Then there was the time I was asked where I came from and, having replied England I was then asked what language people in England speak.

Being asked these, seemingly odd, questions forcefully brought home to me that you cannot take language for granted – and sparked my interest in communication as well.

The cambride book of the English Language suggests that American English is a sub-set of English with fewer words; this was certainly my experience – along with a huge emphasis on grammar.

You have hit on a critical issue that, amazingly, escapes even the most sophisticated management in the biggest corporations here in the US. And then they outsource, or hire international talent, and wonder why they are expereincing one or all of the following:

Mismatched expectations
Work that has to be redone
Missed deadlines
Delays in production
More time spent on relationships than on actual tasks
Communication breakdowns or misinterpretations
Difficulties with or excessive slowness in knowledge transfer

The dynamics of doing business with say, for example, India — or any number of other countries, whether European, Asian, Middle Eastern — can be characterized as a constant interplay between strongly held traditional values and emerging modern business and personal practices. While this contributes to or is a cause of frustration for foreigners doing business, it’s also the way in which these parts fo the world have been defining themselves in the global market.

In other words, very often, what we find iws these countries are trying simultaneously to protect their own resources and interests while becoming a major player in the international arena. So that they act like capitalists, but work in a localized fashion.