🫘 Lost in Translation: Did Zelensky’s English Fail Him?
Plus: Rebellion in Turkey, Evolution of Tattoos
Good morning, Cool Beans!
One of the first things that come to mind when thinking about expats is courage, but the second is the language barrier—and they’re connected. It takes a lot of courage to move to a new country, far from family and friends, and step out of one’s comfort zone. But it takes even more courage to start a job in another language, meet people who might not understand, and risk being misunderstood. It’s not just about grammar; it’s also about communication style. This week, we want to highlight this and remind our American friends to have a little patience—but also to remember that expats speak multiple languages, and their brains process language differently.
“When a person has an accent, it means he can speak one more language than you." - Fernando Lamas
Zelensky and Trump’s linguistic debacle
Few weeks ago President Zelensky showcased to the world yet another experience of being misunderstood through the English language. While his meeting with President Trump was meant to address politics on the agenda, it was his cautiously hopeful transmission of English during the meeting which was met with bullied jeers and unkind distortions by President Trump and his advisors. Was this a trick? Instead of attacking Ukraine’s political positions, Trump Inc. attacked his use of the English language. Isn’t a suit a “costume” anyway? This incredible article written by journalist Barbara Serra, notes President Zelensky’s words and Trump’s short retorts. One has to wonder after watching the rhetorical smackdown, at what point in the long history of the English language has it become the tool of the privileged class to show the haves from the have nots?
While President’s Zelensky’s linguistic debacle was popularized by the nature of the exchange, his struggle in being respectfully understood as a trilingual is not novel. Millions of immigrants all over the world know all too well the pain and humiliation of speaking and learning a non-native language. Here in the U.S. roughly 47.5 million people have immigrated to our shores representing hundreds of different cultures and languages. Yet even with all the diversity, our country demands English as the language spoken. Why? Where did English even come from? Why is this language the premier amongst others?
In a quick Google search, you can find that English, the language, was actually created over several hundreds of years. In her TED Talk, Claire Bowen explains that English was derived from several different languages put together. English has roots and words from German (actually the suite of Germanic languages known as Anglo-Saxon), Swedish, Latin, Greek, amongst many others. Considering then that English is the quilt that binds together the words and feelings of many cultures and peoples, it becomes ironic that English has become the West’s chosen tool to divide the haves (native English speakers) from the have nots (non-native English speakers).
"Foreign voices are easier to ignore, "Barbara states, and in a world where communication shapes power, those who don’t speak the global language perfectly, like Zelensky and Afghan journalist Nazira Karimi, are often sidelined. Native English speakers make no allowances; English is "...for others to adapt." See video below from minute 0.32 on how journalist Karimi was dismissed.
Language as a Culture: Where Google Translate Fails
For expats, adapting a new language hits home in complex ways. Speaking English well or even fluently is never enough. Word choice, mechanics, even translating common phrases from one language to English does not always work because the full meanings embedded in a culture do not translate. Understanding the culture behind the English language is the real challenge. As Barbara said, language is culture.
Understanding the culture of language forces expats to reflect on our own experiences both from home and in the U.S.. That void in the other person’s eyes when they don’t understand a word you said? That feeling of shrinking, of doubting yourself, of suddenly being reduced to just an accent? It makes you feel like shit. We’ve seen people admire foreign accents when it suits them (globally)—like when we worked in a London restaurant in our early 20s, racking up tips from tourists gushing over our “adorable” Italian accents. Was it flattering or were we animals in a zoo—something exotic to point at, but not to take seriously. Then there are the moments that just leave you speechless, like when a colleague mocked us for how we pronounced “jazz” and made sure the entire office knew, or when another casually admitted during an intro meeting that she had never understood a word we said but had “gotten used to it.” Time and again, expats are reminded that our culture does not always translate into English.
The Affirmation
As humans we are not there to entertain with the exotic sound of our voice (raise your hand if you hate the word exotic). - Barbara Serra
As expats, we will not forget our own culture, our own language, our own ways with the passport stamp bequeathed to us at customs. We will see the mockery we endure from native speakers as not just ignorance about the world, but also as insecurity about their own culture.
As the song goes, "You can leave my hat … mmm accent on." That is the only way we can be true to ourselves ;) ;)
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Great post Francesca! You make a really good point about foreign accents equating to bravery. Though my Scottish husband has an accent and speaks just one language 😉
Thank you for writing a really interesting article, in which I find myself as an expat in U.S.A.. Communication has always been one of my best skill during my Italian career, where I was in contact with customers every day. Once I moved to the United States, although I knew English, I felt incapable and often not understood by colleagues and external stakeholders. In reality, only after a few months, I matured the thoughts that my accent and the way of expressing myself should not be a problem, but rather a demonstration of courage and willingness to put myself out of my comfort zone. Again congratulations, also for the quotes to Barbara Serra, of which it is always a pleasure to read and take inspiration.