Consider that most of the confusion during mediation often comes down to language. When couples do not understand each other, it can create serious rifts that if can become impossible to resolve without proper aid. Without proper communication and education, your words can be used against you, and it is critical to employ the best language skills throughout your mediation process. Your first step should be hiring a trained professional mediator who understands the impact of words.
Language professionals are taught from day one to be conscious about the words they use, how they’re pronounced and their origin as they pertain to the particular situation. Birthplaces are crucial in helping us understand nuances in meanings. When working with documents, the translator is expected to maintain the original meaning while translating into the target language for the proper audience. And when you’re talking to someone, you need to be able to read the situation and choose your words carefully while keeping in mind any cultural differences that may exist.
But you also need to conform to language principles yourself. Just like a language learner, you must learn your way around expressions and the expressions of others. Do not focus entirely on grammar, but learn what makes sense in terms of tone and expression. You can’t simply throw out synonyms for words you don’t understand or you’ll come across as insulting or completely ignorant, and further alienate the person with whom you’re trying to communicate. Without even knowing it, you could be using words that are rude, offensive or have multiple meanings, making the situation much worse than it could be.
Not only are these language professionals perfectly situated to guide you to the ideal words and phrases to use during the legal mediation process, but they are your secret weapons when it actually comes time for that process. The mediator will have complete control over the language being used during the proceedings so that no one gets distracted by the wrong connotations or meanings and nothing is lost in translation.
For example, a language professional might recommend never using the word “failure” when describing the experience of the couple’s divorce to the children or it can lead to misunderstandings. The word can mean both “to be unsuccessful” and “to fail an examination.” If you apply the wrong definition of a word, you could end up with an entirely different outcome. This is why using a professional mediation is so important – even beyond any obvious language barriers.