Sherwood Fleming's Intercultural Communication Insights
  • Home
  • My Book
  • Seminars
  • Articles
  • CLEAR Method
  • More
    • Speeches, Short Workshops and Articles
    • Intercultural Communication Audit
  • About
  • Contact

Do We Lose Our Identities within Intercultural Business Contexts?

Do We Lose Our Identities within Intercultural Business Contexts?

The existential question of “Who am I?” is not new. However, in the twenty-first century, which requires so many of us to work within intercultural business contexts, we have to revisit the question from a new perspective: exactly who am I when I communicate using English as a second language for my work in intercultural environments?

In such situations most of my clients, who use English at an upper-intermediate to advanced level, tell me that they feel as if something is lacking. Some say that they miss their ability to speak eloquently, which they can’t seem to replicate no matter how much additional English vocabulary they learn. Others complain that what they like most about themselves is their ability to make jokes, which is impossible for them in English. While others insist that they sound more authoritative, or more persuasive, or simply more professional when using their mother tongue. Those that can’t clearly express what is missing nevertheless feel that they are losing a part of their identity when using English.

The Link Between Language and Identity in Intercultural Business

It is well known that language and our sense of self are closely linked. Many studies over the years have concluded that people change their personalities when they speak another language. Usually such studies are conducted by psychologists on people who are either bilingual or bicultural, which applies to half the world’s population, according to François Grosjean, author of Bilingual: Life and Reality.

When people are undergoing major life changes, the term identity crisis is often used. Identity crisis is a term created by Erik Erikson, who defined identity as “a subjective sense as well as an observable quality of personal sameness and continuity.”

So when my clients use English as a second language at work, and are in the process of adapting themselves to a new intercultural context, it is precisely this “personal sameness and continuity” that they miss. It is a break from what is known and habitual for them in their own language and culture. Consequently, they need to explore different ways of looking at themselves and how they relate to others.

While that exploration is a process all human beings undergo countless times during their personal and professional lives, few expect to have to go through such a process when working in another language for a multinational business in their own country or abroad. As a result, there are often few appropriate resources made available to employees to help them deal with identity issues.

This is one of the factors I assess when I conduct an intercultural communication audit with new clients. How much of a sense of loss are employees experiencing? That is a very personal and individual matter. While it is all too easy for everyone to say how optimistic he or she is about the enriching opportunity of working interculturally in a foreign language, not everyone sincerely feels that. Addressing the realities of people’s experiences helps them make the transition faster and more comfortably. Ideally, there can be group discussions about identity issues within teams or departments, which I routinely include in my intercultural communication seminars.

Only by addressing these concerns directly can we ask and answer a new kind of identity question: how can I build an intercultural identity and what am I gaining by doing so?


Email pagePrint page

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)

Related

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Translate this Site

Latest Articles

  • Mastering the Human Communication Dance
  • Presenting Across Cultures
  • Communicating Clearly Across Cultures

Subscribe

Enter your email address to subscribe and receive notifications of new posted articles by email.

Buy My Book


This is the year you have decided to become a more effective intercultural communicator? Bravo! You can purchase and download my eBook, along with an 80-page workbook. Not sure? Read a free extract. Questions? Just ask.

Recent Articles

  • Mastering the Human Communication Dance
  • Presenting Across Cultures
  • Communicating Clearly Across Cultures
  • Change How You Listen During Business Communications
  • Improve How You Communicate Across Cultures

Testimonials

  • Très, très utile pour notre activité commerciale. Merci à Sherwood pour sa professionalisme, sa gentillesse, sa spontanieté et sa personalité éclatante. C’est un ressenti de toute l’équipe. read more →
    Nozha
  • You are a magician! After just a few lessons I feel more confident using my English in intercultural meetings. read more →
    Julien
  • Great workshop about working with Anglophones. read more →
    Hermann
  • The workshop explains well the differences (verbal, non-verbal, attitudes) between the French and English cultures. I hadn’t realized there were so many differences between the two cultures. Now I know how to… read more →
    Thierry

Search this Site

back up
© Copyright 2023 Sherwood Fleming's Intercultural Communication Insights
  • Intercultural Communication Book: Dance of Opinions
  • Intercultural Communication Terminology
  • Intercultural Communication Tips
  • Intercultural Communication Articles
  • Articles
  • My Dance of Opinions Book
  • CLEAR Method
  • Seminars
  • About
7ads6x98y