A few months ago I read this nice article on wired magazine. It dealt with English as a second language (like it is for me), and how it could evolve. The article brought me to the following reflection: I’ve been writing this blog for sometime now, and I may have adapted English to “my English”. I’m not saying I’ve invented a new language, I’m saying I’m placing my personal touch to this language. Of course, I try to learn as much as possible to be as correct as I can expressing things, and hopefully not like the examples in the article I pointed you to.
My first language is Spanish, so most of the time I think in Spanish, but when I’m writing an article I try to write it in English. Because it forces me to build phrases in the “space” I’m expressing into, and not in another language (Spanish) and after that translating (adapting) them to English.
Why do I use English? So simple, because it’s Global, because If you’re in Shangai, London, Oslo, Berlin, Los Angeles (Chile), Los Angeles (CA,USA) or wherever you are, chances are a lot of people in those cities (and countries) read English. Probably, English is your second language too, and that’s so wonderful because we’re borrowing others’ language to our benefit, to communicate. Isn’t that powerful? I think it is.
For the most part, my english is strongly related to “Hollywood English”, almost all the English I hear is from US movies and CNN International, so my ear is trained to hear and understand that English, the same with books. I live in Santiago, and of course, we only speak Spanish. So my English practice is reading books, watching cable TV, and hearing audiobooks (something I strongly recommend to improve your ear on English). As you can see, the weakiest link in the chain is the spoken part, but anytime a guy from US, UK or any english speaking country comes to the office I practice my speaking skills.
I’m telling you this because I encourage you to learn something, with a purpose. Learning English has been a life long endeavour, and it will be. It has opened me the doors to the latest ideas many fields, It has helped me to talk with people otherwise I could never, ever have talked to.
Words express feelings, emotions, and visions. If you can pick the right words you can move the world. Every great leader knows that. You can not afford, not to learn your own language in the best possible way. And in today’s world, the world’s language is English. Do you want to be a Leader? The become one, learn English, learn chinese, learn whatever you need to get to the people you want to lead. Learn whatever you need to find yourself and lead from within.
Remember, leaders have to communicate, leaders have to motivate, leaders have to reach the hearts and souls of their followers, and that my friends is with the words.
Be Alert, Be A Leader 
3 comments
Hi Ken! Good selection of dictionaries! Langenscheidt are excellent ones
I enjoyed reading today’s note and wanted to add to it a different light. If you want to hang a painting on the wall, you will definitely need a hammer. Is that sufficient? Oh no, you need a nail too! Is that it? No, you need to master the art of not bending the nail while you hammer it.
What does that mean? Languages are a tool and a powerful one. But a tool alone is not enough: you need an aim – the nail in the example or the message in communication. The art of not bending the nail relies on a constant observation to ensure that it does not change shape in the process – and we would avoid some hot discussions if we also did it verbally. The nail bent anyway? Change the angle of the hammer: you won’t fix it by shouting at the nail so why should shouting fix human communication?
Languages are a fascinating theme and we all to often underestimate its power. Learning a foreign language is a lesson of humility: you have to drop the assurance you built in your own language and start rebuilding a new “you” in this new environment and, all of a sudden, you realize that ideas, concepts that you never questioned have a different light because the words do not mean the same. This is a very important fact if you want to lead a team as we all speak different dialects, even within a family, and effective communication implies using words that translate in an even manner.
Nowadays, English is a “must have” in your skills set and, to be effective, you will need to adapt it to your audience: not everyone will know “Holywood’s English”, even though it is probably the most common. Try to gather representatives from the 5 continents in a meeting room and have them talk together: the words they will use will have local connotations and different meanings. But, as you mention, words are an expression of the soul and this is what you have to bring across – and, in my opinion, this goes much beyond the words!
To close this note, I will come back to my usual stance: never confuse communication with expression. Expression conveys ideas with words like a “one-way ticket”. Communication is a “two-way ticket” from soul to soul where the words are the train. I could speak to you in French and have you understand even though you don’t speak French and this is the art of communication. It won’t be effective but the aim is the message, which is what a leader needs to bring across. At least, that’s my view!
Cheers
Olivier
It is very important for me.
thanks
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