Saying More With Less
(International English Version)

Which of the world’s most widely spoken languages has no native speakers?

I can see you thinking: The most widely spoken world language is Chinese, but this includes many native speakers. Then there is Spanish, there is Hindi, English, Arabic, but they all have many native speakers, too.

Okay — This is perhaps a trick question. The answer is: English as a Second Language (ESL). Of 765 million English speakers world-wide, 335 million are native speakers. The remaining 430 million use English as a second (or third or fourth) language in addition to their own native language. So ESL (or International English, as we’ll call it) ranks third among the world’s most widely spoken languages (after Chinese and Spanish and ahead of Hindi and Arabic.). Alone among the world’s major languages, English is spoken by more people as a second language than as a native language.

International English is also the most widely spoken business language in the world today. Most people incorrectly assume that it is the same language spoken by native speakers of English. It is not.

International English consists of a basic vocabulary of about 5000 words plus the technical words from your particular profession or line of business. Most educated native speakers of English (like educated native speakers of other languages) recognize up to 50,000 words (and use up to 25,000). The difference consists of words such as:

• everyday language and slang ("I was, like, that’s cool." for "I said I liked the idea.")
• the rich language of literature
• the complex language of the academic world
• historical language not currently used but widely understood (e.g., Shakespeare and the King James Bible)
• regional variations ("tabling a motion" has exactly opposite meanings in the US and the UK).

So the majority of words that are familiar to native English speakers actually lie outside the boundary of International English.

When there is a problem in understanding, native speakers and ESL speakers usually assume that those using English as a second language are the cause. In fact, the situation is the opposite. Because of the way International English is defined, most ESL speakers are experts in International English. Most native speakers of English, however, have not learned the skill of knowing where the boundary between their native language and International English lies.

The goal of International English is clear communication. It is not the finer points of language, exactly correct grammar, perfect pronunciation or the ability to express every thought with the same precision we can in our native language.

Jean-Paul Nerri�re, a retired IBM executive, has taken the point further by identifying a part of International English using only 1500 words which he calls Globish. Nerri�re is a Frenchman who spent much of his career in Asia. He noticed that many of his Asian business partners found it easier to deal with him than with native English speakers because his International English was easier for them to understand. He notes that you can you can simply say the room where food is cooked if you don’t know the word kitchen. This approach is not elegant, but it is practical. As part of this project, he has identified a small group of English words which makes basic communication possible. You can find more information on Globish at http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/21/arts/21iht-Blume22.html.

International English is more powerful than Globish. When it is properly used, International English can make commmunication easier and help us work more effectively with others. When one person is using International English and another is using native English, in contrast, the result is confusion, missed opportunities, poor teamwork and bad business practice.

Here are some tips on mastering International English for native speakers of English:

• Remember that your skill in using International English can expand or limit your career options. A senior HR executive at Nissan told me that managers who are not able to use International English in their work may not be chosen for overseas assignments and have lower chances of being promoted into a position with international responsibilities.
• When you prepare a presentation for an international audience, ask a colleague with English as a second language to observe a dry run and to suggest how to make your presentation more suitable for an international audience. Make it clear that that you are not testing your colleague’s fluency in English but that you want to improve your own ability to communicate in International English.
• In meetings, ask a colleague who has English as a second language to make notes of words and expressions that are unclear and to suggest clearer options.
• Learn to speak more slowly and to pronounce each word clearly. Pause between sentences. Remember that it takes more time and mental energy to think in a second language.
• Make your points in more than one way to make it easier for listeners to catch the point. This makes your message easier to understand and gives more time to think about your message.
• Practice translating a short article into International English.
• Study and practice a foreign language to learn how to find another way to make your point when you don’t know exactly the right word. Learn to find several ways to express a thought.
• Remember that an accent is not does not tell you how well a person speaks English. Some speakers of English as a Second Language have strong accents but are able to express themselves in English more fluently that some native speakers.
• Be careful with humour - it often doesn’t have the same meaning to someone from another culture. If you tell a joke which some people don’t follow, you may confuse people rather than convince them.

If you use English as a second language for business purposes, here are some tips for you:

• When it is difficult to follow a conversation in English, don’t assume that the problem is with you. If some of the people in the meeting or on the call are native speakers, they are probably not using International English.
• Speak up to ask others to talk more slowly or to to make their point in a different way ("I’m not sure I’m following what you are saying. Could you say it in another way?") When you do this, you improve communication. You also help your colleagues who are native English speakers to know then they are not speaking International English and don’t realize it.
• If you often deal with native English speakers who aren’t using International English, think about talking to them privately about this. Tell them that English is not your native language, that it is sometimes difficult to follow their ideas, and that this is true for others, too. Ask if they would like to have your feedback to help them communicate more effectively to colleagues who are using English as a second language. If they say yes, make a note of some of the unfamiliar words and phrases they use during the next meeting along with other ways to say the same thing in International English.
• Send a copy of this article to native English speakers who might find it helpful.

International English is a strong tool for global leaders. Like any tool, it is only useful to the extent that you take the time and effort to master it.

Craig Collins is Principal Consultant of Orion International. He and his associates have helped hundreds of managers and professionals to sharpen their skills as presenters through workshops and coaching. He can be reached at craig.collins@orion-intl.com.

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