Describe the implications the use of a second language has for cross-cultural communication.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

First, unless completely fluent, using a second language is less automatic and requires more
deliberative thought than does using a first language. It takes more effort on the part of the second-
language user, who could already be contending with other demands of communication or of the task at
hand. Over long periods of time, second-language use is exhausting.
Second, the greater the fluency of second-language speakers, the more likely they are to be seen as
competent in other respects.
Third, first-language speakers in a cross-language interaction tend to respond to lower linguistic
competency of their partner by modifying aspects of their speech, such as slowing the rate of speech
and reducing sentence complexity. This type of speech accommodation, called foreigner speak, can be
perceived as patronizing and might not be well received.
Finally, if the first-language speaker is unable to recognize signals that indicate lack of understanding or
does not work to create an environment in which it is acceptable to check for understanding, the
second-language speaker may pretend to understand in order to avoid embarrassment or appear
competent.