Linguistic Diversity: barriers, inclusivity and bridging the gap

Language determines how we can communicate with each other, and with increasingly diverse communities, language can often become a delicate issue with different languages and methods required to communicate. It is a completely dominant occurrence that employees will typically speak the language of the country the organisation is situated in. Despite this, companies need to cultivate and celebrate linguistic diversity.

When you look at it, language becomes a mode in which we express our thoughts, feelings, and expressions, and we use language every day and everywhere and only notice language when it is something different from what we speak. Apart from different languages from different nations, there is also another level of linguistic diversity that is overlooked: sign language.

With growing diverse organisations, there are employees from multiple backgrounds who speak different languages there may be language gaps and differences amongst colleagues. What can happen is that there are possible circumstances that make it difficult for colleagues to mesh with each other because there is a barrier or a gap that is somewhat quintessential. Many social science studies covering workplace discourse become isolated and fragmented, with different groups of people choosing to speak to those they have more likeness to or are more comfortable with.

What language barriers could we encounter in the workplace?

• Business relations that may require an individual to conduct business in a different language may lead to barriers in relations because ideas, expressions, and strong communication can be lost through a translator.

• Groups or individuals can be left feeling isolated: individuals who speak another language apart from the dominant one in the language- because, for example, English may be their second language, and they have stronger language skills in their mother tongue. Conversely, those who speak different languages from their colleagues can isolate those who do not know that language and it can lead to miscommunications.

• When data or reports are only presented in a few languages, this applies more to large international organisations than smaller national companies that expand only amongst national territories. It puts the onus on the document's recipient to translate and ensure that whatever they translate is correct.

• Also, there may be issues with individuals with hearing impairments that may require sign language, and if there are selected or very few members within the organisation, less so the people they need to communicate with regularly who aren't able to communicate with that or those individuals.

Some of the questions we have to ask ourselves are whether it is beneficial to have training regarding signing language, whether it be basic, advanced, or intermediate, as this will make the environment more accessible and inclusive to everyone.

It is also important to note that language is more than how people communicate with each other; it is also about how you use words, and in our ever-changing environment, respect towards others, especially through language, is vital, as language is often our primary communicator.

A prime example is respect for pronouns; some people may not state their pronouns or may not prefer to disclose them, and that is perfectly ok. However, those who choose to disclose their pronouns should be valued and respected. Individuals who identify as non-binary have their pronouns overlooked and ignored in cis heteronormative environments, but this is also a barrier that we should e conscious of.

For many people, this may require a process of unlearning language and the way we use words; for coming generations, we need to learn and celebrate different identities. And opposed to having to go through the process of unlearning conventional language and identification forms of language and learn about inclusive cultures and identifiers from a much younger age.

Here at DJM, we aim to make content as accessible as possible so that we will publish our accompanying podcast right before Christmas, so you have all the content ready for the new year!

As this is DJM's last post of 2021, we wish all of our readers and (hopefully podcast listeners) a Merry Christmas and a very happy New Year, and we will be back fresh in the new year with even more content and projects for you!