U.S. born employer, “I used to call my Vietnamese contractors and offer them new job assignments. Every time I would receive the same response – ‘I think I can take it’ or ‘I think so’, or ‘I will be there.’ But I wanted to hear a clear “yes” or “no”. I always felt in limbo. … Thanks to Culture Connect, Inc.’s Diversity Training I learned that many Asian people will not say “yes” because this means they cannot take their answer back not even in an emergency situation.

American Motors tried to market its new car, the Matador, based on the image of courage and strength. However, in Puerto Rico the name means "killer" and was not popular on the hazardous roads in the country.

When Pepsico advertised Pepsi in Taiwan with the ad "Come Alive With Pepsi" they had no idea that it would be translated into Chinese as "Pepsi brings your ancestors back from the dead."

An American company doing business in Egypt tried to expedite repairs on various items by setting deadlines. Typically, Arabs dislike deadlines and may feel threatened and cornered, with the result of never getting around to the work.

General Motors couldn't understand why the Chevy Nova was not selling well in Latin America, until they were told that in Spanish, "no va" means "it doesn't go."

The finger sign for “OK” used by most U.S. Americans is considered in many parts of Latin America an obscene gesture.