differences in language

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jesper H Christiansen on May 21, 2008 at 9:14

I am not experienced on that specific language level however I have experienced adapting/assimilating SF language for instance with engineers in the construction business where asking miracle questions is too "weird" for them.

If I instead use the word "FuturePerfect" - in Danish rephrased as "The Perfect Conditions" ("De perfekte forudsætninger") - then it's much more understandable in their world and opens up very easily to a dialogue beyond time lines and budget namely about personal dreams, hopes and satisfactions in work.

And it has been much easier to talk about: "How will others notice when you have achieved the perfect conditions?" - "How will you notice on others that they too benefit from your perfect conditions?". That opens up for a talk about being in a good mood, telling success stories about things that work.

Permalink Reply by Katalin Hankovszky on May 23, 2008 at 13:56

I made/make some experiences with this topic by translating (and setting) SF working language (like the questions) into Hungarian. It's funny to recognise, that SF questions are strange enough in the mindset and it allows to be a little bit strange in the target language as well. I don't have a feedback yet what happens, when non-mother tong consultants ask these strange questions?

Permalink Reply by netti kutsche-roch on December 30, 2008 at 3:36

Dear Regina,
respecting cultural differences is part of my every day life and therefore most important for me, living in KL, Malaysia with a mixture of ethnics (chinese, indian, malay and on top the western expats) and ages. Doing sf work means to be most respectful and careful, as some of the questions might not integrate too well with my or their system of moral and values. This already begins with the shake of hands at first sight, which is - sometimes - quite unuseful. On the other hand, using sf, provides already a very tender and respectful attidtude and facilitates the work; sf goes very well with the Asian concept of the "face", as it is most respectful, unlike in other approaches I do not "confront" my customer with anything.

Also the tool of giving (in)direct feedback is working amazingly; as especially some people hardly get it.

netti