Keep it Simple (Stupid)

For someone who has always reveled in the vagaries of the English language and delighted in listening (in Australia) to Kel Richards' Word Watch, I am finding the most basic communication exchanges in Sri Lanka quite a struggle.

Trying to get your point across to others for whom English is quite often not only not their first spoken language, but their third or fourth is an interesting and exhausting exercise. And whilst there were some interesting mismatches when I was in the 'lady of leisure' stage of this trip these usually involved nothing of greater import than sandwich choice. I realized quite quickly that those with limited English comprehension used a basic trick of repeating back to you your last phrase to indicate understanding. However on further investigation this revealed no comprehension, just a fabulous ability to mimic others.

So now that I'm working we are talking a whole different kettle of fish. Making the move into an office environment, I anticipated some communication challenges. But I also anticipated that I would be able to overcome them quite quickly - WRONG! We are not talking a daily misunderstanding, we're talking hour by hour! On my floor I am the only native English speaker. In fact in our building of say 35 people, there is only one other (a Yank (look it's English of a sort), who I'm teaching 'Aussie').

The simplest verbal interaction often becomes incredibly laboured. Here's a 'for instance' for you. Today in an interview we had a Japanese Engineer, an American Engineer, a Sri Lankan Engineer, Me and a Sri Lankan Trainee Engineer as interviewee. At the end of the interview I'm doing the 'HR bit' and inform her that: "the role will initially be for a 6 month contract". She looks at me blankly. So I say: "This job contract is for 6 months - is that ok?" Again, blank look, by which time I'm looking beseechingly at my colleagues. I am saved by the Sri Lankan Engineer who says: "6 month - ok contract?". At which she smiles and nods her head!!! Go figure.

My ex colleagues at Roche will be quite pleased to hear that I've had to 'dumb it down' as they used to get quite frustrated with my insistence on using antiquated (to the Aussie ear) phrases. Well I can assure you ladies, the shoe is now firmly on the other foot. And don't even get me started about trying to make your point on the phone! I have to keep repeating my new mantra, Keep it Simple (Stupid).