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| 419 |
New Cultures
When you learn a new language do you adopt that culture?
Do you think knowing about the culture is important when learning the language?
Do you believe that you are bicultural (if you speak more than one language) is that hard?
Jamie
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Language pair: English; Italian
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| 453 |
Re:New Cultures
Yes,I think you must adopt a big part of that culture,if not you cannot really speak and understand the people of that country or region.
When I learned German I was also studying their behaviour and what is funny (in both meanings) for them, etc.
This is now more a need for me since I'm studying Chinese.I could not speak their language if I would not try to introduce myself in ...
(it continues in the next mail)
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Language pair: English; Italian
This is a reply to message # 419
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| 454 |
Re:New Cultures
their culture and adopt in many cases their way of thinking.However this has not happened, I must confess, with my English.Maybe because English is such an international language that you can learn a standard without going to any English speaking country,or even be ever in touch with native speakers.But I consider it is a pity for myself. ....
(it continues in the next mail) 2/3
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Language pair: English; Italian
This is a reply to message # 419
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| 455 |
Re:New Cultures
So I will not be able to really understand any English speaking country.
Maybe therefore I consider myself more tricultural,that means I feel spanish, german and chinese, in that order.
Have a nice day.
Antonio
3/3
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Language pair: English; Italian
This is a reply to message # 419
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| 26292 |
Re:New Cultures
Hola Jamie, interesting questions. I hope more people will answer!
I personally believe that learning about the culture is very important. What's more, I can't understand why anyone learning a foreign language would not be interested in learning about the culture of the place(s) where that language is spoken - After all, we learn new languages in order to communicate with people, and part of successful communication is understanding the mindset of whomever one is communicating with. Besides which, in order to reach a good level of fluency in any language, one needs to get to grips with the many idiomatic expressions particular to that tongue, and this also requires getting into the mindset of the native speakers. Thus I believe that a comprehensive approach is necessary (and desireable!) when learning a foreign language.
I'm currently learning Spanish, and I'm trying to immerse myself into both the language and the various Latin cultures. I'm finding it fascinating, and my passion for the one fuels the other. For me the language and cultures form part of the same "package". (Not that I pretend to know much about either yet.)
I was born to a French mother and an English father, and they took great care to bring me up with a knowledge and appreciation of both languages and both cultures. My French is shamefully lagging behind my English now, as I've lived in England all my life and don't have many opportunities to use my French, but I still feel fiercely French on a cultural, intellectual and emotional level. So one could even say that the culture is more important than the language. I am definitely bicultural. Is it hard? Well yes sometimes it is hard to reconcile the (comparatively minor) differences, but one doesn't lose one's sense of "self" - my identity is bicultural, and I absolutely love it. I wouldn't change it for the world...apart from to become TRIlingual & TRIcultural, which I'm trying hard to do at the moment with the Spanish!
I wonder how you would answer your own questions, Jamie, seeing as you also have 2 native languages...
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Language pair: English; Spanish
This is a reply to message # 419
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| 40184 |
Re:Re:New Cultures
of course i can help you. pleas email me because i am a new zealander and we also have maori customs too! i can tell you before you come here then you will not be suprised that a bar of soap here is QUATTRO DOLLARI.
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Language pair: English; Italian
This is a reply to message # 455
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| 47510 |
Re:New Cultures
while doing Fulbright Reasearch in Poland
I was doing anthropological research
I asked and challenged a Linguist on this question
I said learning the culture is more important than the language
he refused to reply and left the room
there are alot of cultural things to observe with out useing language-try observing people in your own culture with out talking to them in a public place
unfortunately to get a PHD you have to either know the language of the people you are studing really well ,or get good interpretors,
or just choose an esoteric topic no one can challenge you on and sound convincing then join the herds bashing each other to get in and remain in the ivory towers of arm chaired academics
after 5 divorces and your kids will need a shrink for the rest of their lives- best to be your own person
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Language pair: English; English
This is a reply to message # 419
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