This document provides guidelines for effectively communicating with a heterogeneous audience from different cultures and backgrounds. It recommends defining acronyms and abbreviations the first time they are used, avoiding jargon and idioms that may not translate well, and being aware of potential cultural biases in images, colors, symbols or references that could be misunderstood between cultures. Care should also be taken with punctuation marks and language to avoid gender bias.

1. Managing
Heterogeneous
Audience

3. Heterogeneous Audience
• It is defines as different kind of people of
thing. (Oxford Advanced Learner Dictionary)
• Heterogeneous audience is group of people
who are different Demographically with
different intellectual level(high tech, Low tech,
lay and multiple audience).

4. Guide Lines
• To communicate effectively to a multicultural
audience follow these guidelines
• Define acronyms and abbreviations
• Avoid Jargons and idioms
• Watch for cultural biases/ expectation
• Be careful while using punctuation marks
• Do not use bias language

5. Define Acronyms and Abbreviations
• Acronyms and abbreviations cause most
problems.
• To avoid communication problems , define
your acronyms and abbreviation
parenthetically the first time you use them.

6. Examples
Do you know what FYI means?
You probably but the one who is Japan, China, Mexico will
be not able understand common acronyms. Why take the
risk ? Just define it parenthetically: FYI (for your
information)
Do you Know What NUML means ?
Might be you know but would your international readers
will able to read it so why take the risk ? Define it
parenthetically: (National University of Modern Languages )

7. Avoid jargons and idioms
• The same problems applies to jargons and
idioms. Words and phrases that are common
expression in English but meaning less in
other language.
• Avoid idioms because the second language
speaker, reader or listener will not be able to
understand you.

8. Example
If the computer industry says that “the
system crashed so we have to reboot”. A
literal translation of this jargon in any other
language will be different and it will confuse
them (Sweson WE 194)

9. Watch for Cultural Biases
• Your text may include words and graphics.
• As a writer or presenter you need to realize
connotation of images and colors in other
culture
• Some time non verbal talk creates trouble for
a speaker, so one must study other culture to
avoid any sort of misunderstanding .
• Some time some animals and fruits give a
different meaning.

10. Examples
• The idioms in the red and in the black will not
necessary give the same meaning as it gives
united states.
• The color red is a symbol of danger in united
states but in china it has a positive connotation
• Apple is a sin of sin in Hinduism and Buddhism
• Pork is a common word in united states but pork
is a negative symbol in Muslim countries
• to kiss over the cheeks is a common trait in
United Arab Emirates but not in other countries

11. Be careful while use Slash Mark
• While writing do not use such slash marks
which are not translatable.
For example :
Slash Mark (/), we can find the meaning of
slash when we try to translate any English text
with slash mark it in to Urdu language
language.

12. • many of your audience will be women. This
does not constitute a separate audience
category. Thus do not use gander bias
language.
• Gander biasness creates problem, such as
omission , inequality and stereotyping
Do not use gender bias language