Years of research show that when a native English speaker enters a conversation among nonnative speakers, understanding goes down.Communication specialist Heather Hansen tells us that's because the native speaker doesn't know how to do what nonnative speakers do naturally: speak in ways that are understandable to everyone, using simple words and expressions.They unconsciously use unnecessarily confusing vocabulary, which makes language less understandable.
Ting Gong grew up in Shanghai and moved to the U.S.in her 20s. She ran up against this problem of confusing vocabulary at the doctor's one day. "The receptionist(接待员)gave me a form and asked me to write down my complaints,”she said.“I told her that I did not have any complaint，and she looked impatient and then she asked me to write down anything that I could think of.”
“I only realized that‘complaints' here refers to symptoms I have after I spoke to my husband when I got home. At the doctor's I actually wrote down 'the receptionist was not friendly' as one of my complaints."
So what can we do to improve communication between native and nonnative English speakers?
Hansen says the responsibility shouldn't be on nonnative speakers but rather on native English speakers. Take a page out of nonnative speakers' book, says Hansen, by changing your English to be more inclusive.That means no more confusing expressions. Small changes like this might allow native speakers to join in conversations with nonnative speakers.
Joseph Issam Harb, who was raised in the United States and Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates, said,"I am still learning about English from nonnative speakers.
"In emails, I've discovered an expression commonly used by some nonnative speakers 'please do the needful,' "Harb said."For years I have been interested in this expression and its use in formal work environment emails." Discovering it and wondering about the origins of the expression, which means "please do what needs to be done,"has been an enjoyable thing for Harb.
【小题1】What makes communication between native and nonnative speakers less smooth according to Hansen?| A．The speed of native speakers' talk. |
| B．Nonnative speakers' bad pronunciation. |
| C．The difference between speakers' cultures. |
| D．Native speakers' use of confusing expressions. |
| A．She had difficulty expressing herself in English. |
| B．She wanted to get treatment as soon as possible. |
| C．She failed to understand what the receptionist had meant. |
| D．She feared that the receptionist would become impatient. |
| A．Read books by nonnative English writers. |
| B．Join in more nonnative speakers' conversations. |
| C．Make no comment about nonnative speakers' English. |
| D．Use expressions understandable to nonnative speakers. |
| A．It is very interesting. | B．It should be corrected. |
| C．It sounds strange and funny. | D．It can be used in informal situations. |
