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Tip 1014: Avoid acronyms and initials. |
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Letters that have a meaning in one culture may confuse and may even spell something offensive in another culture. |
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Tip 1015: Use technical terms when appropriate. |
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Technicians understand the technical terms associated with the equipment and processes they use. Don't, however, confuse technically accurate terms with jargon inappropriately used to laypersonsunfamiliar because they are nontechnical, not because they are from another culture. |
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Tip 1016: Avoid idioms, clichés, and colloquialisms. |
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In the United States, we refer to "springs" of water; in Mexico, people refer to the "eye" of the water (ojo de la agua). You'll have great difficulty explaining these tidbits to those from other cultures: ''Put the shoe on the other foot." "He's robbing Peter to pay Paul." "It's raining cats and dogs." "Why don't you put your own house in order?" "Don't give me so much lip." "You'd better make hay while the sun shines." |
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Some people may not even realize they've been insulted with these comments: "Well, everybody knows that!" "Even you should be able to run this machine." "I'll explain it againfor all the good it'll do." "Look who's talking." |
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Tip 1017: Whistle, hiss, or applaud appropriately to show approval or disapproval. |
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Americans boo or hiss at a performer to show displeasure and whistle to show approval. Europeans hiss when they want silence and whistle when they're displeased. Americans, Europeans, and Asians applaud to show approval. Americans lift a fist to show contempt or anger; Russians lift a fist to show determination to try harder or improve. |
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Tip 1018: Be a student of expressiveness. |
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People in some cultures show expressiveness over the slightest pain or joywild gesturing and body movement, varying intonation, dramatic facial expressions. Those living in other cultures may experience the deepest pain or joy with no outward expressions at allno gesturing, stoic faces, monotone voices, stillness. Can you imagine the difficulty physicians have |
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