culconvo

[culconvo]

French vs English

Welcome back everyone! I hope your introspection into culconvo has been fun, interesting, and memorable. Hopefully this project has produced a newfound interest for you in relation to how cultures can be so similar yet so different just by one topic - language! This blog will focus on two beautiful languages in conjunction with three countries; France, America, and Britain. 

When I think about the history of romance I am automatically returned to the world of French romanticism of the 18th century. This time period coined a revolutionary turn in art, literature, and music. Since France was one of the original countries that the movement originated in; as a country, it has kept a big part of that period in their culture. Yet, France's history dating back to the French Renaissance and before was not always as romantic as the country is known the to be. So how did the country become coined the most romantic in the world? Why does the word “sensible” in french mean “sensitive” yet rational in the English language?

Even before the French Renaissance, the status of class was always a culture appropriate in France. Napoleon constructed into France being a country that dominated through the use of violence and war. This angsty attitude continued to manifest until a new way of minds paved way for a great future. France's period of Romanticism had a great influence on the interpretation of the culture for the rest of time. The key emphasis in this great period was “feeling” or as french would say, to be sensible (sensitive). After suffering so much throughout the course of time, this period in history revived France and made them turn to a new interpretation of life; one that is lighter and full of feeling.

So why didn’t the English and Americans adopt this same way of thinking? All of the countries suffer great wars and defeat so where does the difference lie in? Well, at around the same period in time (18th century) the English and Americans were not worried about reevaluating the essence of life through extensive emphasis of their arts like the French were. The English and Americans were facing a turnpoint in history just in another way: the Industrial Revolution.

The Industrial Revolution is categorized as the turning point for urban society. Multiple inventions shapeshifted the way Britain and America ran their manufacturing and helped products as fast as citizens were wanting them. With this newfound era of focus, determination, and resilience the English and Americans had no time to delve into their feelings. They had to learn to harbor their values and become sensible to the work around them. In other words, the English and Americans could not be “sensible” as in “sensitive”; they had to be “sensible” as in “responsible”. 

While the evaluation of this word “sensible” in both languages is based off of a rich history, these differentiating types of histories develop into each of the countries cultures. Still today, France is known as the most beautiful, loving, country in the world while America and Britain are known as the two most technologically advanced leaders of the future. It is amazing the type of culture and history that unravels from just one word but it shows you the extreme power and essence of languages within our world! I hope this weeks post helped you develop your own thoughts and interests in both French and English/American/British culture; and the benefits to embracing ones romantic side along with your more technological side.

Au Revoir! Until next time! 

https://www.britannica.com/art/English-literature/The-Romantic-period

https://www.jstor.org/stable/2707134?casa_token=jxSkdfFV968AAAAA%3Aakh11OD2OVYx5iucMpsEsdnr0ygrnUeScDcxdvzyEFsvK8GBkf87XidEGjzTw31zG8s28iP6LMphIqFhcEu2Hft2Jgmje_QpjWGWUzQIc6hfqekqBw&seq=2#metadata_info_tab_contents

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiRWBI0JTYQ

https://slideplayer.com/slide/3523523/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLhNP0qp38Q

[culconvo]

German vs. English language

Hallo mein freund! Or in other words, hi my friend! Welcome back to the blog! I hope your time away has been spent in relaxation, contemplation, and outside since the start of Spring has finally approached us! This weeks blog post will look into the world of Germany and America and their differentiating definitions on the word “gift”.

��My gift to you”, a simple statement said by most Americans when they would like to thank someone, celebratorily, without any due debt. Gift giving is a worldwide phenomenon within American culture. Americans give for almost any holiday, celebration, dinner, hangout, sometimes for even no reason! Just to simply give. Although, a the beginning, when someone was to give it simply did not mean to give something material. 

The most infamous definition for giving for Americans was founded by the first Thanksgiving of American between the pilgrims and American Indians. One of the most profound moments in American history was focused on giving. Giving thanks to others through praise, work, and simple time spent in reflection with one another. Only since our world has been plagued by the more modern centuries has gift-giving turned into something dramatically material (our marketed Christmas sales). Due to the historical and present definitions of gift-giving in America it is deemed as something that is done positively. We will come to find that the word bears extremely different meaning in Germanic language and culture. 

Germany has been one of the strongest countries in the World next to the United States since the country since the beginning of modernization. Yet Germany has a very complex political and cultural history. Having been under the control of the Roman Empire for centuries leading up to the then takeover fueled by the Nazi regime; Germany itself has had to protect its identity, decrease its vulnerability and become quite cold in character in order to not lose in battle and in life. With a country that has had to fend for its own wellbeing the most of its existence, the citizens have come to possess the same strong-bodied characteristics. 

(The map below depicts a map of the Roman Empire. Before Germany was an independent nation)

This describes the exact meaning of why the ethnographic definition of the word “gift” means “poison” in the Germnaic language. I was just as shocked when finding out the reasoning behind the meaning of a word that I thought was was defined as positively worldwide. Adding to our ethnographic definition of the word “gift” meaning poison in the german language; is the common knowledge that Germany is just a “tough” country that is expelled in many ways, specifically through their language. The countries structure is historically and modernly more regulated as well as highly defined by rules and strict protocols. Every encounter, relationship, and meeting in the culture of Germany is intended to be very serious and formal. Which is why the word “gift” means something completely different in this culture than American culture. More explicitly, the Germans do not expect or even want gifts, surprises or any form of grandeur gratitude. They just want serious business. 

(The image above depicts modern day Germany after they gained independence as a country)

That is not to say that the serious, predicable, rule-abiding culture of Germany is wrong. It is just the way they do things. This culture that is surrounded by no surprises and no gift giving is not one we should judge or put to shame. Germany is composed of many strong, independent, confident people which may be reason to their culture of dependability on oneself. 

This video below will thoroughly detail into the “sound of German” which accounts for much of the interpretation of German language. Hopefully with this video along with the comparison this post has already made you will begin to see how tense of a language German is due to the natural masculine sound and scientific phonetics the language holds. 

Hopefully the differences between the German and English lnaguage have been made clear to you. Linguistics and semantics is a very interesting and grueling topic which can help us discover a lot about the cultures of specific countries. 

Until next time! 

Sources used: 

https://businessculture.org/western-europe/business-culture-in-germany/business-etiquette-in-germany/

https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/41179004.pdf?refreqid=excelsior%3A237870a26952c5c4a3b97d283dabaf1f

https://www.britannica.com/place/Germany/Germany-from-c-1760-to-1815

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uc-mtGPD3-U

[culconvo]

Tamil Nadu vs. Japanese language

Welcome back everyone! I hope you have been enjoying your time, staying healthy, and doing things that make you feel good! Specifically, I hope that you have been contemplating our last talk about the semantics of emotional language and how profoundly fascinating the concept itself is. This week's blog is about two very special countries; Japan and Tamil, India and the confounding difference on the meaning of “love” in both countries. I hope you think this weeks post is as interesting as I do! 

Welcome to Tamil, India just shy northwest of Sri Lanka. The Tamil Nadu are the specific subset of people that we will be referring to. This country has a very rich history which is perfectly displayed through their language and culture. In this country the most common religion is Hinduism. A key thought of those who are Hindi is this idea of the soul “atman” which remains as ever changing due to the surrounding influences “karma” of said “atman” (soul) (History.com Editors). Karma is able to be good or bad but ultimately every move of the atman will have a karma to circle back to it. This religion, and the ideologies of said religion, remain a focal point of the Tamil Nadu culture through the use of their language. Specifically, through the use of the word “love”. 

Due to this idea of karma, and that every action of the people has a reaction (good or bad) this makes those of the Hindu religion very interpersonal people. They rely heavily on the idea of supporting other people before supporting themselves. We see this exact ideology replicated in the meaning of their word “love”; specifically in the 50 different ways that the culture defines love (some are noted in the text below. Yes, this country has 50 different words and definitions of said words that all revolve around the idea of love. 

aruḷ (அருள்) : Love as grace.

īram (ஈரம்) : Love, tender, soft-feeling towards another; also pity, compassion.

uruku (உருகு) : Melting inside due to love.

uvakai (உவகை) : Love in happiness or fulfilling relation.

kātal (காதல்) : Most common word used for the love between man and woman, but it is also used for the feeling of man to God, passion for something, etc.

vēḷ (வேள்) : Love, endearing love, friendship.

That goes with being said that due to the Tamil Nadu culture and practices of Hinduism, these people generally live their lives revolving around the idea of “love”. This mode of communication runs completely dissimilar from the Japanese language. 

Japan is one of the most high demanding countries to live in. From personal demands to familial to societal, no one ever gets away from their duties as a Japanese citizen. Due to these demands of people to always remain ‘perfect’ the stress that comes with that notion has unfortunately accumulated over decades. We all are (hopefully) aware of the pandemic that has plagued our world this past year and all the horrible morbidness of death and disease that has come from it. Well, even in the middle of a pandemic, the number one cause of death in Japan was still suicide. Thats right, just this past November the total deaths of those who died from COVID-19 was still lower than the suicide rates of Japan. 

The high stress culture of Japan leads them to be very apprehensive of expressing the bad parts of themselves, as well as the feelings we associate with being good. Contrary to Tamil, India; Japan only has one word for which is “Omoiyari” defined as “the practice of being thoughtful, considerate and compassionate towards others needs” (Hooi, Jala Translate). The most confusing aspect of this word and its meaning is that it advocates for empathy but the Japanese culture emphasizes the secrecy of weaknesses and personal vulnerability. 

The analysis of the word love and the meaning of it in Japan in comparison to Tamil, India remains astounding to me. One of the reasons is because both countries are of Asian ethnicity but the main reason is because of how different the idea of “love” is for each culture. Tamil seems as if it is a community founded on love while on the other hand, Japan seems as if it can live without love contrary to the negative mental health statistics of the country.

Hopefully this weeks talk provides you with some introspection on your own meaning of love and the ways you convey love throughout your life. Whether the type of love you give and receive is already clearly defined or it needs some evolution, growth is always the best mindset to put oneself in. Until next time folks! 

Sources:

https://www.history.com/topics/religion/hinduism

https://medium.com/not-lost-in-translation-a-guide-by-jala/languages-of-love-expressing-love-in-different-cultures-de1f528ef625

https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/28/asia/japan-suicide-women-covid-dst-intl-hnk/index.html

[culconvo]

Indo-european vs. Nakh-daghestanian languages

This blog will provide the utmost introspection on the phenomena of linguistic and language that varies across countries and cultures specifically when speaking about emotions. This blog will be composed of four posts total that each look at two different countries while assessing the linguistic differences of the same word.

The image above represents the area that covers indo-european language, specifically the common languages such as; albanic, celtic, germanic, baltic, iranian, etc.. The image below represents the geographic region that contains the nakh-daghestanian languages, that are very discrete such as; avar, lak, and lezgi which are of very distinguished discrete areas of land. As you can see the geographic areas contrast in size which may indicate why our findings represent such contrasting data data. 

Based on research findings the variability between emotional words for both of these language groups was very broad. It was found that the word “proud” was correlated with “bad” and “sad” in the indo-european languages as opposed to being compared with “like” and “good” in the nakh-daghestanian languages. This finding is very important because it shows the variability of the word “proud” between two different geographic areas. 

These findings represent the significance of the differentiation that plagues all of us around the world as we try to communicate with others. For instance, if two different people, one from Dagestan and one from Germany were communicating and tried to use the word “proud”, one of those individuals would get highly offended or feel esteemed. 

As we take more time to assess this phenomena in language we will come to understand how our world as a whole lacks the ability to effectively communicate with one another; specifically, when it comes to communicating emotions. This simple lack of communication poses another threat to all of our humanity - abstract concepts that limit cultures from understanding one another. With emotions comes understanding and with understanding comes emotional intelligence. As emotional intelligence grows in its foundations there is a possibility that we may be hindered from understanding other people's emotions because of language barriers such as this example provided here. It is not our fault that this issue may become prevalent but we must educate ourselves on why it may be hard for us to understand other people, their cultures, and their land in order to become better. 

In order to understand one another we must first understand what each-other is saying. Studies such as this one will help you come to understand why differences are apparent in our cultures and will appropriate you with understanding the importance of such differences. 

Stay tuned for more information on different languages! 

Sources: 

https://science.sciencemag.org/content/366/6472/1517

https://careervision.org/power-emotional-intelligence/