Cultural differences

[Dave2002]

My own experiences suggest that there really are cultural difference between people living in different countries. Many of us are fixed in one culture, so just “don’t get” the views of people from other countries, even if they use the same language, or if words can be used to give - in some cases - a near equivalent meaning.

This article gives some insights, though obviously it is a very personal view, as relatively few people have the experiences to be able to write about these matters authentically. I found it interesting — maybe others will too.

https://getpocket.com/explore/item/why-the-french-don-t-show-excitement?utm_source=pocket-newtab

[Richard Barrett]

Many of us are fixed in one culture, so just “don’t get” the views of people from other countries

Indeed, the author of the article uses the word "Anglophone" when actually she means "American".

(edit: corrected gender of author)

[Dave2002]

Indeed, the author of the article uses the word "Anglophone" when actually he means "American".

I think that’s a bit harsh, and give the lady her due, she does mention other people including Australians. I think she is trying to convey the notion of English speakers generally, even if you and I might think that American is a separate and distinct language.

[MrGongGong]

Indeed, the author of the article uses the word "Anglophone" when actually he means "American".

Yup

And this article seems to imply (and i've not read it in detail) that language is what makes meaning? (I do remember reading a heap of stuff about this about 30 years ago so a bit rusty )

American English IS a different language ........so this seems to be talking about that IMV

[Andy Freude]

American English IS a different language ........so this seems to be talking about that IMV

I think there are two slightly muddled ideas. Anglophone is fine on this linguistic level: Anglophones, whether they speak American or British English - have a word for 'excited', the French don't have a precise equivalent. But when she takes this further, "The excitement that drives Anglophones to action, motivating us and driving us to look ahead is not nearly as present in France", I'm left wondering if I actually am an Anglophone. I thought I was.

[cloughie]

I have for a long time thought that language has been a barrier to understanding other cultures and part of the problem of embracing the EU. Conversely we take on Australian and American ideas because of the so-called common language.

[teamsaint]

I have for a long time thought that language has been a barrier to understanding other cultures and part of the problem of embracing the EU. Conversely we take on Australian and American ideas because of the so-called common language.

....and we have a tendency to think that we understand Americans better than we do because of this........

[Dave2002]

American English IS a different language ........so this seems to be talking about that IMV

I don’t think the article was about language, but rather about attitudes and culture - a philosophical approach to life. Clearly it had to be written in a language, and discussed language issues, but for me the main issues were the different approaches to life expressed.

Concentrating on language misses the point, IMO.

[Pulcinella]

....and we have a tendency to think that we understand Americans better than we do because of this........

I'm currently busy NOT understanding Australians.

When we checked out after one night in a hotel last week, I replied to what I thought was the receptionist's 'Had enough?' with something like: 'No, we only just got here.' (We were about to go down to the beach for a week.)
She was a little bemused, so repeated her question a little more clearly: "No, I said 'Heading off?'"

[MrGongGong]

I think there are two slightly muddled ideas. Anglophone is fine on this linguistic level: Anglophones, whether they speak American or British English - have a word for 'excited', the French don't have a precise equivalent. But when she takes this further, "The excitement that drives Anglophones to action, motivating us and driving us to look ahead is not nearly as present in France", I'm left wondering if I actually am an Anglophone. I thought I was.

From what I know about French (which isn't a vast amount) there is a smaller vocabulary than English (though there is no English equivalent of things like "L'esprit de l'escalier")
BUT this article seems to extrapolate that into suggesting that because there is no word for something it doesn't exist?
Do English speakers suffer from "jambes lourdes" ?

My own experiences of travelling and being translated/interpreted into many different languages would suggest otherwise.

[MrGongGong]

I'm currently busy NOT understanding Australians.

As are many of my Australian friends

[Richard Barrett]

this article seems to imply (and i've not read it in detail) that language is what makes meaning? (I do remember reading a heap of stuff about this about 30 years ago so a bit rusty )

That'll be the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis you have in mind I think, based on the work of these two linguists with Native American languages. Current thinking in linguistics tends rather against the strong version of this theory if I'm not mistaken.

Obviously people with different geographies and/or histories will develop distinct cultures, and these differences will express themselves in many ways, including but not limited to languages which divide human experience into categories (ie. words) with more or less different boundaries. Being human, on the other hand, means (potentially at least) being flexible with regard to understanding different cultures, bearing in mind that bi- or multilingualism has necessarily been the norm rather than the exception through most of human history.

Anecdotally: it seems weird to me to put it in these terms, but I've been married three times, none of the ladies concerned have been from the UK and only one has been a native English speaker. Without going into any further details, the various cultural/linguistic differences have been in all cases a source of richness and fascination rather than misunderstanding. Misunderstandings, it seems to me, are wilful rather than the default.

[vinteuil]

.

Her breezy outlook seems almost caricaturally American rather than expressive of the wider English speaking world. For what it's worth, my wild generalization wd be that the English have more in common with the French (and other Europeans) than they do with the Americans.

But I'm afraid my reaction to her piece wd be to send her the tee-shirt "I Think You'll Find It's A Bit More Complicated Than That"




.

[Richard Barrett]

.

Her breezy outlook seems almost caricaturally American rather than expressive of the wider English speaking world. For what it's worth, my wild generalization wd be that the English have more in common with the French (and other Europeans) than they do with the Americans.

But I'm afraid my reaction to her piece wd be to send her the tee-shirt "I Think You'll Find It's A Bit More Complicated Than That"

In a nutshell.

[MrGongGong]

Misunderstandings, it seems to me, are wilful rather than the default.

Sadly this doesn't seem to be widely acknowledged these days (at least in England)