28 Jun LOST IN TRANSLATION
If you were born in another country or grew up where English was not your first language, you can sometimes get lost when translating. Searching for the right word can increase your anxiety and even result in you blanking out, or freezing, like a deer in the headlights.
When this happened in our recent Communication Immersion workshop, Deborah had a young professional immediately switch to Spanish and then translate. The attendee was bilingual and educated, so she did it seamlessly, and speaking in her native tongue bolstered her confidence. And because it was unexpected, the content grabbed the attention of the audience. Necessity was clearly the mother of invention.
At times, even native English speakers can fail to find the right word, which makes them stall. If you blank, use a quote, euphemism, or funny saying from a relative. For example, David could say, “Well, the word escapes me. But it’s better than channeling my grandfather who could talk the paint off a barn!” Have a chuckle with the audience, take a breath, and you’re back on track.
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