20 Writing to the World
People today often communicate instantaneously across vast distances and cultures. Businesspeople complete multinational transactions with a single click, students in Ohio take online classes at MIT or chat with hundreds of Facebook friends, and bloggers in Baghdad find readers in Atlanta.
Who will read what you write? What choices do you need to make in your writing to have the desired effect on your audience? When the whole world can potentially read your work, it’s time to step back and think about how to communicate successfully with such a diverse group—how to become a world writer.
Communicating across Cultures
AT A GLANCE
- Recognize what you consider “normal.” Examine your own customary behaviors and assumptions, and think about how they may affect what you think and say (and write). (20a)
- Listen closely to someone from another culture, and ask for clarification if necessary. Carefully define your terms. (20b)
- Think about your audience’s expectations. How much authority should you have? What kind of evidence will count most with your audience? (20c)
- Organize your writing with your audience’s expectations in mind. If in doubt, use formal style. (20c)