When Words Fail You

I’ve spent a lot of time in the last few weeks sitting in meetings conducted in Thai. In most circumstances, I’ve not asked people to translate for me, relying instead on an occasional sentence repeated in English, or a summary I’ve received during meeting breaks. I’ve taken this approach to avoid disrupting the flow of work, and having my presence become a burden. Of course, meetings in which I’m directly involved require more translation. But participating in meetings where you don’t speak the language provides an interesting position from which to understand organizational culture. I’ve become very attuned to body language, and to the flow and rhythm of conversation – who talks to whom, whether staff are engaged in parallel discussions with leadership, or whether they’re talking amongst each other. I’m also gaining a better understanding of the rhythm of language here, and of patterns of conversation. Meetings are much longer than in New York. And even without understanding exactly what’s being said, it’s easy to understand why. People speak much more slowly (I’ve observed that folks raised in the North speak even more slowly than those raised in Bangkok, a fact confirmed to me by some of the staff who aren’t native to Bangkok.) By comparison, New Yorkers speak a mile a minute. Even Karyn, who speaks as fast as most New Yorkers, slows down considerably when she speaks Thai – not because she’s searching for words – she is amazingly fluent – but because the language is more gracious, and seems to demand greater care when speaking.

People also seem to pause more between speakers. You could probably count to three from the moment one person stops speaking, and the next one begins. By New York standards, this sometimes seems an eternity. But I’ve also found it quite respectful – the space a recognition that people are listening and trying to absorb what’s being said by others. I’m actually surprised at how much I do understand – partially because the concepts are familiar, and partially, I think because, when words fail you, it becomes incredibly clear how much of what we communicate doesn’t require words at all.