How do you think of language barrier?
By heroinelover
@heroinelover (58)
China
August 20, 2008 10:25am CST
In modern world in which international exchanges are growing and expanding at an enormous speed, language barrier has become one of the major hindrances to smooth and sound out of personal interactions. For example, a native English speaker who does not speak Chinese will find it very difficult to travel, especially in remote provinces in China. During a business negotiation, language barrier can also lead to confusion, even failure of the business. If neither side speaks the language of the other, they have to depend wholly on the interpreters. Language barrier can cause confusion, misinterpretation and prevent the flow of intercultural communications. If there is no common language to bridge two persons speaking two different languages, no communication of ideas is possible. Nor is it conducive to the reduction of prejudice against and the increase in understanding of the culture the other person represents. Language barrier can also cause inefficiency in business. If everything has to be transmitted through an interpreter, half the time will be lost in interpretation. What's more, you have to keep your fingers crossed that the interpreter is saying the right thing! How do you think of language barrier? Do you have any opinion on solving the problem?
1 person likes this
3 responses
@greenline (14838)
• Canada
13 Sep 08
You are absolutely right. I fully agree with what you are saying. I travel to many countries around the world on business trips and on holidays too. It is an immense help if one can speak the language of the country.
@ashar123 (2357)
• India
11 Sep 08
I am working in construction company and all the language used in Pakistan, officially is English. My company has its Projects going on in many countries and have interpreters. Presently, I faced some problem when we were working with Koreans, as they are helping in build a power plant here in Pakistan and you are absolutely right that if both parties don't know the common language English then everything is so confused. But now we are getting along very smoothly as both parties are understanding each other.
