Page 88 - How to write effective business English your guide to excellent professional communication by Fiona Talbot

Writing globally? Or in multinational teams? 77

Converting thoughts into words,
then into writing

We all face real challenges when communicating. How do we con-
vert what we’re thinking into words – and convey meaning pre-
cisely? Writing words down can bring additional problems. Will
the words work on paper or on the screen, when we’re not there to
explain them?
The factors that can distort intended meanings can naturally be
a far greater challenge for non-native speakers of English. Empathize
with the extra step they have to take: translating their words from
their native language into English before they write them down. So
if you are a non-native English speaker a systematic approach like
this can help:
1 Identify the thought effectively in your own language.

2 Translate it correctly from your own language into English.
3 You may then need to convert the thought captured in English
into the correct written English word.
4 Then make sure that the ‘correct written English word’ is
actually one that your readers will understand.
5 Having done all this, your English writing should enable readers
to respond the way you want. That’s what you are in business for!

Let’s see how we can all minimize any further distortions from
planning stage through to delivery.

Use plain English when you can

Whether writing for the home market, for global business, as well
as across generations as we’ve seen earlier, choose accessible, plain
English. If you are a non-NE writer, don’t just translate your own
language into English. It can make things worse because simply
translating can result in: