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 matter how/where [...]

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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 person [...]

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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 [...]

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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 markets, however, [...]

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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 with [...]

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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 two cultures [...]

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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 apply [...]

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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 see myself [...]

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As an international ‘travel purist,’ I have to admit I fall into that category that looks with disdain at those eating at McDonald’s when in another country.  “How could they possible travel this far and then eat at…McDonald’s?” I would think with a certain air of superiority.
Well, the joke’s on me!  Especially as a marketer/anthropologist, [...]

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 I’ve been following Cindy King both on the internet and on Twitter. She’s an International Sales Expert, but also an amazing connector of all things interntional and intercultural.  In the past I’ve referenced websites like culturecrossing.net, which aim to provide a quick “How To” guide to cross-cultural etiquette and understanding.  I have said I find the sites [...]

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