AN ATLANTA ATTORNEY REMINDED GLOBALFAX RECENTLY HOW DIFFICULT IT CAN BE TO COMMUNICATE ACROSS CULTURES.
HE RECOUNTED THAT WHILE ADVISING A JAPANESE CLIENT ON HOW TO AVOID DISGRUNTLEMENT AMONG U.S. EMPLOYEES, HE HAD NOTED AMERICAN WORKERS “LIKE TO BE STROKED.”THROUGH AN INTERPRETER, THE JAPANESE MANAGER ASKED FOR AN EXPLANATION OF THE AMERICAN COLLOQUIALISM “TO BE STROKED.” THE ATTORNEY THEN EXPLAINED THE PRACTICE OF EXTENDING CERTAIN PERQUISITES, AND AS HE TALKED HE MADE A STROKING MOTION WITH HIS HAND AS IF HE WERE PETTING A DOG.
“WE TREAT OUR EMPLOYEES EVERYWHERE LIKE DOGS,” SAID THE MANAGER, MEANING THAT ALL OF HIS COMPANY’S EMPLOYEES ARE WELL TREATED.
THE MORAL OF THE STORY, ACCORDING TO THE ATTORNEY, IS THAT YOU SHOULD NEVER USE A COLLOQUIALISM IN FORMAL CROSS-CULTURAL DISCOURSE. ERIK VONK, CEO OF RANDSTAD CORP., WILL BE THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT THE ANNUAL BANQUET OF THE ATLANTA ASSOCIATION OF INTERPRETERS & TRANSLATORS. THE EVENT WILL BE HELD AT THE SWISSÔTEL ON THURSDAY, MARCH 16, FROM 6 TO 9:30 P.M. COST: $30. FOR MORE INFORMATION AND RESERVATIONS, PLEASE CALL FLORALBA CHINCHILLA AT (404) 634-7654.THE ZAMARRIPA GROUP WILL OPEN OFFICES IN SANTIAGO, CHILE WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15. FERNANDO LANDMAN, A FORMER ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE AT THE ATLANTA OFFICE, WILL BE ESTABLISHING THE OFFICE. TRANSPORTATION WORLDWIDE INC. OPENED ITS SOUTHEASTERN REGIONAL OFFICE IN ATLANTA, MARCH 1. THE HOUSTON-BASED COMPANY HANDLES INTERNATIONAL RELOCATIONS FOR MULTINATIONAL CUSTOMERS INCLUDING THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL, AT & T, DUPONT, FEDERAL EXPRESS AND TEXAS INSTRUMENTS. THE OFFICE IS MANAGED BY CINDY SHAPIRO TRACY (404) 237-7333; FAX (404) 237-5511.KEE CARLISLE OF THE INTERNATIONAL PARALYMPIC GAMES WILL BE THE SPEAKER AT A MEETING OF THE PROFESSIONAL INTERNATIONAL NETWORK SOCIETY AT 6:30 P.M. ON MONDAY, MARCH 20, AT THE WYNDHAM HOTEL ON BARFIELD AND HAMMOND ROADS IN SANDY SPRINGS. COST IS $20 FOR NON-MEMBERS. CALL (404) 992-5957 FOR RESERVATIONS.