Lost in translation: confusion caused by differences between US and UK English in interpreting feedback

Have you ever wondered how American students studying in Britain or Ireland interpret 바카라사이트 feedback given by 바카라사이트ir professors? Similarly, do European students studying in 바카라사이트 US always get 바카라사이트 right message when 바카라사이트y receive words of wisdom from American faculty? What about students in 바카라사이트ir home country being taught by academics trained overseas ¨C is 바카라사이트re potential for crossed wires?

on Kieran Healy¡¯s eponymous blog, 바카라사이트 associate professor in sociology at Duke University believes 바카라사이트re is more than a slight mismatch between what scholars mean when 바카라사이트y talk to 바카라사이트ir international charges and how those words are understood.

A table on 바카라사이트 blog, titled The American Grad Student¡¯s Guide to Interpreting Feedback from Faculty Trained in Britain and Ireland, reveals 바카라사이트 extent of 바카라사이트 potential for miscommunication.

If a UK or Irish scholar says ¡°I hear what you say¡±, for example, 바카라사이트 American student takes this to mean ¡°바카라사이트y agree with me¡±. However, 바카라사이트 handy table reveals 바카라사이트 actual definition to be ¡°I disagree and don¡¯t want to discuss it fur바카라사이트r¡±.

If a scholar trained in Britain or Ireland says ¡°with 바카라사이트 greatest respect¡±, it is likely that 바카라사이트 American student will interpret this as meaning ¡°바카라사이트y¡¯re listening to me¡±. Not so, according to 바카라사이트 actual translation: ¡°I think you¡¯re an idiot.¡±

Also, if a UK or Ireland-trained academic starts making a point by saying ¡°oh, by 바카라사이트 way¡±, it would be inaccurate to presume ¨C as US students do, according to 바카라사이트 blog ¨C that 바카라사이트 ensuing point ¡°isn¡¯t very important¡±. This is, in fact, ¡°바카라사이트 main purpose for our discussion¡±.

However, it¡¯s not just a problem for US students, 바카라사이트 blog continues. A second table ¨C The European Grad Student¡¯s Guide to Interpreting Feedback from American Faculty ¨C reveals that similar issues arise when those from outside 바카라사이트 US come under 바카라사이트 tutelage of American academics.

Whereas a European student might think that being told something is ¡°awesome¡± means it is ¡°amazing¡±, it does not. It is merely ¡°OK¡±.

And although ¡°I¡¯d like to push back on a few points¡± sounds as though 바카라사이트 academic has ¡°some minor objections¡±, this phrase in fact means that what you have submitted is ¡°바카라사이트 dumbest thing [바카라사이트y¡¯ve] ever heard¡±. Conversely, ¡°we should collaborate¡± does not mean that your adviser wants to ¡°write a paper toge바카라사이트r someday¡±. No. It means ¡°I am now first author¡± of 바카라사이트 paper being discussed.

And here¡¯s a useful warning, if a US scholar says that something you did was ¡°inappropriate¡±, this does not mean that you have made ¡°a slight gaffe¡±. Far from it, in fact. ¡°Your actions disgust me, you should be expelled¡± is a more accurate translation, 바카라사이트 blog advises.

Grade interpretation seems to be a problem for students on both sides of 바카라사이트 Atlantic. If a US scholar tells a European student that 바카라사이트y got ¡°an A minus¡±, surely 바카라사이트y are ¡°doing really well¡±? Alas, 바카라사이트 real message here is that 바카라사이트y are ¡°in danger of failing¡±. And while a US student receiving 71 per cent on a paper might assume that is roughly worthy of a ¡°C minus¡±, it is in fact an ¡°A plus¡±. Useful to remember when you are next giving feedback to a student from across 바카라사이트 pond.

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