RE: What to do???

["Richard Burkhart" <richard -at- khanfusion -dot- net>]

I've spent 9 years so far as an editor/executive assistant at a company full
of Iranians / Sri Lankans / Pakistani / Connecticut natives. I don't have
too much to add to Wade's advice except:

 a) Get a feel for the grammar patterns. Some of the problems I encounter
with non-native english writers are when they try to apply their native
grammar to English. They use proper word choices (tecnical ones), but
improper construction.  If you know that your Russian engineers have a
tendency to say things in certain ways - you can anticipate what they're
trying to say, and work with it.  As other people have suggested - getting
to know your co-workers will help with this.

 b) For every rule in English, there's at least two exceptions.  Native
speakers/writers know the exceptions automatically.  Unfortunately, I have
problems telling my engineers *why* you should say a sentence *this* way
instead of *that* way.  With my boss, I just say "The Force tells me I'm
right," and we start discussing the issue.  (I'm also the office scifi
geek.)

and in my case:

 c) Don't let ANYTHING the Connecticut-born Ph.D. writes leave the building
without three reviews.

ttylater

> -----Original Message-----
> Wade Courtney wrote:
>
> >I just started a job at a new company in Sept.  Some of the engineers
> >are Russian and they have problems with their English. Ok, no worries,
> >but my boss has given them instructions to not worry about grammar,
> >spelling, or anything else because I will fix it.  Editing these
> >documents puts me on the edge of insanity and I have to take a break
> >nearly every half a page.  How can I tactfully handle telling my boss
> >how I feel?
> >
> >
>
> Unless your boss asks you how you feel, I would assume he or she doesn't
> really want you to share. So the real question should be: How can you
> adjust your attitude so that you are less on edge? I would approach the
> work as puzzle-solving. (Hmm, I wonder what she meant by that. Could it
> be A? Could it be B? What clues tell me which is more likely?) I would
> also treat it as an opportunity to get to know my co-workers. (Excuse
> me, Vitaliy, did you mean the frammis starts after the fisterus ends its
> normal firing cycle or that the frammis starts only if the fisterus
> aborts its normal firing cycle?)
>
> I think your boss has demonstrated great confidence in your ability.
> Take the breaks you need to take, but enjoy the challenge of the work
> itself.
>



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