English Communication and Crosscultural Survival Tactics in Americas

English Communication and Cross-cultural Survival Tactics in America’s Current Political and Social Climate Wayne T. Schams May 28, 2018

Outline A) Language & Communication 1) Reductions & linking sounds in fast speech 2) Misunderstanding vowel sounds 3) Special terms and expressions unique to America & American culture (Americanisms) 4) Taboo topics to avoid 5) Politically correct (PC) language (不 会 造 成 冒 犯 的) 6) Body language basics B) Education in the U. S. 1) TOEFL Test 2) Freedom of Speech 3) Safety on American university campuses

Language & Communication 1) Reductions & linking sounds in fast speech: Ex: What are you going to do tomorrow? Whaddya gonna do tomorrow? What do you want to do this weekend? Whaddya wanna do this weekend?

Language & Communication 2) Misunderstanding vowel sounds (e. g. [ae] vs. [e]) Ex: snacks vs. snakes; chopsticks vs. chap sticks

Language & Communication 3) Special terms & expressions unique to America & American culture (i. e. , Americanisms) Ex 1: Doggie bag

Language & Communication 3) Americanisms (cont’d) Ex 2: Rain check

Language & Communication 3) Americanisms (cont’d) Ex 3: White elephant

Language & Communication 3) Americanisms (cont’d) Ex 4: Black widow (黑寡� )

Yoshihiro Hattori, Japanese exchange student in U. S. , shot and killed in 1992 by homeowner because he didn’t understand meaning of “Freeze” (i. e. , stop moving, walking)

Language & Communication 4) Taboo topics to avoid: a) Physical traits (e. g. , age, weight, etc. ) b) Salary c) Politics (e. g. , political views and preferences, etc. ) d) Religion (e. g. , personal religious beliefs, jokes, etc. ) e) Terrorism & guns (e. g. , jokes about terrorist acts)

Sun An-tso (孫安佐), son of actress Di Ying (狄鶯) facing criminal charges in U. S. for jokingly threatening to kill students at his high school

Language & Communication 5) Politically correct (PC) language: Definition: “agreeing with the idea that people should be careful to not use language or behave in a way that could offend a particular group of people” (www. merriam-webster. com) 不 会 造 成 冒 犯 的

Language & Communication 5) Politically correct (PC) language: a) Gender-neutral expressions: Ex: steward/stewardess → flight attendant Other examples? ? ?

Language & Communication 5) Politically correct (PC) language: b) More examples of Gender-neutral expressions: Old (sexist) term fireman policeman/policewoman businessman/businesswoman chairman/chairwoman salesman/saleswoman postman waiter/waitress Gender-neutral term(s) firefighter police officer businessperson chair; chairperson salesperson letter carrier; mail carrier; postal worker server; table attendant

Language & Communication 5) Politically correct (PC) language: c) Examples of different gender-specific terms still in use nowadays: 1) actor & actress 2) waiter & waitress 3) host & hostess 4) hero & heroine 5) comedian & comedienne

Language & Communication 5) Politically correct (PC) language: d) Problems with gender-neutral expressions due to cultural bias and expectations: Riddle: A father and his son are in a car accident. The father dies instantly, and the son is taken to the nearest hospital. The doctor comes in and exclaims, "I can't operate on this boy. " "Why not? " the nurse asks. "Because he's my son, " the doctor responds. How is this possible?

Language & Communication 5) Politically correct (PC) language: e) Problems with gender-neutral expressions due to cultural bias and expectations: 1) special terms to clarify meaning (e. g. , male nurse, woman/female doctor, etc. ) have been used but now are generally discouraged (suggests that a worker of that gender in that occupation is inferior) 2) still can be used when meaning is unclear

Language & Communication 5) Politically correct (PC) language: f) older negative-sounding terms replaced with modern positive-sounding terms Negative (old) handicapped; disabled mentally retarded old/elderly people illegal immigrants fat/overweight/obese Positive (new) physically challenged; person with special needs mentally challenged; developmentally challenged seniors undocumented immigrants plus size

Language & Communication 5) Politically correct (PC) language: f) PC terms taken to humorous extremes PC term vertically challenged horizontally challenged visually challenged living impaired intellectually impaired outdoor urban dweller uniquely fortuned individual on an alternative career path Meaning extremely short fat; overweight; obese blind dead stupid homeless person loser

Language & Communication 6) Language is continually evolving & changing (e. g. , new vocabulary is always being added following technology advances and cultural trends) 1) cybersecurity; cyberbullying 2) fat shaming (vp. )—embarrassing or making fun of a person for being fat, overweight, etc. ) 3) body shaming (vp. )—making negative comments about someone’s body size, shape, etc.

Language & Communication 6) Body Language Basics: a) Understanding and using gestures & body language appropriately plays an important role in successful communication b) Using gestures or body language improperly could cause confusion, misunderstanding, or even be offensive and cause hurt feelings

Language & Communication 6) Body Language Basics: Common Gestures

Language & Communication 6) Body Language Basics: Common Gestures * OK Gesture a) Positive meaning (“all is well or good”)-in most countries b) Negative meanings: 1) “zero; worthless” (France & Belgium) 2) insulting & vulgar (Turkey, Tunisia, Greece, Middle East, parts of Brazil & Germany, South America) 3) used to curse others (in Arab countries)

Language & Communication 6) Body Language Basics: Common Gestures

Language & Communication 6) Body Language Basics: Common Gestures * Thumbs up/down gesture a) Approval/disapproval (in most countries) b) Can mean “No. 1” (Germany, France, Hungary) c) Can have negative meanings (West Africa, Iran, Greece) d) Used by hitchhikers to get a free ride from car drivers

Language & Communication 6) Body Language Basics: Common Gestures

Language & Communication 6) Body Language Basics: Common Gestures * High five a) Used mostly to express congratulations or for celebrating a victory or achievement b) Also sometimes used as a way to greet someone

Language & Communication 6) Body Language Basics: Common Gestures

Language & Communication 6) Body Language Basics: Common Gestures * Fist bump a) Similar meanings as “high five” gesture b) Also used as a greeting or to show respect, approval, etc.

Language & Communication 6) Body Language Basics: Common Gestures

Language & Communication 6) Body Language Basics: Common Gestures * Crossing ones 2 nd & middle fingers a) In front and/or facing another person (wishing for good luck, e. g. on a test) b) Behind one’s back (doing something wrong, lying, hiding the truth, etc. , and hoping you don’t get caught) c) Considered very vulgar in Vietnam!

Education in the U. S. A) Getting into an American university 1) Passing the TOEFL i. BT test (score of 80 -100 to enter undergraduate & graduate programs in most U. S. universities) 2) IELTS test is gradually becoming more commonly accepted in U. S. universities 3) Very few U. S. universities accept TOEIC scores when applying for acceptance

Warning about taking TOEFL test! n n One international student applying to U. S. university in 2016 Paid professional test-taker US$3, 000 (NT$90, 000) to take TOEFL test for her in March, 2016. Accepted by university in 2016 and through falsified test results and illegally obtained student visa Found guilty in April, 2018; kicked out of university and deported back to home country.

Essay style mid-term and final exam questions (often need to write answers in a “blue book”)

Freedom of Speech n n Previously has been a hallmark of American culture & university education Has recently become more restricted on campus to avoid offending students who have different race/ethnicity, religious beliefs, political views, and even personal opinions

Freedom of Speech n n “Hate speech” is now considered a crime in many U. S. states and punishments could vary from state to state Some universities have “free speech” areas on campus (designated places where it’s OK to express your views, hand our brochures that deal with social issues, hold political protests or demonstrations, etc. )

Freedom of Speech Free speech area on university campus Sign indicating free speech area on university campus

Freedom of Speech n n “Safe spaces” on campus—specific rooms where groups of minorities (e. g. blacks, LGBT students, etc. ) could meet and talk about feelings and experiences without fear of being verbally abused by other students Now many universities are creating “safe spaces” in in dorms and student housing areas, basically resulting in segregation (种族隔离), the same thing Dr. Martin Luther King worked his whole life fighting against

Freedom of Speech n Campus “safe spaces”

Freedom of Speech n n Students used to be free to express personal opinions in class (even if they disagreed with their professors) Now some students are being kicked out of classes or forced to apologize in front of whole class for saying something their professor disagrees with

University student kicked out of class on Feb. 28, 2018 for disagreeing with professor and saying why he believes there are two genders

Safety on American university campuses n n n Recent increase in school campus shootings Learn meaning of important phrases (e. g. , hands on your head, hands in the air, etc. ) Being on lockdown (i. e. , required to stay in a classroom or other area until police secure a building, the school campus, etc. )

Safety on American university campuses n n n Don’t walk on campus alone at night (especially women) Carry an alarm, whistle and pepper spray for selfprotection Most campuses have a safety escort service (campus police or security personnel who can take you or walk with you to your dorm, etc. )

Safety on American university campuses

Many American colleges & universities offer campus safety escort services

Legal drinking age in U. S. is 21, NOT 18

Thank you! Q & A Time