Non-native English speaker (NNES) data

The majority of the NNES participants said they use English either very often or quite regularly and 67% confirmed that they attended meetings in English either very often or quite regularly.

When asked how comfortable they felt in business meetings held in English, there was some variation related to the size of the meetings. Responses suggest that fewer NNES participants felt ‘very comfortable’ in large business meetings than in small meetings and, in particular, than in one-to-one conversations. However, 56% claimed to feel ‘‘quite comfortable’’ in small meetings or one-to-one conversations, while only 26% felt equally comfortable in large meetings in English. As mentioned earlier, the size of international meetings held in GCAE varied from quite small subgroup meetings to large whole ‘Groupe’ meetings.

The average NNES participant had studied English for six years, usually at school and assessed his/her English proficiency as slightly lower in speaking skills than in listening, writing and, particularly, in reading.

When asked if they found it generally easier to communicate in English with native or non-native speakers of English, results were inconclusive, with 43% stating that they found NNES and NES equally easy to communicate with, 33% stating a preference for NES and 24% finding NNES easier. When asked to specify which if any accents (either native or non-native speaker) they found particularly easy or difficult when listening to English, there was quite a range of responses, particularly regarding the ‘difficult’ accents.

With regard to the ‘easy’ accents, there was an equal number of respondents who felt that either ‘UK English’ or ‘US English’ were easy to understand (six responses each) but also several references to other specific accents which individuals found easy to follow, such as Dutch, German, Scandinavian, French. There were also one or two general comments such as ‘‘when they (all speakers) don’t speak too fast’’ and ‘‘all ‘cultured’ native as ‘‘when they (all speakers) don’t speak too fast’’ and ‘‘all ‘cultured’ native accents’’.

With regard to the ‘difficult’ accents, 47% of the responses indicated difficulty in understanding some NES accents (with references to London English, Australian, African, Scottish, Irish, Tennessee and New Orleans American) and 36% suggesting some difficulties with NNES accents (including Catalan, French, Japanese, German, Southern European, Far Eastern).

There were also some general references to, for example, ‘‘heavy regional’’ or ‘‘uneducated’’ accents, and ‘‘non-articulated English’’. In response to the question, ‘Do you have any particular difficulties communicating in international meetings?’, several participants (7) referred to the general problem of people speaking either too fast or too quietly, for example, ‘‘yes, if people speak too quickly or too low’’ (French participant), ‘‘difficult to understand speakers who speak in low volume and/or too fast’’ (Greek participant). Others mentioned the problem of finding the right words at the right time, for instance ‘‘I have to think about the words to use’’ (Portuguese participant) and ‘‘Limitations of the knowledge of a wide vocabulary’’ (Italian participant).

Some participants seemed to have difficulties interrupting and finding the appropriate way to express an opinion or viewpoint. For instance, ‘‘explaining standpoints in free speech’’ (German participant), ‘‘interrupting speakers spontaneously; communicating difficult messages politely; finetuning statements diplomatically’’ (German participant); ‘‘interrupting speakers sometimes difficult as is expressing small but important differences in opinion/feeling’’ (Dutch participant).

The frustrations caused by language difficulties is illustrated in responses such as ‘‘this limitation [of vocabulary] doesn’t prevent me from participating but I feel less efficacy in expressing my thoughts’’ (Italian participant) and ‘‘difficulties in finding adequate words for immediate reaction in a discussion. Then it is easy to be quiet. This is in comparison with discussions in my mother tongue’’ (Swedish participant).

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