It Depends Where You're From
Cross-cultural communication — register, context, and the difference between what we say and how it lands. Maya tells a client her work is 'not bad' and learns the hard way.
📖 Reading: Lost in Translation
"Has this ever happened to you?" Priya asked the group one afternoon. "You say something perfectly in English, grammar is correct, vocabulary is correct — and still, somehow, you offend someone?"
"All the time," said Maya with a sigh. "In my first month, I told a client her logo design was 'not bad'. In Taiwan, that's a compliment. Here, she thought I hated it."
"Register," said Jess, joining via video call. "'Not bad' is damning with faint praise in North American English. If you mean good, say good."
"In direct cultures," said Omar, "people say what they mean. In indirect cultures, you have to read between the lines."
"Which is better?" asked Leo.
"Neither," said Priya. "They're just different. For example, in British English, 'That's quite interesting' can mean 'I find that terrible'. But in American English, it usually just means interesting."
"This is exhausting," said Leo.
"It gets easier," said Jess. "The key is to ask for feedback. If you're not sure whether something landed the way you intended, just ask."
"I've started saying: 'I want to make sure I said that correctly — how did that come across?'," said Maya.
"That's brilliant," said Priya. "It's not weakness. It's emotional intelligence."
"And it's cross-cultural fluency," added Jess. "Which is harder than any grammar rule."
🔑 Vocabulary Box
Eight key words and phrases from this lesson.
| Word | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| register | The level of formality in language use for a specific context | n. — Register is about formal vs. informal English. |
| offend | To cause someone to feel upset, hurt, or insulted | v. — She accidentally offended the client. |
| damning with faint praise | Praising so weakly that it implies criticism | idiom — 'Not bad' is damning with faint praise. |
| direct | Saying exactly what you mean without ambiguity | adj. — Direct cultures value clear, explicit communication. |
| indirect | Communicating through implication rather than direct statement | adj. — Indirect cultures use hints and context. |
| land | To be received or understood in a particular way | v. — I want to make sure that landed correctly. |
| come across | To create a particular impression on others | v. — How did that come across? |
| emotional intelligence | The ability to understand and manage emotions | n. — Asking for feedback shows emotional intelligence. |
📚 Key Verbs & Structures in This Lesson | |
to offend (accidentally) | She accidentally offended the client. |
to come across (as) | How did that come across? / You came across as very confident. |
to land (well/badly) | I hope that landed the way I intended. |
to adapt (your style) | You need to adapt your communication style. |
📚 Grammar Focus
📚 Register — Formal, Neutral and Informal | |
Formal | I would appreciate your assistance. / I am writing to enquire about... |
Neutral | Can you help me? / I'd like to ask about... |
Informal | Can you give me a hand? / Just wondering about... |
Context determines register | Email to a CEO = formal. Text to a friend = informal. |
Direct vs. Indirect Communication
📚 Direct vs. Indirect Communication | |
Direct (e.g. American, German, Dutch) | "I don't like this design." / "The report is late." |
Indirect (e.g. British, Japanese, much of Asia) | 'That's quite interesting.' / 'There might be room for improvement.' |
Neutral English | "I have some concerns." / "I was wondering if we might revisit this." |
Checking How You Came Across
📚 Checking How You Came Across | |
Did I explain that clearly? | Invites feedback on clarity. |
How did that come across? | Asks about emotional impact. |
I want to make sure that was clear — was it? | Combines both. |
Sorry if that seemed abrupt — I didn't mean it that way. | Repair after possible offence. |
🎭 Dialogue: Was That OK?
Jess explains to Maya why 'not bad' didn't land the way she meant — and gives her three phrases to repair any future cultural slip.
Jess, I told a client her work was 'not bad'. Was that wrong?
In North American English? Completely. That means you thought it was poor.
I thought it was good! How was I supposed to know?
Register and culture. 'Not bad' is indirect British understatement. Here you say: "This is really strong."
What if I genuinely don't like something?
Say: "I have a few thoughts on how this could be even stronger." That's diplomatic.
And if I'm not sure how I came across?
Just ask: "How did that land?" People respect that enormously.
Practice Exercises
3 questionsNew exercises to reinforce what you learned. Different from the lesson material.
What was Maya's cross-cultural misunderstanding with her client?
What does 'damning with faint praise' mean in context?
What does Priya say about direct vs. indirect communication styles?
Practice Exercises
3 questionsNew exercises to reinforce what you learned. Different from the lesson material.
Rewrite formally: 'Send me the file.' (email to a client)
Rewrite at neutral register: 'I am desirous of enquiring as to the availability of the said premises.'
Rewrite diplomatically: 'Your report had some issues.' (email to a colleague)
🎭 Now It's Your Turn — Role Play
Practice with a partner. Use the dialogue as a model.
- Role play 1 — Formal: Student A is a job applicant. Student B is an interviewer. Both must use formal register.
- Role play 2 — Informal: The same two people meet at a café a year later, as friends.
- Compare: What changed? What stayed the same? How did your vocabulary and grammar shift?
- Discuss: Which felt more comfortable? More natural?