Indian Communication style
English is one of the fifteen official languages in India and is the only one which is universally spoken by the educated sections of society. English is deemed to be neutral and does not carry any of the regional connotations which cause so much friction in Indian political life. Therefore, many Indians speak excellent, almost perfect English and it would be unusual to meet any business person engaged in international trade who was unable to converse in the language. As with many Asians, Indians find it very difficult to say 'no' - feeling that to do so would be offensive and lead to difficult ongoing relationships. Thus, when faced with disagreement, you are likely to encounter vagueness and lack of commitment. Answers such as, 'We'll try' or 'Yes, but it may prove difficult' should be viewed with great suspicion and will probably mean 'no'. The danger is that you will be told what people think you want to hear, rather than any unpalatable trut...
