‘Italians like to argue’!

One of the joys of being a mediator is the opportunity to connect with people from all walks of life, delving into their professions, their companies, and the corners of the globe they call home.

But let’s talk about a little something called language. For some of the people I work with, English isn’t their mother tongue. And let me tell you, that adds a whole new dimension to the mediation process, especially when the crux of the matter is a good old-fashioned breakdown in communication.

Just the other day, I sat down for a follow-up session with an Italian gentleman I had successfully mediated with. Despite his 13 years in the UK, his Italian flair shone through in his expressive speech and strong accent. With a mischievous grin, he quipped, ‘Italians like to argue.’ That it is deemed the norm for Italians to argue and can been seen as normal. And we began a captivating conversation about the intricacies of language barriers.

I have worked for Global companies and love to learn about different cultures so when we started to get into a fascinating conversation about language barriers when it comes to native and nonnative speakers I was hooked.

It can be challenging to get two native speakers to understand that the way they communicated may have been perceived differently because of the way they wrote or said it. So, what happens when English isn’t their first language?!

There is an interesting article written by the BBC Native English speakers are the world’s worst communicators. It sheds light on how seemingly harmless words can lead to colossal misunderstandings.

But wait, there’s more! Mix in mispronunciations, accents, mistranslations, and a colourful array of cultural influences, and you’ve got yourself a potential recipe for conflict. From differing perspectives to deeply ingrained beliefs, every factor adds another layer to the challenge.

As mediators, it’s crucial to delve beneath the surface when engaging with participants who aren’t native English speakers. Understanding their perspective is key to effective communication and ensuring that all parties feel heard and valued, ultimately leading to a resolution.

If you have a conflict situation that might benefit from mediation, Call today for a free 30-minute consultation. I offer pre-meetings with participants as standard. So you can have confidence that mediation will be successful.

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