Does it matter a jot?
Does it matter a jot?
(OP)
I must say I really like this forum, partly because it is educational but mostly as it highlights the differences between the UK and other countries, anyway to my point, how important REALLY is it to be able to communicate in a near perfect way?
I fully understand that many see it as lazy or a sign of a bad education to not be able to express views in a correct manner and I would be the first to admit that my CV would not make it past the waste paper bin with some posters on here, however.
Because of the state of the automotive industry in the UK we now find ourselves working more and more for German companies, now whilst my English may not be great it knocks spots off my German. I can just about make myself understood and only in the same way as a free translator would do, although I am taking classes.
Many of the Germans I deal with whilst speaking far better English than I speak German are still far from perfect, but yet we are able to understand each other and overcome problems, despite appalling punctuation, spelling and use of inappropriate wording. Is this just because we try hard too rather than picking fault or are we really sitting on a time bomb?
Whilst we would never sign a legal contract or the like without having it professionally translated first, practically all every day problems can be sorted out. Obviously in engineering a picture (drawing or CAD) is worth a thousand words, but is that really it.
So their you have it, or should that be there you have it? Does it really matter?
I fully understand that many see it as lazy or a sign of a bad education to not be able to express views in a correct manner and I would be the first to admit that my CV would not make it past the waste paper bin with some posters on here, however.
Because of the state of the automotive industry in the UK we now find ourselves working more and more for German companies, now whilst my English may not be great it knocks spots off my German. I can just about make myself understood and only in the same way as a free translator would do, although I am taking classes.
Many of the Germans I deal with whilst speaking far better English than I speak German are still far from perfect, but yet we are able to understand each other and overcome problems, despite appalling punctuation, spelling and use of inappropriate wording. Is this just because we try hard too rather than picking fault or are we really sitting on a time bomb?
Whilst we would never sign a legal contract or the like without having it professionally translated first, practically all every day problems can be sorted out. Obviously in engineering a picture (drawing or CAD) is worth a thousand words, but is that really it.
So their you have it, or should that be there you have it? Does it really matter?





RE: Does it matter a jot?
I think we are all in agreement that we use different levels of communication to serve different purposes. The email we write to the purchasing supervisor to check lead times of a component is going to be vastly different than the email we write to our counterparts on the other side of the planet to verify mechanical specifications, and this will be vastly different than the email we write to our spouses to ensure they know what time dinner reservations are set for.
I guess I'm answering your question as, "Sometimes it does matter."
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RE: Does it matter a jot?
I also think it matters when you're writing a proposal, be it to a potential customer or to management. The proposal itself sets a tone and establishes an impression. It becomes a reflection of, if not part of, what you're trying to sell.
Good Luck
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As a circle of light increases so does the circumference of darkness around it. - Albert Einstein
RE: Does it matter a jot?
RE: Does it matter a jot?
RE: Does it matter a jot?
I think MadMango provided a very good summary. The point about ambiguity is extremely important for me. I work in the USA for a German company that has operations around the world. The supply base extends to every continent. I spend a great deal of time in meetings, and these meetings take too much time, are not as productive as they should be, and consume excessive amounts of resources because of issues surrounding ambiguity. Whether it is due to language barriers, differences in cultures/opinions/backgrounds, variation in measurement of part geometry/features, or anything else, ambiguity reduces efficiency, increases costs, promotes distrust/disinterest/miscommunication, and impairs genuine understanding.
RE: Does it matter a jot?
When we have the opportunity for face-to-face meetings it is easier to determine that unclarity exits, but it is not possible to meet about every detail.
RE: Does it matter a jot?
unfortunate because they need my approval, not because English is not a first language.
See, clarity is important.
RE: Does it matter a jot?
RE: Does it matter a jot?
RE: Does it matter a jot?
MintJulep appears to be in the driving seat as he places work overseas and seems quite happy to keep throwing things back if they are not entirely to his liking, which of course he is perfectly entitled to do.
TVP on the other hand is not, working “abroad” for a German company. I wonder do they insist that all communications are in German and just throw back everything that is not word and grammatically correct? Is it fair to assume that everyone that has to communicate with them can speak perfect German and has German keyboards? From the amount of time it seems to cost you and ultimately them maybe they should if they do not already.
Does it stop with foreign languages? For example if I saw “ I want a certain size tire on each corner of the car” What does that mean? I am aware that what we Brits call a tyre, Americans call a tire, so it is fairly obvious what it means, or is it?
In English English if there is such a thing, tire means to lose energy or absorb energy, so would a brake be more applicable than a tyre? Of course if I was really worried I could just contact the person and ask in a light hearted way, or I could throw it back at them because it is ambiguous.
Do people being pedantic cause more problems than ambiguous statements?
RE: Does it matter a jot?
ah well...
Edward L. Klein
Pipe Stress Engineer
Houston, Texas
"All the world is a Spring"
All opinions expressed here are my own and not my company's.