Globally Speaking

When we hear outright errors in pronunciation, syntax, or vocabulary, we need to understand that non-native speakers of English have their reasons for sounding the way they do. The awkward phraseology, jumbled syntax, and unusual idioms may make perfect sense in terms of their language, and they are simply doing their best to translate their thoughts into English.

For example, some languages do not distinguish between countable and uncountable nouns, leading their speakers to confuse much and many when they use English: much cars, many sugar. Other languages lack plural forms altogether and rely on context to determine whether the intention is plural or singular: much car on the street; four chair at the table.

In English, we say I am sick but I have a cold. However, someone whose native language is Thai would be inclined to say I am a cold in English, while an Indonesian would omit the verb entirely, saying I sick.

A German telling you his height might say I have 160 centimeters; telling you his age, he might say I have 38 years. A French or Japanese person might say I do jogging. In all of these cases, the speakers are simply translating their words literally from their own languages into English.

Incorrect English is not random. If we are having problems understanding others, we should listen for patterns of mistakes that reflect the speakers' native language and then adapt our ears accordingly.

It's essential to change only your ear, not your tongue. Don't pidginize your speech in an attempt to blend in with the local version of English. Continue to speak clear, correct English, using sentence structures that your listeners are capable of understanding. Just remember that they might not speak back to you the same way.