The dictionary tells us that “translate” is a verb and means to change from one language into another or form or medium into another, essentially making sense of a language.

On the other hand, “interpret” is similar yet different. The primary definition is to make sense of, assign meaning to, or explain something.

Understanding this distinction is crucial when speaking to an international audience. Let me share a few examples from my experiences that might help you navigate this unique dynamic.

Learning from Professional Interpreters

While working with a large sales company, I developed a close relationship with several professional interpreters. As I often advise, I interviewed them to understand their craft better. They shared, “Patricia, translating documents is one part of our job. However, real skills come in when interpreting live for a speaker. When we interpret, we are acting out the stories. That means the international audience might not hear word-for-word what the speaker says, but they get the essence.”

They continued, “The more information speakers give us in advance, the better we can serve them. And the more they pause—something very few speakers know how to do—the more effective our interpretation becomes.”

Speaking to an International Audience

My training for speaking to international audiences began when I was selected to be part of the “Bullet Proof Management” series, along with legends like Zig Ziglar, Nido Qubein, and negotiation expert Jim Hennig. This series was sold in 58 countries, requiring a different content delivery approach.

Here’s what I learned:

Avoid Specific References: Avoid mentioning American authors or brands without an explanation. Instead of “Patrick Lencioni,” say “a best-selling American management author.” Instead of “Baskin-Robbins,” say “an American ice cream franchise.”

Steer Clear of Cultural References: Avoid using jokes or sports analogies which may not resonate with an international audience. Focus on delivering straightforward, valuable content.

Clarify Your Points: After every story, say, “And the point of that example is…” This approach is efficient with non-English speaking audiences to reinforce the message.

The Art of the Dance: Interpreted Presentations

When I was invited to speak in Taiwan for ten days, including large public seminars and eight in-house corporate meetings, I sought advice from experienced speakers Harvey Mackay and Brian Tracy. Here’s what they taught me:

Deliver in Short Segments: Brian Tracy suggested, “Do not let them simultaneously translate. Deliver it like a dance routine: say a few lines, then pause for the interpreter to translate. Repeat.” This requires knowing your material word-for-word and staying focused so you don’t lose track of your flow.

Test Your Material: Harvey Mackay recommended testing all material on a target audience beforehand. I arrived early, worked with my interpreter, Peter, and rehearsed with the client’s staff. We discovered that while most words were easily interpreted, there were occasional exceptions. For instance, “idiosyncrasies” was a tricky one!

Building a Partnership with Your Interpreter

The speaker is responsible for working with the interpreter to serve the audience. Many American speakers mistakenly think it’s amusing to speak rapidly, frustrating the interpreter. This behavior is egotistical and fails to serve the client’s needs.

Good teamwork with your interpreter can pay off significantly. For instance, at one company seminar, my interpreter told me, “Patricia, they advertise on television with the slogan, ‘Try it, it works.’” At the end of my seminar, I reviewed my fundamental ideas and suggestions and closed their slogan: “Try it, it works.” The audience applauded and presented me with flowers—proof that some preparation goes a long way.

At another meeting, I noticed Chinese signs displaying the company’s core values on the walls. With my interpreter’s help, I translated them into English: “Teamwork,” “Customer Service,” and so on. I would point to a sign and say, “I see by your signs you commit to teamwork,” and then link my content to it. This created a seamless connection between my message and their values.

Two Types of Interpretation

Remember, there are two main types of interpretation:

Simultaneous Interpretation: Where the interpreter translates while you speak.

Consecutive Interpretation: Where you speak a phrase, pause, and the interpreter translates it before you continue. The dance routine!

Remember to pause long enough for the interpreter to convey the message fully when using consecutive interpretation. The translation may take longer or less than your original phrase, depending on the language.

You Don’t Have to Leave the U.S. to Speak to an International Audience

You don’t have to leave American shores to address an international audience. In these cases, use clear, concise language and be specific. Many of my tech clients in Silicon Valley have English as a third language. One of my long-term clients engages me to help their technical experts prepare for their user meetings. At many of the conferences, their audience comes from 71 countries. Naturally, I teach them many of these skills.

Preparation is Key

When speaking to an international audience, you are now part of a two-person team—the speaker and the interpreter. If your message doesn’t resonate with the audience, it may be due to insufficient preparation and not equipping your interpreter with the necessary context.

Before any international engagement, provide your interpreter with an outline, key phrases, specific terminology, and any industry jargon you may use. This will help them prepare and ensure they accurately convey your message.

Respect the Skill of Interpreters

Working with interpreters requires more than speaking slowly; it demands respect, preparation, and collaboration. Remember, your interpreter is your partner in delivering a powerful presentation that transcends language barriers. Embrace the opportunity to connect with an international audience because the rewards are invaluable when you do it right.

“As a speech coach, Patricia Fripp is a miracle worker.” Larraine Segil, Chairman and CEO, Exceptional Women Awardees Foundation.

“I would have paid $3000 for a year of FrippVT.” – Mitzi Perdue, Professional Speaker and Author.

“FrippVT is a fantastic investment.” – Amy Towner, Ventura County Health Care Agency CEO.

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As a presentation skills expert, I often tell my clients that the best content for their talks comes from unexpected places.

Often in fascinating conversations with intriguing people. Engaging in exciting dialogues with diverse individuals is not just a delightful experience; it’s a goldmine for your presentations and personal growth.

Conversions begin with “Hello.”

Conversations are an endless source of original content for speakers for our presentations.

You’re opening a door to a treasure trove of ideas when you have meaningful conversations, especially with those with different backgrounds and perspectives. This exposure keeps your mind sharp and enhances your ability to think creatively, a crucial skill when crafting compelling presentations. Picture this: You’re chatting with a scientist, an artist, and an entrepreneur. Each person offers a unique insight that could inspire the next brilliant point in your presentation. These conversations add layers of richness to your content, making your message more engaging and impactful.

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Have you noticed some wisdom that has been around for years suddenly becomes relevant, and with a dedicated person behind it, it is brought back to life to influence a new generation?

Open the Mind the Sales and Close

As a seasoned sales presentation expert, I’ve enjoyed dissecting numerous sales books during my career. However, few have left as lasting an impression as Open the Mind and Close the Sale by John M. Wilson, updated for today’s readers by Willis H. Turner. Originally published in 1952, this book stands the test of time with its timeless sales principles and strategies that remain remarkably relevant in our modern, technology-driven sales environment.

A Timeless Classic with Modern Relevance

One of the standout features of this book is its foundational principles, which remain unshaken even after decades of technological advancements and changing market dynamics. Wilson’s original insights into human behavior, motivation, and the psychology of selling are as applicable today as in the 1950s. Will Turner’s updates seamlessly blend these classic ideas with modern contexts, ensuring that today’s sales professionals can glean invaluable lessons that wll relate.

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Have you often noticed how the most profound lessons usually come from the most straightforward everyday experiences?

Look closely

You might hear a funny or profound speaker seemingly talking about mundane situations, and you think, “Nothing like that ever happens to me.” Of course, it does, or you wouldn’t relate to it. That speaker has attributes meaning where it doesn’t usually occur, turning ordinary moments into powerful lessons.

For example, in a speech on good customer service, my client said, “Patricia, our associates don’t stay in Ritz Carlton; they don’t shop at Nordstrom. How do we teach them what good service is?”

I responded, “Very easy. We are all customers. You need them to act as business consultants based on their experiences and then apply what they learn to their company.” I shared some of my good and bad customer service stories and asked them, “Who would like to tell me one of yours?”

A young woman raised her hand and said, “I went into a store to buy a leotard to go under my child’s Halloween costume. I made a mistake and took the wrong size. I hadn’t opened the package, so I returned it and said, ‘Excuse me, could I change this for another size?’ The clerk rolled his eyes and said, ‘You don’t even know what size your kid is?’”

She continued, “I made another purchase, wrote a check, and accidentally put the next day’s date on it. The clerk threw the pen across the table and said, ‘Will you initial that?’ I went up to the Customer Service Department and told them the story.

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Are you guilty of using lazy language?

In my speech coaching sessions, one of the most frequent questions I ask is, “If it were not a thing, what would it be?”

For example, one brilliant engineer preparing for his company’s User meeting said, “There are two things people love about…” You guessed it; I asked, “If it were not a thing, what would it be?”

His reply? “Innovative upgrades.” My next question: “There are billions of people in the world. Which people love your innovative upgrades?” His answer: “Systems administrators.”

This simple exchange is just one way I help brilliant professionals communicate as intelligently as they are.

The next time you hear someone—even yourself—use the word “thing,” take a moment to write out the sentence and find a stronger, more specific word to replace it. By doing this, you’ll become more aware of your own word choices, making it easier to speak with precision.

When did this crusade against the word thing begin? It all started when my friend David Palmer introduced me to my now favorite phrase, “Specificity builds credibility.”

As I sat in the back of a coaching camp I was conducting with Darren LaCroix, I became increasingly irritated by the number of times I heard phrases like, “The best thing to do to be successful…” or “The first thing I did to make the sale…” I couldn’t help but think, “Do you mean the best action we need to take?”

Here’s a list of more precise options for your consideration.

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Tying the Knot:

Father of the Bride speech
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Alan Alda says, “The space between the lines makes a great performance.”

Yes, you guessed it. That means you must never underestimate the power of the pause. This is true in acting, speaking, and music.

My brother Robert Fripp, the legendary guitarist and one of Rolling Stone magazine’s “100 Greatest Guitarists,” explains, “The music is between the notes, not in the notes.”

Your words do not convey your message by themselves; it is also with your pauses.

Take pausing seriously

Remember, a pause isn’t a moment of nothing. It is a tool used strategically to help you build an intellectual and emotional connection with your audience. When you pause, you give your audience time to process your words. A pause allows your listeners to stay engaged and enables them to follow what comes next. If you tend to speak rapidly, allowing adequate time for pauses is even more important. Pauses also give you time to breathe, smile, and think.

Pauses are the punctuation marks of your speech. They give structure and meaning to our words.

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Every day, we are bombarded with more information than we can remember.

Whatever your role, you want your message to be remembered and repeated to others. When we do that, we are speaking to the audience of our audience.

In selling, managing, inspiring, leading, training, copywriting, and, in fact, all forms of communication, we must look for techniques that help make our messages memorable to our audiences.

Before our colleagues, customers, partners, or audience members leave the meeting or presentation, we need to solidify our message or remind them of the action they must take. Tying a robust, repeatable message to stories or a significant point gives you a “Phrase That Pays.”  Story consultant coach Doug Stevenson says, “A ‘Phrase That Pays’ is a short phrase that summarizes your message. It is a call to action that tells your listener or audience member what you expect them to do.”

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Confidence in public speaking doesn’t come naturally to everyone. It’s built over time through a commitment to learn, improve, get coached, review your presentations, and continuously stive to hone your skills. Even those with natural talent must know the proven principles and timeless techniques.

Fripp can help improve your presentations.

One of the most transformative benefits of developing good public speaking skills is the boost it gives to your confidence.

Boost Your Confidence and Credibility

Consider Will, a Staff Performance Engineer at a large technology company in Silicon Valley. Will’s story perfectly illustrates how mastering presentation skills can transform one’s confidence. Like many brilliant technical experts, Will invested years developing his skills and then found himself thrust into the spotlight, needing to present to colleagues and superiors.

I felt like a proud parent when Will wrote, “Four months ago, I attended your presentation skills Masterclass. It was eye-opening. I just wanted to let you know how beneficial that class has been. I’ve been a very anxious public speaker for as long as I can remember. After your class, my anxiety magically melted away. Recently, I delivered an hour-long talk to my twenty-five-person team. The audience included management, a director, and our Technical Director.

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What is Cognitive Overload?

Cognitive overwhelm occurs when our brains are bombarded with too much information at once, making it difficult to process and retain anything. In public speaking, this often happens when a speaker overloads the audience with data, complex visuals, or rapid speech.

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