In this article, we present a witty and relevant resource for students to learn and apply communications concepts to assess barriers to communication and tactics for overcoming such barriers. Leveraging the humor of a classic Abbott and Costello comedy routine, we challenge students to analyze the clip and to identify best practices in…

Cross-cultural blunders caused by inappropriate use of language are a common problem in international professional communication. They cause misunderstanding, lead to business failures, and tend to be offensive at times. Such blunders may occur in business ads, slogans, products names, and instructions. Understanding their causes and finding…

Classical western logic, built on a foundation of true/false, yes/no, right/wrong statements, leads to many difficulties and inconsistencies in the logical analysis and organization of international business communications. This paper presents the basic principles of classical logic and of fuzzy logic, a type of logic developed to allow for…

Describes an international business communication course taught at Murray State University. Acquaints students with the challenges of international business communication, provides guidelines for successful cross-cultural business communication, and gives practice in solving international business problems through the use of the guidelines. (RAE)

The age of globalization requires an understanding of intercultural communication and diversity issues in workplaces. This is especially so in a country such as New Zealand, which has recently been experiencing the phenomenon of recruiting and attracting skilled, professional immigrants from China, India, and other parts of Asia and the Middle…

Describes the development and adoption of Dade County (Florida) guidelines regarding national origin employment discrimination based on language. Discusses the case of English-speaking sisters denied employment because they did not speak Spanish, which prompted development of the guidelines. Presents the text of the guidelines in full. (JB)

It is proposed that because (1) adult learners of English as a Second Language face great challenges in communicating with native English speakers; and (2) native English-speakers can learn strategies to compensate for some of these difficulties, there is a need for instruction in these strategies and skills for Americans in international…

Describes problems resulting from the use of immigrant industrial workers with poor language understanding and the method used to assess functional oral English for occupational purposes. While the form of assessment provides authentic data for company training and communication needs, further research is needed to resolve some problems. (MF)

This progress report describes the on-going development of a system to help Americans, especially those who have dealings abroad, to interpret accurately the meaning of messages originating in cultures other than their own. The history, rationale, and methodology of the project are described in detail. Profiles of cultural concepts are provided…

The construction of an intermediate course in Mandarin Chinese for business purposes is discussed. Following an introduction in part one, part two considers the progress of trade relations between Taiwan, the People's Republic of China (PRC), and the United States. Part three gives a brief review of materials already in print that might help in…

These proceedings present 12 articles that suggest opportunities for scholars and practitioners to contribute to business communication. The papers are organized into four sections, each composed of three papers. The papers in Part I, Specialized Communication Techniques, are: "Does Style Affect the Reader's Image of the Writer?" (James Suchan),…