Transcript BILC Conference 2011. Vilnius

BILC Conference
2011. Vilnius
Study Group 1
Guidelines for native speakers
to enhance communication
with non-native speakers
Study Group 1.
Tasking
SG 1. was tasked
- to develop guidelines for English native
speakers during operations
- to identify how to self-monitor language use and
choices
- to facilitate comprehension/interaction with nonnative speakers
Study Group 1.
Finding
Be considerate
Thank you for your attention!
Study Group 1.
Concerns
SG 1. was concerned about the:
- target population of guidelines (officers, NCOs,
enlisted, …)
- context (operational?)
- non-native speaker’s/receiving person’s
characteristics:
educational background, rank, first language, level
- native speaker’s/communicating person’s
characteristics:
educational background, rank, regional dialect
- NNS’s level (STANAG 2 and above?)
- standard English ???
- awareness of communication breakdowns
Study Group 1.
Guidelines
SG 1.’s interpretation of guidelines
= to provide concise, common sense reminders to
raise NSs’ awareness of how to enhance
= communication
to give short, common
tips to help
to
and sense
to avoid
or NSs
repair
improve
communication
and tolevel
avoid2 or
or above
repair
breakdowns
with a STANAG
breakdowns
with a STANAG level 2 or above NNS
NNS receiver
Study Group 1.
Tips
1. Communication-related issues
2. Language-related issues
3. Context-related issues
Study Group 1.
Communication-related tips
• Know your audience
• Be sensitive to your audience
- Be empathetic, open, patient, considerate
- Establish trust with the listener
- Make yourself accessible
- Encourage a positive atmosphere
• Avoid irony, humour, sarcasm, cynicism
• Be culturally aware
• Don't assume that you're understood
• Use concept checking questions
• Keep your topic focused (avoid digressions)
• Use gestures and body language
Study Group 1.
Language-related tips – 1.
• Choose high-frequency, short-syllable words
• Use clear, short sentences (avoid complex
sentence structure)
• Pay attention to sentence stress
• Control/Reduce use of phrasal verbs, use singleverb phrases
• Use active voice, not passive (tenses)
• Avoid contractions, weak forms
Study Group 1.
Language-related tips – 2.
• Avoid regionalisms, colloquialisms/slang and
idioms
• Use plain English expressions
• Stay in the concrete:
- avoid implied meaning
- avoid padding
- avoid semantic ambiguity
• Restate at a slower pace, next reword
Study Group 1.
Context-related tips
• Understand whether the conversation context is
general or specific
• Take into consideration environmental factors
Study Group 1.
„Communicate to express, not to impress.”
With the cooperation of colleagues from:
Australia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Canada
Denmark
Estonia
Georgia
Italy
Lithuania
Portugal
Spain
Sweden
United Arab Emirates
Thank you!