Lost in Translation: How to Get Complex Ideas Across Clearly in English

A few years ago, I was in a meeting with an international team. One of the speakers, a capable, knowledgeable manager from an Italian background, was presenting a well-thought-out proposal. The substance was strong, but as the minutes went by, I could see the attention in the room slipping. The English-speaking participants looked polite, but not engaged.

The idea itself was sound. The issue lay in the way it was delivered. Too much detail came before the main point was established, and the logic was built into long, multi-layered sentences that worked well in Italian but did not land cleanly in English.

I have seen this happen repeatedly in global workplaces. Complex ideas lose impact when the delivery is not adapted to how listeners process information in English. In many English-speaking professional cultures, people expect the main message to come first. Once they have anchored it, they are more willing to hear the context, evidence and examples. When you begin with background or supporting detail, the listener can lose the thread before they know what you are aiming for. This applies equally to native English speakers who are working with international colleagues. The same principles will help them make their message land clearly across language and cultural boundaries.

Here is how to carry complexity in English while keeping the listener with you.

Structural tools

1) Layer Stripping

Start with your core point in one short, clear sentence. Once the listener has anchored that point, add the first essential layer of detail. Add further layers only if they remain engaged or ask for more.

In English-speaking professional cultures, the main message often comes first with the expectation that the listener will infer some of the background. This can be efficient in a shared cultural context. In mixed-language settings it often leads to gaps, wrong assumptions, or people missing key implications. By controlling the layers, you keep the message lean while ensuring that essential points are stated.

Example:

“Departments are not working together.” (core)

“They are using different reporting systems, so no one sees the full picture.” (layer one)

“If those systems were linked, we could cut reporting time by 40 per cent.” (layer two if needed)

2) Chunk-Previewing

Give the listener a map before you start. Tell them how many parts your explanation has, then name each part as you go.

English-speaking listeners often expect a structure they can follow without interruption. This approach reduces the chance of people jumping in before you have finished your point and helps them store the information in a mental framework.

Example:

“There are three reasons this approach will work. First, it cuts production time. Second, it reduces errors. Third, it is cheaper to scale.”

You can also reverse this for summaries:

“In summary, the key reasons are faster delivery, fewer mistakes, and lower costs.”

Language tools

1) Use bridge phrases to signpost your direction

In English, especially in professional settings, listeners often expect to be told explicitly where you are taking the conversation. Without these signposts, they may assume you have finished speaking or change the topic before you reach your main point.

Bridge phrases act like road signs. They keep the listener on track and give you a moment to plan your next sentence.

Examples:

• “The key point here is…” (signals the main idea is coming)

• “What this means in practice is…” (moves from concept to application)

• “To put it another way…” (introduces a simpler restatement)

• “Here’s why that matters…” (creates a reason to keep listening)

2) Replace abstract nouns with action-focused wording

Abstract-heavy sentences are harder to process, especially for non-native listeners. Action-focused wording is easier to grasp because it puts the verb, the thing happening, at the centre.

Instead of: “The implementation of the strategy will result in the optimisation of workflows.”

Say: “If we follow this strategy, we can speed up workflows.”

The meaning is the same, but the listener hears it as an action they can picture rather than a concept they have to unpack.

3) Convert chains into steps

Long chains of connected ideas are harder to follow in English because the listener has to hold each part in memory before they can process the whole. Breaking them into steps keeps them moving with you.

Structure each step as a complete unit, then link them in order.

Instead of: “If we adjust the process to account for seasonal demand while aligning the supply chain to customer forecasts…”

Say: “First, adjust for seasonal demand. Then align the supply chain to forecasts.”

Each step closes before the next begins, which keeps the mental load lower.

4) Build strategic redundancy

Repetition is often avoided in formal writing, but in spoken English it is one of the simplest ways to make an idea stick. The key is to repeat the important word or phrase with slight variation so it feels deliberate.

Example: “This model gives us flexibility. That flexibility is what will let us adapt quickly.”

The listener hears the main concept twice, which increases recall without adding filler.

5) Choose your connectors deliberately

Connectors shape both pace and tone. Select one that matches your purpose and avoid stacking more than one in the same sentence.

• Forward-driving connectors (so, therefore, as a result) keep momentum.

  Example: “Demand has spiked, so we are extending production hours.”

• Contrast connectors (but, however, whereas) slow the pace and invite evaluation.

  Example: “It is faster, but it breaks compliance.”

• Condition connectors (if, unless, provided that) set boundaries.

  Example: “We will launch in June unless testing reveals a major fault.”

Used with intent, connectors act as guide rails for the listener’s attention.

Complexity in English can hold its full depth when the structure is deliberate and the language is tuned to how the listener processes information. If you lead with the main point, layer detail in the right order, and signal your direction clearly, you make it easier for others to follow the path of your thinking without losing any of the substance.

This article is adapted from Between Languages: Speaking English Without Losing Yourself. If you prefer video content, the full course is on Udemy. If you prefer reading, there is a written version on my website and an e-book you can download. All three give you practical tools to keep both clarity and authority when you work in English in international settings.

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