Ever been afraid of unintentionally saying the wrong thing? Without cultural awareness, the language you use can offend people who matter the most to your business.

Your communication style matters to people and culture in Australia

Ever been afraid of unintentionally saying the wrong thing? Without cultural awareness, the language you use can offend people who matter the most to your business.

As translators, we spot language usage and help our clients understand the cultural and social significance of using the right terms, particularly when businesses engage Aboriginal people in Australia.

When in doubt, and when it’s culturally appropriate, the first best choice in a conversation is merely asking: What is your preference? How do you like to be identified? But asking is not always practical in written communications or events, webcasts, or podcasts.

Language is continually evolving, so it’s good to see if you’re keeping up with today’s standards on Aboriginal topics. Start by checking yourself for three of the most common mistakes we see in written and spoken communication.

Misused adjectives and articles: Descriptions can add richness to understanding someone’s racial, ethnic, or cultural identity, but adjectives used as nouns convey the wrong meaning. The speaker can sound clueless — or worse, racist. For example, when describing someone, you’d never say she’s an Aboriginal as if you are calling someone a name, you’d say she’s an Aboriginal person, woman, leader, etc. She’s not a Blak; she’s Blak.

Capitalisation: When speaking of a specific ethnicity or group of people, capitalise the name. Doing so acknowledges a shared cultural identity. By writing ‘Aboriginal people of Australia,’ you demonstrate respect for history and culture, whereas typing ‘aboriginal’ or ‘indigenous’ is generic and does not convey the same meaning.

Australian identity: Indigenous and non-Indigenous people all call Australia their home. Yet, many Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders will associate being Australian with Australia’s dark treatment of Indigenous people.

When referring to the broad population of Indigenous communities, it’s common to say Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders to acknowledge history and heritage distinct from non-Indigenous people. But remember, this is still a broad term, and the diversity within these groups is rich. When you’re speaking to a specific group or nation, use the more precise word. 

Sources: Australians Together and Creative Spirits, 2020.

The Australians Together Language and Terminology Guide can help anyone wanting to use inclusive language in their business communications. Or keep your everyday conversational skills fresh with Creative Spirits’ language guide here. 

Translationz has professional interpreters and translators trained in understanding what Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples consider culturally and socially significant. For more information on how we can help, contact us.