The Linguist is a languages magazine for professional linguists, translators, interpreters, language professionals, language teachers, trainers, students and academics with articles on translation, interpreting, business, government, technology
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INSTITUTE MATTERS DIVISIONS & SOCIETIES June LEGAL TRANSLATION CONFERENCE TD Friday 28 June Europe House, London, 10am-4.15pm For details see iol.org.uk, Translating Division page. BPG DIVISION BPG AGM Saturday 29 June Civil Service Club, London Working across cultures KAREN NETTO WORKS HER WAY TOWARDS ETHNO-RELATIVISM AT A BPG DIVISION EVENT ON CULTURAL AWARENESS AND WORKING WITH INTERNATIONAL CLIENTS On Saturday 9 March, ten members of the Business, Professions and Government (BPG) Division attended an excellent cultural training session run by Linguarama in London. The course aimed to improve our cultural awareness and help us to work more effectively with international contacts and clients. Particular emphasis was laid on how to deal with new cultures and avoid interference from your own culture. Our trainer, Dougal Lamond, has worked with staff from the FCO (Foreign & Commonwealth Office), and has a wealth of international experience, most notably in Brazil, the US and Poland. This was his third session for the CIOL. It began with introductions, and by the time we had completed the tour of the table, we had covered a fair amount of the world. Participants had a wide variety of jobs, experiences and languages. Some had a mixture of nationalities in their backgrounds; many had extensive experience of living and working abroad; all were keen to learn more. Dougal soon had us examining our own cultural values, and British values came in for particular discussion. As he explained, problems in business often occur because we fail to realise that we judge others through our own cultural lens. He quoted Winston Brembeck: 'To know another's language and not his culture is a very good way to make a fluent fool of one's self.' Much of culture is buried beneath the surface, like an iceberg, and attitudes to food and dress are 30 The Linguist JUNE/JULY DIVERSE EXPERIENCE Delegates pose for the camera often revealing. Dougal explained that British diplomats often find it difficult to mix at public events due to British reserve, which can be interpreted as arrogance by people from other cultures. The British prefer modesty towards achievements, whereas in Poland it is important to display achievements. As stated by Blaise Pascal: 'There are truths this side of the Pyrénées that are falsehoods on the other.' People are often in different places on a journey of understanding towards other cultures. At one end of the spectrum, described by Milton J Bennett, an individual may be described as 'ethnocentric' or unable to see outside his or her culture. There will be a greater tendency to be protective and defensive. In the middle, there is greater acceptance. At the far end of the spectrum, someone may be described as 'ethnorelative': they are able to see outside their own culture and have an ability to adapt their behaviour to a new culture. Dougal was open to discussion from all participants, and the day was conducted in such a friendly atmosphere that many seemed reluctant to leave at the end. Contact details were exchanged and many members have kept in touch. We all have a very useful folder for future reference too. To attend, contact julie.hobbs@iol.org.uk. July AGM & 15TH ANNIVERSARY LINC LUNCH Saturday 6 July Wig & Mitre, Lincoln, midday-4pm AGM followed by a celebratory lunch and talk by CIOL President Nick Bowen, who will give an update on events at the KEY DIVISIONS Business, Professions & Government: BPG EDU Education: ID Interpreting: TD Translating: SOCIETIES Cambridge: German: Hong Kong: Lincolnshire: London: North West: Scottish: Spanish: CAM GER HK LINC LON NW SCOT SP www.iol.org.uk