“That is completely outstanding, wonderful and awesome.“
Do the utterances of your colleagues radiate a grey pessimistic but justified gloom that makes you want to shake them? Or, do some of your overseas teammates fire hose out so much insincere whooping enthusiasm, that you feel you are witnessing a 5 year-old’s birthday party with jelly and ice cream?
Language
Before we leap to judgement about the passive or active tone and lexicon of executives around the globe and expand on how angry this makes us feel, let’s take a breath and put this into context.
If your country had a history of keeping people down via serfdom, feudal oversight or soviet communism’s secret police – If a little war, starvation and religious persecution were thrown in for good measure, what discourse would you expect to be heard in your local market square?
Too much?
Optimism – Before we totally condemn the US for their over-the-top and trivial sounding, “Everything is awesome”, let us pay tribute to the language that facilitated the actions of only 5% of the population (USA) to produce a whopping and totally awesome 23% of the economic turnover OF THE WORLD! We may criticise a lack of depth but no one can argue with the result.
Pessimism – Conversely, from my 5 years in Central Europe, working with a generation that followed the Soviet regime, I came to understand the cynical, dark and cautious language of the region in a new way. This different perspective freed both them and me from the energy draining depression that many expats complained about, (when they thought no locals were listening.)
History – When you have control and agency ripped from your arms by aristocratic overlords, then Communist apperachnics, and finally, Western corporate bosses, your language will morph into something pragmatic and functional. The Czech, “We tried that last time and it did not work” or, “There is a problem” seem to signify a reluctance or unwillingness to cooperate.
This is to misunderstand the intent.
When we dig deeper, we uncover a more profound truth. View this class of communication as an enquiry about your intentions. Then, relax a little, and, respect the question, regarding it as relevant and sharp. We are really hearing, “Can we trust you?” “Are you for real?” “Will you change your mind next week and so render this urgent request for action, pointless?”
The Slavic slaves will be servants no longer. Their words symbolise the overthrowing the forces of oppression. Depth, connection and respect are now required.
Meanwhile, in the middle…
Geographically and energetically, the UK and much of Continental Western Europe fits somewhere in the middle. Our modest phrases give us away too. In response to an enquiry into our mental and physical wellbeing, the Brit may say, “Mustn’t grumble” “It could always be worse” or the anodyne and meaningless, “Fiiiiine”.
We see ourselves as free, democratic action takers, steering our ship on our own path and yet, this passive language is manifestly pessimistic, fatalistic and, to an outsider’s ear, almost tragic.
The core cultural value that drives this avoidance of hubris and enthusiasm, is modesty – Cultural modesty. I have written a lot on this subject. The history of the British people, pre Empire, was similar to that of Russia. The surfs of the UK were a miserable, Baldrick like lot, (though he was much more optimistic!)
Here, we are signalling the tall poppy syndrome, though it is God who will smite us down for standing up or standing out, not a secret policeman in the middle of the night.
The Brit must avoid displays of ostentation and be ready for the next disaster to arrive at any time.
I have spent a little time in Southern Germany recently and notice a related style. On entering a restaurant with pleasing décor, positive staff service and quality food and drink on offer, the first comment by a local may well be a critical or negative one. Again, a self-flagellating form of avoidance – Dodging the wrath of God.
Optimism
Britain’s new Emperor (Who does not seem to be wearing too many clothes these days), has spoken of the need for hope and optimism by Brits after enduring the 1000 day water torture that was Brexit and 4 1/2 months of lockdown.
***I feel the average Brit will roll their eyes at this, dreading what may come next – All made worse by a whooping American-like, forced enthusiasm containing an implied command for the huddled UK masses to put on a display of compulsory happiness.***
We have just come out of a decade of austerity – “Flogging will continue until morale improves.“
Now, we are being instructed to drive the UK’s economic car over a Sovereign and “self-determining” cliff with a smile (and mask) on our face, keep our distance as we crowd into shops again, keep safe and form a barmy army in football stadiums to save the economy. Or else overpaid footballers will have to retrain as estate agents – See? I am doing it myself!!!
Go USA!
The context of US language is fascinating. Disparate exiled European groups landed on the East Coast and headed out West to stake their land claim and work unbelievably hard, to try to build a cabin, plant, tend the growing crops, harvest and preserve their bounty, and gather enough fuel for winter. 62% failed. I guess the ones that made it were using more positive and action based language than the ones that froze or returned. Was the energy of the local language forged here in the field? “Just do it” “Make it happen” “Outstanding” “I won”.
Conclusion
Language divides us. And, the language of the “other” can be irritating.
We can mitigate our bitterness and animosity when listening to the message of our overseas counterpart during that next Zoom call, by taking a peak at the fascinating history that helped establish their idioms, punch lines and social fillers, that we hear them use today. And, it is by respecting the past and their past in particular, that we can ensure a tolerant and healthier approach to the “other”, and, maybe, begin to enjoy their language and energy today.
Now, wouldn’t that be awesome, problem-free and totally fine!
Got to go now – Giving a Zoom update!
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