Blog on Holiday

by Lauren Nemec

I will be out of the country for the next two weeks. Normal posting will resume in mid October.

In the meantime, feel free to peruse some older, popular posts!

The Languages of the Former Yugoslavia, by Lauren Nemec
Beijing Prepares for the 2008 Olympics by Correcting Bad Translations, by Lauren Nemec
International Business: Business Card Etiquette, by Lauren Nemec
Bringing up Bilingual Baby, by Lauren Nemec
Transliteration of Candidate Names into Chinese Causing 'Upset Stomachs', by Lauren Nemec
Cultural Dimensions: Individualism vs. Collectivism, by Lauren Nemec
Czech in the Big City, by Veronika Svobodova

Czech Culture

by Lauren Nemec

The Czech Republic is an incredibly beautiful country with a rich history, fascinating people and an abundance of business opportunities. Yet the country remains relatively obscure and unknown to Americans, many of whom still call it “Czechoslovakia.”

Whether you are enticed to the Czech Republic by its dramatic castles, famous beer, luxurious spas or cheap labor force, this modest guide to Czech culture should provide you with a deeper understanding of the country and its people.

The Czech People

A common first impression of the Czechs is that they seem cold and impersonal. To us warm and open Americans, this can be quite disheartening. It shouldn’t be taken personally, as Czechs are very private people. They have a smaller boundary of personal space than Americans, but they guard it very closely. Though Czechs are used to being in close physical proximity to each other, they tend to keep others at an emotional distance and will not usually smile at, make eye contact with, or engage in small talk with strangers.

Americans are known for their ability to quickly and effortlessly form casual relationships, so it should come as no surprise that Americans are often frustrated at the difficulty of forging relationships with Czech people. In addition to their strong sense of privacy, years of foreign invasions and occupations have perhaps made the Czechs slightly distrustful and fearful of strangers or foreigners. Therefore, it takes a long time and a great deal of trust to overcome a Czech’s boundaries and fears and develop a friendship with him. Once you do, though, it will be a rewarding and lasting friendship.

When you do get to know them, you’ll find that Czechs have a unique sense of humor, best described as ‘mischievous’. Jara Cimrman, for example, is considered to be a national hero, having been the first man to reach the North Pole and the inventor of dynamite. Actually, Cimrman is no more than a figment of the Czech imagination, but Czechs still enthusiastically pretend he existed. They’ve even built a museum in honor of Cimrman, which often fools tourists into believing this extraordinary person really existed.

Money Matters

Czechs have not always lived in a consumer-oriented society. During the communistic era, goods were scarce and stores offered poor selections. People had to make do with what was available and everybody usually had the same things. For example, many Czech families have the same china collection, called the “Blue-Onion” pattern, because it was the only nice china collection available for a very long time. People who had something rare, unique or expensive were often the object of gossip and envy.

When my husband was a child, he was taken to the store every year on his birthday to choose one toy. When his mother took him to the store for his birthday after the Velvet Revolution, he looked at the wide selection of toys and burst into tears sobbing that he would never be able to choose just one thing. When Czechoslovakia entered a free market economy, more goods were available than ever before and Czechs suddenly needed to develop the ability to make complex purchase decisions. This proved difficult, as Czechs wanted to buy everything they had been denied for so long, yet they did not have the purchasing power to buy it all because salaries remained very low. Unfortunately, this caused an envious mentality and lust for money to emerge among Czech people.

Doing Business with the Czechs

The Czech Republic is an attractive offshore location, primarily because of its cheap but highly educated labor force. However, the differences between American and Czech business cultures can often cause frustration for American businesspeople.

Communism adversely affected the way Czechs do business. For example, customer service, quality and efficiency weren’t highly valued under socialistic rule, so Czech businesspeople have had to learn (or re-learn) how to do these things that we Westerners take for granted. You may find that these concepts aren’t yet up to Western standards in some situations. Processes might not be clearly defined and the pace of work and decision making may be slower than what westerners are accustomed to. However, one should not assume that the Czechs are in the Dark Ages. Though they don’t have as much experience in the free market economy as Western countries, the Czechs are quick learners and seem to be adapting quite well.

Czechs have a strong aversion to the unknown. In business, this certainty avoidance means that Czechs tend to need lots of time to consider their choices and weigh the options in their mind before making a decision. Plans are made slowly and methodically and details are pored over. It also means that Czechs tend to be nervous about taking risks and making changes. A French expatriate manager of a large financial institution in Prague once described to me his difficulty finding Czech managers willing to relocate to France.

The company wanted the Czech managers to go temporarily to learn how to successfully run the company on their own, but most of the managers refused. It was an excellent opportunity with a generous salary and benefits package, so the French managers couldn’t fathom why any reasonable person would refuse the offer. When you consider the Czech fear of uncertainty, it becomes a little easier to understand their hesitation.

Though the Czechs have a relatively egalitarian society, they are formal people. Formal Czech is spoken in business situations and it is very important to address people appropriately. The Czechs strongly value academic achievement and are proud of their academic accomplishments, so it is important to use correct academic titles, if known.

A Final Word

This article contains many generalizations of Czech people and culture. Generalizations help us determine what to expect from people in certain situations, but should never be taken as absolute truths. I think you will find, as I have, that the Czechs will never fail to surprise you.

*****
This article was originally published in the September 2007 issue of McElroy Translation's newsletter "E-Buzz". To subscribe to "E-Buzz", click here.
*****

Translatus at Biotechnica

by Lauren Nemec

Biotechnica is the largest European trade fair for Biotechnology. Translatus representatives will be at the Biotechnica trade fair in Hannover, Germany on October 9th and 10th.

If you will be attending Biotechnica and would like to speak with a Translatus representative, please email European Account Manager, Nicholas Lobkowicz at nlobkowicz@translatus.com to set up a meeting.

We hope to see you there!

Article: Study finds languages quickly dying out

by Lauren Nemec

According to recently published research, languages are becoming extinct at a higher rate than animal and plant species. It is said that one language dies out every two weeks, as its speakers die or begin using another, more dominant language.

It has been projected that about half of the world's 7,000 or so languages will die out by the end of the 21st century, most likely the languages spoken in areas such as northern Australia, central South America, Siberia, British Colombia and parts of the USA. Many of these languages are only spoken, with no written language, dictionaries or books to leave behind.

Many informative articles about this topic can be found at Google News.

The Best of American Exports - Hooters Opens in Beijing

by Lauren Nemec

Now Chinese men can also say, "I only go there for the wings."

Hooters has recently opened a restaurant in Beijing, China. It's actually the fourth Hooters restaurant in China (the first is located in Shanghai), but the first in the conservative city of Beijing.

American expats, students and tourists will probably make up a large percentage of Hooters patrons, but the company is hoping that the concept of "sex sells" will also be true for Chinese consumers. Hooters also hopes to capitalize on the masses of visitors who will be visiting Beijing for the 2008 Olympic Games.

Waitresses at Beijing's Hooters wear the signature outfits of orange hot pants and tight tank tops as they serve up chicken wings and cold beer. The environment is very much the same as any Hooters restaurant found in the United States - but one aspect has been a little 'lost in globalization' - the name "Hooters" doesn't have the same connotations to the Chinese as it does to Americans. It simply means "owl".

Further reading - Globalization Gone Wild : Hooters Opens in China

Photo: Frederic J. Brown, AFP/Getty Images

Music of the Night - The Phantom Goes to China

by Lauren Nemec

Sir Cameron Mackintosh, the producer of "The Phantom of the Opera" and "Les Miserables", has announced that Chinese versions of these musicals will open in China next year. The shows will feature local performers.

I thought this was an interesting topic to post about, because musicals, like all products, are often localized to fit the language, culture and laws of the country where they are showing. For example, the famous chandelier crash scene in "The Phantom of the Opera" is not the same across performances in different countries. In Australia- a laid-back and adventurous country- the chandelier crashes to the stage at a great speed and features pyrotechnics. In Britain, however, strict safety codes usually result in a slower and less dramatic crash.

Many other musicals are expected to play in China in the next few years, including "Mamma Mia", "Cats", "The Lion King", "My Fair Lady" and "Miss Saigon". It would be interesting to see how these performances are adapted to fit the Chinese culture. Anyhow, read the AFP's article, "Les Miserables goes Chinese" for more information about musicals in China.

International Business: Dining Etiquette

by Lauren Nemec

The rules of etiquette can be difficult enough to follow in your own culture. After crossing borders, the rules of etiquette can change so drastically from what you’re accustomed to, they become a minefield of blunders and faux-pas just waiting to happen. If you are in another country on business, following the local rules of etiquette becomes very important, as it can be crucial to the success of your business ventures.

While some etiquette blunders are laughable or not likely to cause serious offense, others might make your business counterparts perceive you as rude or unappreciative, and may inhibit your business relationship from moving forward. Knowing proper table manners can be an asset in international business.

Invitations

Receiving an invitation to dine out should be considered and honor and should not be refused. Dining out with your hosts can help build your relationship and establish trust, which will help you with your business endeavors in the long run. If you must refuse, offer a legitimate reason.

In most countries, an invitation to dinner likely means you will be dining with your host in a restaurant. A personal invitation to dine at someone’s home should be considered a tremendous honor and a sign of deep trust. However, some cultures highly value hospitality and are eager to extend invitations to dine in the home. Therefore, an invitation to dine at an Indian or Colombian home may not carry the same significance as an invitation to dine at a Japanese or British home. Nevertheless, these invitations should be treated with the same amount of respect and decorum, and should not be refused; otherwise, you might offend the host or miss out on a fascinating experience.

Time and Punctuality

Dinner, drinking and other social occasions can last many hours. Set aside an entire evening for a social event and pace yourself. To avoid causing offense, try not to leave before others do. In China, the serving of fruit signifies the end of the meal. Guests are expected to leave within 30 minutes after the fruit course is served.

While punctuality is important to many people, it can offend others. When in North America, Scandinavia, Germany and China, it is important to arrive on time for business functions and social occasions. Arriving late could offend your hosts. In other countries, you will be expected to arrive late for social functions. Arriving early or on time could embarrass your host, as they may not yet be prepared for your arrival. In India, for example, you should arrive 15-30 minutes late for dinner at someone’s home.

Seating

Seating arrangements are often well thought out according to many factors, such as age, gender, status or hierarchy. A good rule of thumb in any country is to wait to be seated. In many countries, the guest of honor will usually have a specific place to sit, often next to the host, at the head of the table or farthest from the entrance.

Ordering

As a guest, you should respect the selections of your host and sample everything. A host may ask you for recommendations. If you are familiar with the country's food, don’t hesitate to say something like, "I've read about haggis and I would love to try it."

As a host, you should take into consideration the dietary restrictions of your guests. In India, for example, Muslim Indians do not eat pork, Hindus do not eat beef and many Indians are vegetarians. When hosting a meal in India, provide chicken, fish or lamb for meat eaters and a variety of vegetarian dishes.

Toasting

Toasting is a common practice in most countries. You should wait for your host to initiate the toast before drinking or beginning your meal. Make an effort to lightly clink your glass with all other guests. In many cultures, it's appropriate to make eye-contact when touching glasses and to seal the toast by sipping your drink. After the host proposes a toast, you can also make one, but be sure you do not upstage the first.

Here is a list of common toasting phrases in different countries:

China: Ganbei

Czech Republic: Na zdraví

Denmark, Norway, Sweden: Skål or Skoal

France: Santé

Germany: Prost

Japan: Kampai

Spain and Mexico: Salud

USA, UK, Australia: Cheers

More phrases can be found here.

Eating Utensils

Chopsticks

Chopstick etiquette is very important in Japan, Korea, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Vietnam, and you would be wise to learn how to use chopsticks properly before visiting any of these countries on business. The effort will be appreciated by your hosts. For those who are completely inept at using chopsticks, silverware will probably be available for you in many restaurants. Chopstick etiquette differs across cultures, but here are some general guidelines:

• Never leave your chopsticks sticking straight up out of your rice bowl, as this resembles a funerary rite in many of these cultures.
• Never point your chopsticks at someone or use them to gesture.
• Use a chopstick rest, when available.
• Don't chew on your chopsticks.
• Don’t pierce or spear food with your chopsticks.
• Dropping your chopsticks or placing them parallel across your bowl symbolizes bad luck, so don’t do it.

Hands

In the Arab world and in India, the left hand is considered to be 'unclean', as this hand is used with water in place of toilet paper. It is taboo to eat or pass food with your left hand. In these countries, refrain from using your left hand when shaking hands, dining, passing objects or gesturing. This will be a challenge for left-handed people, but you will have to train yourself.

Cutlery

The U.S. American style of dining with cutlery is often a source of amusement for many Europeans and South Americans. U.S. Americans tend to hold the fork in the left hand and the knife in the right hand as they cut their food, then switch hands to put the food in their mouth with the fork (tines up), and switch back again to cut the next piece of food. This method of eating may seem quite silly to people outside of the United States, and may even offend those with high expectations of proper table manners.

Outside of the United States, most people adhere to the “Continental” or “European” style of dining with cutlery, where the fork is held in the left hand and the knife is held in the right hand throughout the meal, without ever switching.

Rejecting food

I recently had dinner with a well-traveled American businessman, who told me about the time he was offered live baby mice at a banquet in China. In nearly every country, it is considered polite to sample every kind of food you are offered. To refuse food without having tried it can offend your host. However, no one will expect you to eat something that will make you sick or violate your beliefs. If you are offered something you simply cannot or will not eat, offer a believable health or religious reason.

Cleaning Your Plate

In some countries, etiquette dictates that you should eat everything on your plate. Otherwise, you might be seen as wasteful or unappreciative of the food. However, in other countries, cleaning your plate would indicate to your host that he did not provide enough to eat.

Here are some general guidelines that should help you handle this delicate situation:

• In Asian countries like Japan, China and Taiwan, leave a small portion of food on your plate to signify to your host that your appetite was satisfied.
• In most European and North American countries, eat everything you take.
• When in doubt, observe what your fellow diners do, or leave a small portion of food on your plate.

Alcohol

Alcohol plays different roles in different cultures. In some countries, drunkenness indicates a lack of self-control and will be frowned upon. In others, social drinking can last far into the night and your counterparts may get "three sheets to the wind". You should understand the local drinking habits and laws in order to prevent yourself from getting sick, making a faux-pas, or even committing a crime.

Your host country might be more avid alcohol drinkers than what you are accustomed to, the alcohol might be stronger, or the climate might make the effects of alcohol more extreme. Pay close attention to your alcohol intake and the effects it has on your body. When you’ve had enough to drink, turn over your empty glass or keep it full so it won’t be refilled. In countries where rejections of alcohol might cause your host to lose face or take offense, state health or religious reasons for abstaining.

In Islam, intoxication by alcohol is forbidden. In most Islamic countries, Muslims may face severe penalties for importing, purchasing or consuming alcohol. As a tourist or business traveler, you may consume alcohol in some hotels, but refrain from offering alcoholic beverages to your Muslim business counterparts or drinking in front of them.

Topics of Conversation

In some countries, meals are considered to be social occasions, and as such, your host may not bring up the subject of business. Wait for your host to begin discussing business first. Even if business is not discussed at dinner, you are still building a relationship and establishing trust with your host, which can help your business goals in the long run.

Not all topics of conversation are appropriate in all countries. For example, you should refrain from discussing women in Saudi Arabia, talking about Aborigines in Australia, or criticizing the government in China.

When in doubt, safe topics to discuss include:

• Weather
• Sports
• Culture, the Arts and Literature
• Travel
• Food
• History – positive aspects
• Your home country or city

Unless your colleagues bring it up first, avoid these topics:

• Politics
• Terrorism
• Religion
• Money
• Sex
• Divorce
• History—negative aspects, including wars
• Racism and Ethnic/Class differences
• Criticism of the host country
• Personal issues, such as income, marital status, age, sexual orientation, etc.

Other Etiquette Tips

Some general or miscellaneous etiquette guidelines to follow:

• cover your mouth with your hand when using a toothpick
• refrain from blowing your nose at the table
• avoid adding excess salt, pepper or ketchup to your food
• don’t belch or slurp when eating, except in Asian countries where these are signs that you are enjoying your meal
• wash your hands thoroughly before eating
• participate in the singing if you are invited to karaoke in Japan, Korea or China
• offer cigarettes to everyone else in your group when smoking
• keep hands on the table, not in your lap, when dining in Europe
• men should refrain from dining alone with a businesswoman in South America; consider inviting spouses

Payment

In almost every country, the person who extended the invitation is expected to pay the bill, though guests and hosts will often enter into a good-natured argument about who will pay. Women should expect their male counterparts to insist on paying.

When saying “thank you” is not enough, you can reciprocate by inviting your host to a meal of the same value. In fact, this may be expected in places like China and Taiwan. Before the meal begins, make sure you give your credit card to the restaurant staff or instruct them to only accept payment from you.

Tipping customs vary across countries, so you should do research on it or ask a native of the country you're visiting how much you should tip at restaurants.

Here’s To Your Health!

In any culture, adhering to proper table manners and etiquette shows your host that you have respect for them. This can only help improve your relationship and establish trust.

The guidelines put forward in this article are generalizations that should give you a vague understanding of dining etiquette across cultures, but you should do your own country-specific research before traveling abroad for business.

The following resources should help:

1) Executive Planet

2) Kiss, Bow or Shake Hands: How to Do Business in 60 Countries

3) Wikipedia

-Worldwide Etiquette

-Table Manners

Russish - The Invasion of the English Language in Russia

by Lauren Nemec

Many of the world's languages these days are peppered with English words and phrases. In Czech, for example, you might wish someone a "hezký víkend" (nice weekend), ask for "dresink" on your salad, participate in "aerobik" workouts, or confirm plans with a friend by saying, "fajn" (super, good, right or fine).

Things are no different in Russia, where English words and phrases are being transliterated into Russian, combined with Russian words, or "twisted beyond recognition", much to the chagrin of Russian linguists and nationalist groups. Russian youth are especially enthusiastic users of "Russish" or "Runglish", throwing Anglicisms into e-mails and text messages or conversations with friends.

Read more:

'Russish': language of Shakespeare invades land of Pushkin

English invades Russian language

Translatus Opens Office in Beijing

by Lauren Nemec

Translatus is delighted to announce the opening of our first office in China! The new office is located at Room 1403, Tower A, Building 2, Jiulong Garden, Guangqu Road, Chaoyang District, in Beijing. Translatus China operations will be headed by Christine Kee, Executive Vice President, Asia Division.

About Christine Kee

Christine joined Translatus in 2004. Since then, she has been leading and managing Translatus' Sales and Customer Service team in Europe. Christine Kee is a native Chinese speaker who was born in Hong Kong. She graduated with a MA in Applied Translation from the University of Leeds in England. Before joining Translatus, she had over 5 years experience in translation, including freelance translation and interpretation, as well as full-time translation service to the Hong Kong Government. Christine speaks English, Mandarin and Cantonese.

Christine Kee will lead Translatus China.

About Translatus China

There are currently three staff members at Translatus China, and we look forward to welcoming more as we grow in the region. The Translatus China staff speaks Mandarin, Cantonese and English.

Translatus staff in China will concentrate on developing new business relationships with Chinese companies and will ensure our existing customers get the support they need for their communications in the Chinese market.

We will also establish a second operations center for job processing at the Beijing office. The opening of the new operations center brings us closer to our goal of truly becoming a 24-hour service provider. As Translatus expands into other continents, our clients in every time zone will benefit from having multiple centers of operation around the world working together remotely to process jobs more efficiently.

By knowing the market and buying locally, we have a competitive advantage in that we are able to select the best of Chinese translators and interpreters. People buying translations in China often find that they are charged more or given poor quality because they don't speak the language. Translatus believes that speaking the right language is the key to our clients' success. Our Chinese-speaking staff in Beijing is able to obtain first-class translations at the best prices.

“On behalf of my colleagues at Translatus in China, we look forward to helping our clients successfully carry across their message into any language, market or culture." Christine Kee, Executive Vice President, Asia Division.

Translatus Project Managers are World-Class

by Lauren Nemec

I've been spending this week in our Operations Department, lending a helping hand with projects while many of our staff members are on holiday. You know, Translatus really has a world-class team here in our Operations department! I am amazed at the time and energy our Project Managers devote to their work. Managing projects can be a hard job with long hours, enormous pressure and a fair bit of drama. But the Operations team, led by Tarah McCarthy, is always resilient and dependable.

The people here at Translatus are committed to not only providing the best product at competitive prices, but we are passionate about giving our clients the best customer experience. No one achieves this better than our dedicated Project Managers. I am surrounded by talented people, all ready to pitch in with their expertise to ensure that our clients' projects are completed on time, with high quality and exceptional customer service.

Thank you, Ops, and keep up the great work!

Judges Say "No" to Ballot Transliteration

by Lauren Nemec

A couple of months ago, I posted a story about Chinese-American citizens in the City of Boston who were pushing for the full translation of voting ballots, including transliteration of candidate names.

A federal panel of three judges has voted against a move that would require that transliterated candidate names be printed on ballots in precincts of Boston with a high concentration of Chinese-speaking citizens.

Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin has been opposed to the transliteration of candidate names on ballots, arguing that there is no precise or accurate process of transliterating names and that there is a possibility candidates will sue over poorly transliterated names. Examples of transliterated names of politicians running for President in the 2008 elections include:

Mitt Romney - 'Sticky' or 'Uncooked Rice'
Fred Thompson - 'Virtue Soup'
Thomas M. Menino - 'Rainbow Farmer' or 'Imbecile'
Barack Obama - 'Europe Pulling a Horse'
Hillary Clinton - 'Upset Stomach'

Chinese-American activists have insisted that the city's agreement to fully translate ballots should allow for the transliteration of candidate names. Since the judges have agreed otherwise, Galvin has promised he will "continue to work with voters who have language issues to find ways to make their votes effective".