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2009
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December
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- A Horse and Two Goats #4
- A Horse and Two Goats #3
- A Horse and Two Goats #2
- A Horse and Two Goats #1
- The Farewell Party #4
- The Farewell Party #3
- The Farewell Party #2
- The Farewell Party #1
- Class #5
- Class #4
- Class #3
- Class #2
- Class #1
- To the White Fiends #5
- To the White Fiends #4
- To the White Fiends #3
- To the White Fiends #2
- To the White Fiends #1
- The Negro Speaks of Rivers #4
- The Negro Speaks of Rivers #3
- The Negro Speaks of Rivers #2
- The Negro Speaks of Rivers #1
- Song of Ocol #3
- Song of Ocol #2
- Song of Ocol #1
- Black Woman #6
- Black Woman #5
- Black Woman #4
- Black Woman #3
- Black Woman #2
- Black Woman #1
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December
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About Me
- Daniel Freeman
- trying to figure out most of what there is to know about most things.
Often times, miscommunication happens in my family, and words get lost in translation. One person would try to explain something, and the middle man would try to translate it, and the recipient would have no clue as to what they are trying to say. Ironically, everything turns out to be fine for both parties. I suppose it can come the cultural dynamics both parties experience from one another, assimilating bits and pieces of one another's ideas. Another example would be my parents, our cultural backgground are polar opposites, but we share certain dynamics of our culture. They are traditional and conversative, whereas I'm more liberal and americanized. Even though some things get lost in translation and communication, we come to a middle ground (at times) where everything is perfectly fine.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny that languages difference can cause lots of embarrasse situations. For example, the question "can't you finish your homework?". I will answer "no" if i can finish it using Chinese grammar, however, if using English grammar, i would answer "yes". Lots of time, my mom will answer "yes", when somebody else ask her "would you mind I close the window?", but actually she means "i don't mind, go ahead" :)). It's very interesting to see people's reaction when they heard my mom's anwser. But they do understand my mom by seeing her smile.
ReplyDeleteThe differences are not only come from the language but also come from cultures, and habits. People in different parties can often misunderstand each other. But fortunately, I don't feel any uncomfortable about my life in America. Because here is a place for people from different parts of world to live and American already know how to accept other's cultures. So I feel like the misunderstanding in my case is fine for both parties.
• Yes, and it happens very often. English is my second language so most of time when I speak English with my friends. I got misunderstanding and sometime make me so embarrassing. I remember one of friends told me, one time a guy asked her out. The first time, my friend went out with him because she went out and thought that was a respectful for the person who asked you out; not because she liked the guy and wanted to be his GF. In the USA, if you go out with a guy or girl you would be in dating. (after a few days my friend and the guy turn out to be friends) In the same way, China, people would have different opinion about that. like what Benson said, misunderstanding not only come from the language also from the differenct cultures. Anyway, USA is a variety country; most people are respecting other people’s culture.
ReplyDeleteI remember one time my family went to the car marketplace in order to bought a car. Because of the language encumbrance we found an agent who can speak a little bit Chinese to help us to find a car. Finally, we found a nice car. My auntie told us when we buy a car we must beat a bargain. We offer the price which had a lot of “eight” number in the price; due to the “eight” is a lucky number in Chinese culture. Finally, we explains the “eight” number’s reason - - eight its means rich - - he was understood what we expected for. At the end, we use our lucky number to buy a new car. I think sometime cultures understanding can bring some benefits.
ReplyDeleteYes with my supervisor we both are from two different cultures.My supervisor is Chinese and I am Black. When we have a problem she will come to me and discuss the situation. I would never understand why she would laugh durnin the conversation. I didnt hear anything funny . I finally understood it was a defense mechanism. Before this I would get angry and I thought she took me for a joke. Then I started talking to other people of the same culture and just other people in general. They had the same answer sort of It's not me some people deal with certain situation in their way. I really had to think about how do I handle bad or good situation. We all have our own defense mechanism wether it be laughing or looking serious or just saying nothing at all. I think we should at least try to understand that person and be culture sensitive.
ReplyDeleteSometime, my friends, my family and I might get into cultural misunderstanding and I think it is very common. However, if both of the parties are respecting each other, it will be fine and no trouble with it. One time, I went to shopping. Finally, I found a product that I really like, but I found out there were some damaged on the package, so I asked the staff to get me a new one. However, they said, "What do you mean? I don't understand. I'm so sorry." After that, my girlfriend told me, "They wouldn't understand what are you talking about? Because they believe all the products on the shelves are new and only those of the displays are old." In my mind, if I want to buy something, I want to confirm no one opens the package before because I don't want to take this risk. However, here is the United State, so the culture might not be the same in Hong Kong. By the way, I felt comfortable for that time because the staff really respected me, although I was saying something weird. After that time, I change my mind for a little bit. When I'm talking to somebody who doesn't really know my culture, I will use a common way to talk or communicate with him or her instead. Although I'm not really enjoy in this idea, the main point is I should not be selfish and I should let others feel comfortable in the communication also.
ReplyDeleteYes, sometimes. Since people have different tradition, experience and culture, some cultural misunderstandings happen. Once, I worked as a cashier, and a customer came to check out. He bought a wine, but it didn't have any scan number code. Then I asked him where he got the wine, so that I could go to check the price. Because there were a lot of wines in the store, it was difficult other department's worker to find it quickly. If he could provide the information, it was better help. However, the man rude said,"In the Store! This is not my fault! I am not responsible for this!Why you aske me like that??" He totally misunderstood my kindness. Maybe he thought I was impolite to ask him this question, but actually I just wanted to help him. It is a cultural misunderstanding. In my minds, if we can communicate in a better way, and he can respect me more, this problem will be easily to solve.
ReplyDeleteFor me there were some misunderstanding of the cultural reference, be cause was born here and the first language I learned was English instead of Cantonese. which was difficult when I start school where the student from china ask me for help in translating the English to mandarin but I didn't know how to because I look similar to them they believe I was one of them. This cause an misunderstanding that it is believe one should know the language of their own ethnicity but never started to learn Cantonese until middle school. But the teacher did to same in class in which they group me with them, believing that I can help them but I told them I am not one of them and it cause no harm to say it but it was fine in the end.
ReplyDeleteThrough my experience, I had involved to a cultural which has lots of misunderstanding. For example language barriers are the biggest factor that always confuse people. Different languages and culture always has the different meanings. This always happens in Chinese and English. In the story, a language or a action which seemingly fine for both parties are really hard to come by.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it has happened to me. Even though it was not exactly cultural misunderstanding or misinterpreting, it was lingual misinterpreting that I happen to notice when I first arrived to Italy.
ReplyDeleteI was in Italy for almost a year, me and some Italian friends were playing billiards. It was a turn to one of female friends we had at that time to hit the ball, and I don't remember whether she was so lucky or good at playing it, she was putting the balls in the halls. Every time she was putting it in the hall, all were saying "che culo", (literally "what a nice bat"). I knew the meaning of the word "che culo" and I was wondering why they were saying it when ever she hits the ball and putting in the hall. Then I imagined that this friend of mine might have a nice bat and decided to see her bat without them noticing it. I did, and she had a very normal bat. It has passed may be some weeks to find out that "che culo" means "what a luck".
Misscoummuncation happens everyday in life, it gets resolved by how people handle the situation, some people might freak out, and some people just take it easy and go from there. I've been in alot of situations where both sides turned out fine, and sometimes both sides just went crazy, but in the end the side that went crazy got their problem resolved. People just need to learn how to deal with something that is unfamiliar to them, and learn to adapt from that.
ReplyDeleteIn most Asian households, or at least the ones that I know of, shoes that are worn outside aren't allowed to be worn inside the house; they should be taken off nearby the door. My American friend Tony walked into my house with his shoes on. The fact that he didn't know about my culture slipped my mind, and he continued to wear his shoes inside. When my mom came downstairs, she quietly asked me why my friend was wearing his shoes. Tony overheard my mom, and he repeated his apologies. My mom said that it was okay because she came downstairs to clean the floors anyway. My friend was embarrassed at first, but then we assured him that it was okay since he didn't know.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I have not been involved in a cultural misunderstanding where everything seemingly turned out fine for both parties. However, the closest person I do know of in which this has happened would be my father. Due to his poor articulation and comprehension of English, he often speaks it in lingo, often with profanity. There may have been numerous occasions in which miscommunication occurred for both parties, shockingly similar to A Horse and Two Goats.
ReplyDeleteThe most memorable one is when the family was at a local flea market. Knowing the parsimonious person my father was, he would usually attempt to haggle something nice he sees. This time, it was a cordless telephone. He saw the initial sticker price labeled $10, but that clearly did not please him though he wanted it as if it was destined to be his. He talked to the seller and asked him to lower it a few dollars. After approximately 10 minutes of yammering back and forth, it seems as if the seller was exasperated by his persistence and watered down English, so he finally gave in. The funny thing was that the seller was so annoyed by him that he actually knocked the phone half price to $5. However, my father did not understand the person that well either because he spoke with a Latino accent. Having no interest in intervening, what ended up happening was that my father paid $7 for the phone and both parties seemed pleased.
In China, people don't need to pay tips for waiters after having dinner. But in here, we have to pay tips when we eat in restaurant, and we have to pay 15%-20% tips at dinner no matter how good or bad the service they provide. If not, the waiters will feel "unhappy", some even show you a "black face". I remember one time me and several friends go to Texas House for dinner, we pay tips as usual 10%, at that time, I don't know that rule of paying tips. After the waitress take out our bill, I felt her attitude was different--became so cool. So, I asked my auntie, it really is because of the tips. In the next time, I obey its cues on the bill, and pay 25% tips. Well, the waiter suddenly excited and said,"My name is XXX, ..." I think he wants us to remember him, and find him to serve us next time that he can get a good tip. This is misunderstanding I think, as he thinks we are Chinese, so tips will not pay well, however, when he gets the good tips,he surprises, and I guess he feels happy. I think this is a happy ending between me and him. Because the culture is different, we have to learn and adjust each other to satisfy the demand.
ReplyDeleteI agree on this question about everything "seemingly" turned out fine for both parties. In fact, Muni lost the statue of horse, which may be a historical relic of his country and couldn't be measured by money, but the America man paid it only for 100 rupees. In this case, it turned out fine only for the American side, not Muni.
ReplyDeleteYes, it’s true. There are lots of different things about the language things in my day life. Sometimes, it made funny. As English is a second language to me. It made lots of funny thing. In fact, in my day life, I could not understand clearly what the White or the Black say to me. For me, I just guess what they talked about. Sometimes, they also could not understand what I talked about; however, I could use my body language to show what I am trying to say.
ReplyDeleteI came from the South Korea to the United States when I was 18 years old. Of course I have been involved in a cultural misunderstanding, because the cultures were different between the two countries. I had a cultural misunderstading for the first time when I was in high school in America. After I caem to America, in high school I made some American friends. We got close soon each other. One day, we went to a restaurant to have dinner toghther. When we ordered, I suggeted them to order some foods and share the all foods together, but at that time they seemed they felt not comfortable and they resuggested me to order foods for each of us and eat seperately. Later, I realized that was the American culture to eat own foods rather than share together. In Korea, in restaurant people usually share foods if they are friends or close each other, and the foods are mostly the type of foods to share in Korea.
ReplyDeleteI have told you this story at the beginning of the semester but just as all good essays go back to the opening as the conclusion, it seems as though the same thing is happening here. The cultural misunderstanding that occurred in my life is between me and my grandparents. While staying with my grandparents they realized that I was left handed. What I didn’t know then was that eating with your left hand was considered a big sin in their culture. When they saw me eating, they told me that I was going to be punished if they ever saw me again using my left hand to eat. Until my parents returned, I had to use my right hand for doing everything. I even had to re-learn how to write like a five year old even though I was eleven at the time. When my parents returned, my father got really upset with my grandparents when he found out the situation. My hand writing suddenly became really bad. After that he told me to use whichever hand I find comfortable to write with. Therefore, even though it was difficult for me to write during the time that I had to use my right hand, at the end my grandparents listened to my father and never bothered me about my writing again. In conclusion, I would say it turned out find for both parties because I do believe they came to accept it rather than just saying “fine have it your way".
ReplyDelete