Do we speak Gibberish?

Gibberish is defined by Dictionary.com as:

1. Meaningless or unintelligible talk or writing.
2. Talk or writing containing many obscure, pretentious, or technical words.

As an English communications consultant, I have had the opportunity to see gibberish in action on many occasions: During meetings, presentations, conference calls, and in E-mail.

I must say that gibberish is truly an art to be mastered. We, as native English speakers, have been born with the inherent ability to use it. The problem is, we may not be aware of the excruciating pain non-native speakers experience.


I experienced the same feelings of discouragement, disappointment, and alienation when I first arrived in France in 1994. As I had mentioned in a previous article on "Do you speak as a cow speaks?", the novelty of living in a different country disappears quickly. Frustration and feeling "foreign" become a harsh reality at an unimaginable speed.

The same feelings are a reality for non-native English speakers who communicate with native speakers in the workplace. Depending on their age and English level, non-native speakers develop comprehension progressively:

Beginner (1 out of 10 words in a sentence/question)
Intermediate (2 out of 4 words in a sentence/question)
Advanced (4 out of 6 words in a sentence/question)
Near-native (9 out of 10 words in a sentence/question)

The range above is an approximation based on 15 years of teaching English to native French and Asian business professionals. The scope is not based on objective, scientific measurements. My scale represents subjective, professional experience.

Non-native English speakers often face comprehension challenges every day at work. I remember one day I attended a presentation which was made by an Englishman. Being American, several intermediate to advanced non-native English speakers asked me how much I understood after the presentation. I sincerely answered that I understood about 60%. I could only imagine how much they had understood.

Why did I, a native English speaker, only comprehend 60%? Well, the Englishman spoke inarticulately. I suppose many non-native participants basically understood gibberish. Fortunately, that grueling experience does not happen every day and not every native English presenter speaks incomprehensibly. (For more information about articulate oral communication, please read “Whacha do’in?” I am ar•tic•u•lat•ing!")

However, conference calls may be held regularly and could possess an innate quality to encourage gibberish and incomprehension. (Click here to read "Conference calls: 'Who just joined?' or is it 'Who has understood?'")

If I were to give two recommendations to be proactive and avoid communicating gibberish, I would suggest:

1. Constantly being aware of the way you express yourself, to be sure you speak articulately and clearly.
   
   
2. Taking responsibility for your English communication and repeat and rephrase to ensure comprehension.

Your English Success depends on it.