4.3.2 Using a shared language
At the time of writing, English is the default language of international communication, especially in the field of business. When communicating with people with different first languages, native speakers of English need to bear certain considerations in mind.
Activity 33
You will now listen to Nigel White, who you first encountered in Activity 20, when he described his experiences of working as a broker in the City of London. He now specialises in intercultural training for a company called Canning. In this interview, he talks about the responsibilities that speakers have when operating internationally. Listen to the audio clip and answer the questions below.
Decide if the following statements are true or false.
Nigel recommends that ...
1. Native speakers of English should never use metaphorical language.
Discussion
Nigel says that native speakers shouldn’t avoid ‘all colour’ but need to be aware of idiomatic language which non-native speakers might find difficult.
2. Native speakers of English should think carefully about how they phrase their ideas.
Discussion
This has the added advantage of allowing more thinking time for the non-native speaker interlocutor.
3. Non-native speakers of English should be made aware of the direct translations from their own language that can cause communication problems.
Discussion
This is something he mentions. However, it needs to be remembered that not all non-native speaker mistakes come from first-language interference.
4. All speakers should clarify each other’s messages when they are unsure what the other means.
Discussion
Although there is the danger this might get a bit irritating, it is important for smooth communication.
OpenLearn - Exploring languages and cultures 
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