| The Intrinsic Universal Language and the Full Meaning Behind a Language Barrier | |||||||||||||||||
| by Anonymous | |||||||||||||||||
|
It�s amazing what someone can do when left with no other option. Communicating in a foreign land while not knowing the native language is no exception. I often speak about how my stay in China could be better if I had Mandarin skills upon arriving, but, somewhat begrudgingly, I admit that there is also a benefit to being in this predicament. I�ve tuned into the language that all people, regardless of language or nationality, use to get through the day. That means of communication is a combination of body language, voice inflections and common human thought patterns I call the intrinsic universal language. Simple yet effective conversations can be had and those involved do not even know they are using the crudest common form of dialogue. For me, body language is especially useful in communicating. For example, I may not know if someone is telling me to go to the shop around the corner, but as soon as he/she points in that direction I�ve got a clue. One also tunes into the possibilities that speaking partners can use when answering a question. If I want to know how much a hat is, in this case, and I ask, I know the sales clerk is most likely going to give me a number and my brain needs to be ready to receive it. It�s the little things like this that, if one is tuned in to, can make a significant difference getting around. Blind or deaf people who do not possess the full spectrum of senses used in communication often use their remaining enhanced senses. A blind neighbor of mine often tells me he knows it is me coming to his door by recognizing the way I walk as I approach to knock. Those that can see may hear this as well, but one�s walk or gate is most likely not going to be the distinguishing characteristic. As my Mandarin skills have slowly developed my understanding of the language has supplemented my universal communication skills, not the other way around. I also watch people in public settings to see how things are done where as back home I would have bypassed that step and simply asked for assistance. I do not know where anything is in a store and I cannot ask so I�m forced to take the time to wander around and check everything out myself. Personally, that added initiative to look around and spend time in Chinese society is a blessing in disguise. It is very humbling to think that I am essentially a dysfunctional member of society here in China because I cannot read, write, speak or understand. Nothing is this cut and dry, and yet all the trips we�ve taken and people we�ve talked to are testament that we things can be accomplished. If I want to do something complicated involving an outside party I have to ask for help. One does not realized how much he/she values their independence and self-sufficiency until it�s no longer possible. Most of all, my language adventures in China give me a totally new perspective on the immigrants in the US and particularly, my home state of California who cannot speak English. An immigrant knows they need to do something, but they do not speak the language. That person has to either go and try him/herself or find someone to help. The third option is to not bother at all and sadly that is quite common. Personally, a language barrier is synonymous with a lack of knowledge of that corresponding culture. If one does not know the language, they most likely will not understand the culture. Therefore, those situations in which one needs to use their insufficient language skills can turn into confrontations with personal weakness. It�s an opportunity for the conversational situation to shift from one�s intended subject to their linguistic inadequacies. Frustration also adds to the strength of language barriers. It�s difficult enough to try and capture human thoughts and emotions in one�s native language and to do it in a second or third without the adequate skills borders on demoralizing. I consider myself lucky to have the interest and opportunity to study Mandarin. Still I believe it is critical that people understand all that a language barrier entails otherwise frustrations can reveal themselves in all the wrong ways . Let�s look at another example many people can relate to. You enter a shop. You cannot speak the language. You try, you get criticized. Someone may laugh at your attempts to speak. You�re still trying to accomplish what you came for but no one understands. You give up and you are furious with the people you were trying to deal with. Those emotions of anger and frustration can turn into generalizations about the race or nationality of the people you were dealing with. Subsequent conversations become dreaded and if one continues to put forth the effort to talk he/she needs to swallow their pride and just go for it hoping to improve with time. In conclusion, analyzing a language barrier may not prevent all the side-effects of its existence, but will help people deal with them. An individual then becomes both a better speaker and listener, with the latter arguably being the most important. | |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
|
This page has been visited
|