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Tip Of The Tongue

Entrepreneur, April, 2000 by Christopher Elliot, Christopher Mcginnis

Bridging language--and cultural--gaps when a business trip goes global

You're planning a trip to Poland. Quick: What's their currency and national air carrier?

If you answered the Zloty and Lot, you're a big winner. Now, for extra credit, what do the natives call their money? Answer. Forsa, pronounced Four-saw.

If you didn't do too well, relax. Now there's a series of laminated "periodic tables" that instantly clue you in on a country's money, language, culture and airline.

Minneapolis-based publisher John Freivalds calls his periodic tables "Guerrilla Linguistics" and describes it as "the ability to speak a client's culture, not just their language." For more information, call (612) 525-0731.

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Insider tip: Freivalds' next project is the "Periodic Table of Toasts," which he says will help travelers "drink and toast themselves into stupor in 40 countries using the local poison." What some folks won't do for their businesses...

Christopher McGinnis, a CNN and The Weather Channel commentator, is the author of The Unofficial Business Travelers Pocket Guide (McGraw-Hill) and manages his own Web site at www.travelskills.com. Christopher Elliot is Entrepreneur's "Travel" columnist.

Business Services Industry

Tip Of The Tongue

Entrepreneur, April, 2000 by Christopher Elliot, Christopher Mcginnis

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