desire. I want a cool package like Apple produces with Intel hardware that is exchangeable. I don’t want to replace my whole computer system every 4 years. Where is the win-win strategy in that? I see Intel and Apple winning, but I am not Intel or Apple, what do I win? I am your customer! Are you listening? Here are my two demands as a consumer:

1. I want my computer system as a whole to be upgradeable with ease. Quit making us throw out the old and fill-up landfills everywhere with outdated technology. Environmentalists will thank you, I will thank you.
   

2. I don’t want to unscrew anything- I want slip-in, slip-out, i.e., pull the Pentium 4 out and slip the Titanium in, reboot the system and all is a go. Compatibility is necessary. I don’t have time to mess around.
   

In essence, we can all implement “Do more with less.” It is the right decision. To actually leap ahead, we must all “Do more with less.”