My Beautiful English Scripts

Most of my Japanese clients want to avoid confrontation at all costs.   It is like pulling teeth to persuade a client to consider speaking English in any public situation.

It is so far out of the realm of cultural comfort I have had clients weep in my office at the mention of potential confrontation.  Therefore, my task is, more often than not, about negotiating my client’s comfort zone first and the legal matter thereafter.

Such was a case involving a simple speeding ticket which would entail a quick court appearance to enter a plea and to pay a fine.  To lessen the fine I suggested relating some mitigating facts to the judge.  My client’s terrified expression was a typical reaction and although he spoke English well, the stress was like an anvil on his tongue.

Comfort zone  relates to a  sense of familiarity or  safety.  For example if you are a surfer, the ocean could be your comfort zone while for someone else who cannot swim, the ocean would be very menacing.   

Well, I needed to make a surfer out of my client  before we had our court appearance.  Discovering client comfort zones usually begins when I initially meet with clients since  I know a visit  to an attorney is much like a visit to a dentist and stressful. Therefore, I focus on the client’s intrinsic nature as he responds to small talk at the beginning of our meeting and throughout the meeting.

Metaphors, Similes & Idioms (Needs links)

 

Like pulling teeth

.

If something is like pulling teeth, it is very difficult and challenging

Like an anvil on his tongue.

An anvil is very heavy block of iron or steel which would hold down most items placed under it because of its weight

Comfort Zone

If you are a surfer, the ocean could be your comfort zone while for someone else who cannot swim, the ocean would be very menacing.  

visit  to an attorney is much like a visit to the dentist;

    

Most people have some degree of trepidation in visiting the dentist office.  Visiting an attorney’s office holds a similar discomfort.

Confrontation
 

1.	an act of confronting.

2.	the state of being confronted.

3.	a meeting of persons face to face.

4.	an open conflict of opposing ideas, forces, etc.

 

mitigating
 

1.	to lessen in force or intensity, as wrath, grief, harshness, or pain; moderate.

2.	to make less severe: to mitigate a punishment.

3.	to make (a person, one's state of mind, disposition, etc.) milder or more gentle; mollify; appease–verb (used without object).
4.	to become milder; lessen in severity.

 

Intrinsic

Of or relating to the essential nature of a thing.

small talk

light conversation; chitchat.