Multicultural Marketing Needs to “Think Globally” (KFC Pulls Ad in Australia after US Backlash)

There’s a catch phrase in the environmental movement that says “Think Globally.   Act Locally.”  Global advertisers might be well served by doing  the reverse. Of course companies selling internationally need to localize their messages to appeal to regional and national markets.  But they must also think globally.  You have to assume that any ad, no…

Poetry, Toungue Tennis, and other Tricks for Multicultural Name Pronunciation

  As someone married to an “Eugenio” (Brazilian Portuguese ay-oh-ZHEN-ee-oh) I was delighted to find the website Hearnames.com, which offers audio pronunciation by native speakers of hundreds of names in 44 language categories.  Dale Carnegie taught millions how to Win Friends and Influence People with ideas like “Remember that a person’s name is to that…

3 Things Guaranteed to Alienate When Speaking Across a Langague Barrier

In today’s multicultural world (depending on where you live) it is common to engage with people for whom English is not their first language.  While sometimes the interaction may be casual, with not much at stake, other times business deals, potential sales or enduring relationships may be at stake. Here are three tips to spoil the…

Australia Meets Tokyo in English Language Ad for Lipton Ice Tea in France

  It’s Hugh Jackman, who’s Australian.   It takes place at a hotel in Tokyo.   The voice over at the end is in English.  But apparently it’s made for…France?  That’s the only part I don’t get about this delightful Lipton Ice Tea spot, “Tokyo Dancing Hotel” by DDB Paris. In the world of multicultural marketing and global…

Multilingual Robots, White Canada, Latent Sexism: Odds and Ends

Multilingal (20 languages!) Robot a la C3PO RATS!  Looks like the government is moving yet closer to solving issues for multilingual, real-time translation, with the launch of Robust Automatic Translation of Speech  (this link is to the RFP to build the program–reminds me a little of hearing about a contest for 5th graders to come up…

Dillon’s Multicultural Ad Pick: Why it helps to know the local customs

Thanks to Intercultural Talk contributer Dillon, age 8, who is learning to recognize great multicultural advertising.  “I chose it because it showed that in English culture it’s polite to finish everything, but in Chinese culture they think you want more if you finish everything,” said Dillon. Look at the fun (depending on your perspective) that ensues when…

10 Tips for Growing and Learning in Intercultural Communications

Remember the old adage ‘the best way to remember your story is to tell the truth?’  Well, it’s the same with Intercultural Communications.  The best way to interact with others is to be keenly aware of yourself…but also hyper sensitive and to the individuality and autonomous experience of others around you.  Good news?  These tips…

Culture Shock: Still Can’t Adjust to Eating Bugs, but Doesn’t Stop Passion for International Volunteerism

  Bug Buffet, source foodista.com Sorry, I know it’s sophomoric, but when I wanted an image to communicate Culture Shock (from a United States/Western European perspective) I couldn’t resist the photo of basically a ‘bug buffet.”  I know I’ve heard they are full of protein, even tasy, but from my own cultural perspective, I don’t…