It’s really important in dealing with non-native English speakers that you work extra hard to clarify what someone has said to you, as well as how they understand what you’ve said to them.
Of course, this applies to any language.
For example, I recently texted a non-native English speaker about the status of a short video clip.
“Just send it to Lisa,” he responded.
If I received that response from a native English speaker, I would immediately interpret that to mean, “Please send the video to Lisa.”
But I suspected that he was trying to say, “I just sent the video to Lisa.”
Why did I suspect this? Because as someone who is learning Spanish, I know that verb conjugation is difficult, both to learn and to remember.
Plus, I have often heard this person speak, and I know his rhythm and cadence.
So I sent him a clarifying text: “Did you send the video to Lisa, or do you want me to send it?”
He responded, “I did.”
When communicating across language barriers and across cultures, be precise. Be deliberate.
Just a little extra effort will save you a lot of misunderstanding.
Media Consultant | Clean Energy & Transportation