Richard D. Lewis
Encyclopedia
Richard Donald Lewis is a British linguist
, cross-cultural communication
consultant, and author. He speaks 10 languages (French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, German, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Finnish and Japanese).
His company, Richard Lewis Communications, provides cross-cultural communication training, as well as language training for international executives.
on 13 July 1930. He is descended from a long line of coal miners, originally from Mold, North Wales .
After completing his schooling in Lancashire, Lewis went on to study Modern Languages at Nottingham University and also gained a diploma in Cultures and Civilisations from the Sorbonne
in Paris.
After attending the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki, Lewis spent the next two years living and working in Finland, where he learnt to speak Finnish and also came to know and love the Finnish people and culture.
School of Languages in Finland in 1955, and later opened a further 5 schools in Finland. In addition, he opened Berlitz schools in Norway in 1958 and in Portugal in 1959.
In 1966, Lewis founded the Berlitz School in Tokyo
and spent the next 5 years living and working in Japan, where he became tutor to Empress Michiko.
Since 1971, Lewis has been providing residential English language courses for foreign executives in the beautiful setting of Riversdown House, a 14th century Mediaeval Great Hall on a 40-acre estate near Winchester, Hampshire, where he also lives with his family. Riversdown House clients include SAP, Michelin, Iberia, Siemens, E.ON, Rolls Royce and ABB.
In addition to his career running language schools, Lewis is also well known for his work on cross-cultural understanding. He wrote the book “When Cultures Collide”, now in its third edition, and gives cross-cultural seminars and keynote speeches to international corporations, as well as governments. Clients include UBS, Coca Cola, Deloitte, Gazprom, Nokia, Unilever and the World Bank.
He is currently Chairman of Richard Lewis Communications Ltd.
of Finland in March 1997 in recognition of his services in the cross-cultural field relating to the training of Finnish Ministries for EU entry (1995) and the EU Presidency (1999).
He was subsequently promoted to the rank of Knight Commander by President Halonen
in 2009.
Linguistics
Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. Linguistics can be broadly broken into three categories or subfields of study: language form, language meaning, and language in context....
, cross-cultural communication
Cross-cultural communication
Cross-cultural communication is a field of study that looks at how people from differing cultural backgrounds communicate, in similar and different ways among themselves, and how they endeavour to communicate across cultures.- Origins :The Cold War, the United States economy...
consultant, and author. He speaks 10 languages (French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, German, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Finnish and Japanese).
His company, Richard Lewis Communications, provides cross-cultural communication training, as well as language training for international executives.
Early Life
Richard Donald Lewis was born in Billinge, LancashireLancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
on 13 July 1930. He is descended from a long line of coal miners, originally from Mold, North Wales .
After completing his schooling in Lancashire, Lewis went on to study Modern Languages at Nottingham University and also gained a diploma in Cultures and Civilisations from the Sorbonne
Sorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
in Paris.
After attending the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki, Lewis spent the next two years living and working in Finland, where he learnt to speak Finnish and also came to know and love the Finnish people and culture.
Career
He founded the BerlitzBerlitz
Berlitz can refer to:* The Berlitz Corporation, formerly Berlitz International* Maximilian Berlitz, founder of the Berlitz Language Schools* Charles Berlitz, grandson of Maximilian Berlitz and author of several Bermuda Triangle related books...
School of Languages in Finland in 1955, and later opened a further 5 schools in Finland. In addition, he opened Berlitz schools in Norway in 1958 and in Portugal in 1959.
In 1966, Lewis founded the Berlitz School in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
and spent the next 5 years living and working in Japan, where he became tutor to Empress Michiko.
Since 1971, Lewis has been providing residential English language courses for foreign executives in the beautiful setting of Riversdown House, a 14th century Mediaeval Great Hall on a 40-acre estate near Winchester, Hampshire, where he also lives with his family. Riversdown House clients include SAP, Michelin, Iberia, Siemens, E.ON, Rolls Royce and ABB.
In addition to his career running language schools, Lewis is also well known for his work on cross-cultural understanding. He wrote the book “When Cultures Collide”, now in its third edition, and gives cross-cultural seminars and keynote speeches to international corporations, as well as governments. Clients include UBS, Coca Cola, Deloitte, Gazprom, Nokia, Unilever and the World Bank.
He is currently Chairman of Richard Lewis Communications Ltd.
Honours
Lewis was knighted by President AhtisaariMartti Ahtisaari
Martti Oiva Kalevi Ahtisaari is a Finnish politician, the tenth President of Finland , Nobel Peace Prize laureate and United Nations diplomat and mediator, noted for his international peace work....
of Finland in March 1997 in recognition of his services in the cross-cultural field relating to the training of Finnish Ministries for EU entry (1995) and the EU Presidency (1999).
He was subsequently promoted to the rank of Knight Commander by President Halonen
Tarja Halonen
Tarja Kaarina Halonen is the incumbent President of Finland. The first female to hold the office, Halonen had previously been a member of the parliament from 1979 to 2000 when she resigned after her election to the presidency...
in 2009.
Publications
- “When Cultures Collide: Leading across Cultures” (2006, 1999, 1996), ISBN 978-1-904838-02-9, published by Nicholas Brealey International
- “When Teams Collide: Managing the International Team Successfully” (2012), ISBN 978-1-904838-35-7, to be published by Nicholas Brealey International
- “Cross Cultural Communication: A Visual Approach” (2008, 1999), ISBN 978-0-9534398-3-6, published by Transcreen Publications
- “The Cultural Imperative: Global Trends in the 21st Century” (2007, 2003), ISBN 978-1-931930-35-2, published by Intercultural Press
- “Humour across Frontiers” (2005), ISBN 978-0-9534398-2-9, published by Transcreen Publications
- “Finland, Cultural Lone Wolf” (2005), ISBN 978-1-931930-49-9, published by Intercultural Press
- “The Billingers” (2009, 1985, 1976), ISBN 978-0-9534398-4-3, published by Transcreen Publications
- “The Road from Wigan Pier: Memoirs of a Linguist” (1998, autobiography), ISBN 978-0-9534398-0-5, published by Transcreen Publications