Language and cross-cultural communication

Jul 9, 13

Culture and language are so intertwined, it’s important to consider both if you want to be successful in your language learning. Vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation are usually the first things we would work on when studying a foreign language. However there are other things to consider such as intonation, gestures, volume and cultural expectations. Being aware of these linguistic features and incorporating them correctly into your speech will make communication much more effective. Understanding what is appropriate in the culture your target language is from will help you understand native speakers on a much deeper level. It also helps you avoid unnecessary confusion when faced with differences to your own culture.

The use of eye contact differs between cultures. In some places, for example in the UK or in the Middle East, it is really important to have consistent eye contact in order to establish that you can be trusted and that you are listening. In other cultures such as Africa or Asia, avoiding eye contact shows politeness and respect. How close people stand or sit to online casinos each other also varies between cultures. In the West it is important to maintain a certain distance between yourself and whoever you are talking to. For casino online Latin Americans or Arabs, greater proximity conveys friendship and trust. Silence is another thing to consider. British or American cultures would find a gap in conversation awkward, whilst for Scandinavians silence is a natural part of a communication.

Cross-cultural communication can be a tricky thing to navigate. However, it is easy enough to learn about what is normal and acceptable in another culture. We should also remember that a desire to communicate well is common to all cultures. Therefore patience, a willingness to learn and good listening skills go a long way to facilitating communication within a culture different from our own.

Lango a language app.
Learn any language, any dialect, anywhere.

Culture, Language | | 8 Comments

5 reasons to learn a foreign language

Jun 6, 13

1. It will expand your worldview

Through studying a foreign language you get to experience a different culture and way of life. You learn about how different groups of people see the world and express themselves. It expands your view of a culture from how you see it represented on the news to how it actually is. Experiencing a foreign culture helps you recognize the good and bad parts of your own culture.

2. It builds bridges between you and other people

Through speaking someone else’s native tongue you can communicate with them on a deeper level than if you expect them to speak your own language.  Through being able to communicate with people, a different country and culture is no longer strange or scary but a place you see through the eyes of your new friend. This is casino spiele a valuable contribution you can make towards cross-cultural understanding and international relations.

3. It will improve your career prospects

So many companies nowadays really value employees who can speak another language. Working internationally is online casino very common and an employee who can increase ease of communication is a definite asset. Being able to converse in another language also gives you understanding of another culture. This goes a long way to avoiding misunderstandings and ensuring your company deals appropriately with international clients and partners.

4. It’s enjoyable

Learning to express yourself in a new language is incredibly satisfying. From the first time you learn how to greet somebody, to having a simple conversation without using your native language at all, it makes the hard work worth it! When you get to the point where you can talk about more complicated topics you feel a real sense of achievement.

5. It makes travelling easier

Let’s say you decide to learn French because you love going to France on holiday. Once you have mastered the basics, it will make your trips to France so much easier! Asking someone for directions or reading a menu in a restaurant are no longer a daunting challenge! It also adds a relational aspect to your holiday, as you would be more likely to make friends with a local. This always makes your cross-cultural experience more interesting and enjoyable.

Lango a language app.
Learn any language, any dialect, anywhere.

Culture, Language | | Comments Off on 5 reasons to learn a foreign language

Brits and Americans: Do we really speak the same language?

Jun 4, 13

Living overseas and learning a new language has made me think more about my own native language (English) and its range of dialects and accents. I have several American friends here in Amman and although technically we speak the same language, I am always amused by the different words and phrases we use to express the same thing. Trying to copy each other’s accents is also a constant source of entertainment! These are some of the different words that come up frequently:

British                                             American

Car boot                                            Car trunk

Aubergine                                         Eggplant

Coriander                                          Cilantro

Pavement                         online casinos                  Sidewalk

Queue                                                Line

Biscuit             casino online                                    Cookie

Chips                                                 Fries

Flat                                                     Apartment

Jam                                                    Jelly

Jumper                                              Sweater

Cashpoint                                         ATM

Lift                                                       Elevator

Washing up                                      Doing the dishes

Film                                                    Movie

When I go back to the UK for a holiday it always seems strange initially that everyone has the same accent and vocabulary as me! As a global language English comes in many forms. I think its very flexibility makes it a popular language to learn and the more people who learn it the more accents and vocabulary develop. It can be a little disconcerting when you think you are speaking the same language as someone but your accents/ dialects make it difficult for you to understand each other. However, the diversity and dynamism of language is what makes it so interesting!

Dialects are often part of a language that is easier to pick up from native speakers in everyday situations, rather than through formal studying. Having studied German and Arabic, both languages with multiple dialects, the most colloquial vocabulary I have picked up has been through speaking to friends. Learning the idiomatic phrases in a language gives you a deeper understanding of culture and also makes your spoken language more authentic.

Lango a language app.
Learn any language, any dialect, anywhere.

Culture, Language | | Comments Off on Brits and Americans: Do we really speak the same language?

Cultural adaptation and swimming: here's some similarities

May 26, 13

Get in the Pool!

If you”ve every traveled to a new country, whether for a short time or for an extended period of time, you”ve probably experienced the stresses that a new culture and language can put on you.  Change can be just like jumping into a pool or lake on a hot summer day…. You know you”ll enjoy it but you know that there”s going to be an initial shock as your body adjusts to the water”s temperature and situates itself to swimming instead of walking.  For some of us we relish the exuberant feeling of jumping in and being soaked in the cool water, for others it’s a more tempered process of touching the water to test it out and a gradual step by step entrance into something we know, once adapted, that we’ll enjoy.

The same can be said about stepping into a new language or culture.  It can be intimidating anticipating the plunge but for the most part we know it will be worth it.  What we can do though is understand our acclimation style and make a plan to help us learn, grow and live better in a new setting.

Here are 3 different acclimation styles to help you move forward:

The Jumper:

There’s always those who just jump in and love the shock of entering into a new setting.   These are your typical world travelers and quick adapters, eager and willing to interact with locals and with a wealth of experience to help them learn quickly.  They’re often the ones who are calling out to all their buddies saying “Come On! This is great!”  Being this kind of an adapter is great for socializing and becoming a part of the culture quickly.  One caution, however, if you’re this kind of an adapter would be to make sure you’re getting online casino the depth, especially in language.  Some people settle for being understood but hurt themselves by not taking the time to learn how things like grammar and certain pronunciations work.

The Stair Stepper:

This person is eager, but timid.  It’s very different in there and after sticking their foot in they decide they need to take a more moderate approach. They go for the steps and acclimate themselves one inch at a time to their new setting.  In enculturation and language learning this tends to be your committed learner, one who loves the new setting but isn’t keen to just start speaking and acting.  They need to understand things before they try them.  Unlike the jumper, they might spend more time learning through books than in application, thus they enter into their new culture with casino more general understanding and insight.  They’re timid to talk, but when they do, speak with well-structured sentences.  Timidity of course can slow things down and it can take this type longer to really enter into their new culture and language.

The Sun Bather:

And then there are those who having stuck their toe in decide this acclimation thing is too much and they head right back to the comfort of their pool chair.  Overseas you see this in the expat communities that stick together, gather around their embassies and try and have as little interaction with locals as possible.  They may have some interest in their host culture, but don’t think they have what it take to dive in.  What this type of person needs is to get around someone who’s already in who will encourage and help them see how much fun can be have once your swimming in the waters of a new culture.
So what type of a swimmer are you? eager to jump in? a little apprehensive?  A great first step in language learning and enculturation is knowing yourself.  Then you can make a plan and set goals to fit who you are and not just what you”ve seen others do.

For me personally, it took a while to realize that I”m more of a Stair Stepper, at least when it comes to language.  I like to understand before I speak and really don”t like making grammatical mistakes.  There were definitely times when i felt i was being left behind by more extroverted, talkative friends who seemed to be so much quicker to speak.  Of course secretly i winced every time they made what i knew was a grammatical  mistake or called a he, a she.

In the long run what I”ve found out is that despite the two different approaches, if either of the them is dedicated to learning and growing, they both end up in the same place.  Eventually those who just go with it and jump right in learn the grammar and nuances of language and culture and eventually the more timid get the boldness to speak.  In the end our bodies adapt and we find ourselves simply enjoying a nice cool swim on a hot summer day.

Lango a language app.
Learn any language, any dialect, anywhere.

Culture, Language | | Comments Off on Cultural adaptation and swimming: here's some similarities