Use of Terminology in Different Countries

The use of terminology differs from country to country. The term salesperson is easy to decipher as the salesman or saleswoman, but it is a term that is unheard of in some countries. The account manager is the sales representative, the buyer is the purchaser, the accounting assistant is the bookkeeper, the human resources department is the personnel department, the flat is the apartment, the chop is the stamp, the motor carrier is the trucking company, and the letter carrier is the postman.

The first time one hears a person say "I will take the lift to third floor" can be baffling. Some people may misconstrue the lift for the lifting crane, short of suspecting that the lift is the elevator.

When a buyer asks "Excuse me, may I use your restroom please?" in the middle of a business meeting, do not bring the buyer to a room to rest. The buyer wants to use the toilet, not to rest. In certain places, the terms washroom, powderroom and latrine are used, instead of restroom and toilet.

The way certain terms and bland words are used in a language or a country can be offensive in another language or country. "Please give the officer overtime pay" sounds like a plain English parlance, but when it is used in some surroundings it means please give the officer a bribe. The term bribe also comes under the terms grease, grease money, coffee money, influence, under the table, open back door, little bite, and red pouch.

The term nova, which means a star, is commonly used in many countries. However, the word "nova" in Spanish means "no go", which carries a negative message when used in Spanish-speaking countries. It is important to use terms and words cautiously to avoid setbacks in exporting and importing.