Communication in a global

organisation: culture and gender

Anne Pauwels
The University of Western Australia
Communication technologies in a
global world
• Internet - email - web
• Chatrooms
• Mobile phone
• Satellite
communications
• Digital TV -Video
-CD-DVD
 Impact of communication technologies
on global organisations
• Constant contact across continents
• Alternatives to face-to -face contacts: eg. tele- and
videoconferencing, ICR
• Alternatives to traditional modes of writing: eg.
email, SMS
• Alternatives to publications: eg. on-line journals,
magazines, websites
• Need for communication plans : opportunities and
limitations of communication technologies
 Communication issues for a
global organisation

• Choice of language(s) for global

communication: internal, external
• Methods and modes of communication
Which language or languages?
• Membership make-up
• Contexts: meetings,
conventions,
correspondence,
newsletters, websites
• Translation and
interpreting
Which modes of communication?
Internet and email
• Access
• Ethics
• Style of
communication
 Internet - email
• Access to internet and email is a major issue
in a large number of countries
• Ethics: Email is a ‘postcard’
• Style of communication: Not too long, not
too frequent and not too complex
 Language issues to consider in
global communications
• Language is a major vehicle for transmitting
information
• Language is a major means to initiate action
• Language is a strong marker of identity :
gender-age-ethnicity etc.
 Using English as a global
language
• How to structure
information?
• How to address
people?
• Abbreviations and
terminology
• Culture and language
Using gender-inclusive language
• Language which treats women and men equally
and equitably
• More information:
• Pauwels, A. 1998 Women Changing Language.
London: Longman.
• Pauwels, A. 1991 Non-discriminatory language
use. Canberra: AGPS.
• http://www.teagirl.arts.uwa.edu.au
• Tertiary-educated women as major agents of
change