By: Fathy Shetiah

eth·no·cen·trism: n. The belief in the superiority of one’s own ethnic group. Furthermore: Thinking that all other groups are measured in comparison with one’s own. -language, behaviors, customs, religion Truth: When conducting business abroad, it is not all about you!

Population: 1,336,718,015 (July 2011 est.) Government: Communist Party of China People: PRC recognizes 55 ethnic minorities, Han is the majority Religion: Taoism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Christianity, Islam Language: Various dialects, Mandarin official standard language

Social Norms -Greetings -Communication Style -Respect -Asking Q’s -Society Structure-“Face” -Collectivism- Passivity Business -Negotiations-patience! -Presentations -Gift giving -Meetings -Miscellaneous

Population: upwards of 1 billion Government: Federal Republic People: Indo-Aryan largest ethnic group, Dravidian Religion: Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh Language: Hindi is the main official language, English Is the language of business; 21 other official languages

Social Norms -Greetings-Society Structure -Time-Hierarchal -Communication style -Asking Q’s Business -Negotiations -Gift-giving -Management -Meetings -Miscellaneous

Population: 245 million (July 2011 est.) Government: Republic People: More than 300 ethnic groups; Javanese composing the largest segment Religion: Muslim, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Hindu Language: National language: Bahasa Indonesia

Social Norms -Greetings-Collectivism -Time-Gender roles -Communication style -Society structure -Hierarchal -Social harmony Business -Negotiations -Gift Giving -Management -Meetings -Miscellaneous

Translations gone array To start… -During its 1994 launch campaign, the telecom company Orange changed its ads in Northern Ireland. "The future's bright … the future's Orange." In the North, the term Orange suggests the Orange Order. The implied message that the future is bright, the future is Protestant, loyalist... didn't sit well with the Catholic Irish population. ~2006

Pepsi Co : India- Pepsi was sued in an Indian city court in a public interest litigation for glorifying child labor in a television ad. In the ad, the Indian cricket team is in a celebratory huddle when a young boy serves them Pepsi. ~2004 China- “Come Alive with Pepsi”= “Bring your ancestors back from the dead.”

Google Fails: -There are blogs dedicated entirely to the translation faux-pas Example: Lady Gaga->Britney Spears Trustworthy?

When translated into Chinese, the Kentucky Fried Chicken slogan "finger-lickin' good" came out as "eat your fingers off".  now a success in China

Country Time important? GreetingDecision Making Gift-givingLanguageCommun- ication Economic Status China Yes, veryhandshakeVariesTake cautionMany variants of Chinese Indirect, but lively Developed India Relaxed, but be on- time Handshake / Namaste directionalAcceptable, under proper circumstances Hindi – most common, English widely spoken IndirectGrowing/ Emerging market Indonesia Relaxed, but be on- time Handshake (soft grip) or slight bow directionalAcceptable, under proper circumstances Bahasa Indonesia, various other dialects Indirect, diplomatic, subdued Untapped market/ Emerging United States Yes, time has a sense of urgency Firm handshake VariesAcceptableEnglish among other languages Direct eye contact Developed

Thank You!

-globaledge.msu.edu - -engrishfunny.failblog.org