subject: Do you say what you mean! [print this page] Geographical Language As our world shrinks in the sense of our power to communicate via mass media methods, the concept of a Geography of Language becomes more and more relevant. The readily availability of mass communication brings advantages but equally disadvantages, the words and phrases we use to describe an object, action, feeling or emotion can create cross cultural embarrassment or even an impression of rudeness. There are many words which in one culture are perfectly innocent yet when transferred to another cultures norms become potential foot in Mouth situations. (put your foot in it (MAINLY US put your foot in your mouth) INFORMAL
to say something by accident which embarrasses or upsets someone:
I really put my foot in it with Alison. I had no idea she was divorced) Here are some (all be they humorous) potential danger zones: A Rubber, In England a rubber is a pencil eraser, however in the USA Rubber is a condom, (Imagine the situation of asking for a rubber in an American stationary store). A Lucky Dog, In China a lucky dog is a happy fortunate and deserving person. In England (as much as we British love our dogs) to call anyone a dog be they lucky or not is an insult meaning the person is useless. There are expressions in England like you dirty dog and you look dog rough, a dogs breakfast for example describes something which is a useless mess. Even flowers deemed too small and common get the same treatment (Dog Daisy, Dog Rose). A Flower or Butterfly, Again in china these two words refer to a pretty girl shes the flower of the class or shes the class butterfly. In England a girl called a flower is thought to be common, low class of easy virtue. A Butterfly is someone who cant or wont concentrate or stick to one thing, always moving from one pleasure to another (including boyfriends). A Grass is a handsome boy in China but in England it means a police informer (someone who grasses on someone else for financial gain). They are considered un-trustworthy as a friend and not a good person. A Cock in India and china as well as many other countries in the East is a male chicken, but beware in the West a cock is another name for the penis. (Consider for a moment my shock when one of my Chinese students told me that he enjoyed eating cock). Some words are now avoided in day to day language simply because their true meaning has been corrupted or adopted as a name for something else, Battle axe: a derogatory term for a woman. Gay: Homosexual. Queer: Homosexual. Dyke: Female homosexual. ( a dyke or dike is the name for a kind of dam or construction to hold back a large area of water). Bird, Chick, Hen, Cow; all derogatory terms for women. Pig: someone who is fat and/or dirty and eats too much. Plank: a stupid man. Dip stick: an idiot. Dwarf, Stunt: a person of reduced height. As a slight aside but a good example of considering what you say, I always remember the famous Cricket commentary where at the beginning of the first over the commentator said the batsmans Holding the bowlers Willy (the two players family names were Holding and Willy, in case youre wondering Willy in England is another term for a penis) There is another area to think about, that of Political Correctness (PC) politically correct adjective (ABBREVIATION PC) 1 describes someone who believes that language and actions which could be offensive to others, especially those relating to sex and race, should be avoided 2 describes a word or expression that is used instead of another one to avoid being offensive:
Some people think that 'fireman' is a sexist term, and prefer the politically correct term 'firefighter'. Its often said in the West that political correctness has gone mad, and its a much discussed Topic. In the previous list I mentioned Dwarf, it is not politically correct to call a short person a dwarf or a Stunt, rather they should be called vertically challenged or a person of reduced stature Gay for Homosexual is now PC consequently no one in the West would say Hes very Gay in its original sense of Hes very happy and lively, nor can we now say a colour is Gay or a movie is Gay as it has strong Homosexual connotations. Likewise we wouldnt say I feeling rather Queer today or worse still Im feeling a little Queer today (as in performing an action). More PC terms: A person of colour- anyone who isnt white skinned. Folically challenged, Bald. Chairperson, previously Chairman. Other abled, previously disabled. Aurally challenged, Deaf. Visually challenged/impaired, Blind. Alcohol dependant. An alcoholic. Substance abuse, Taking drugs (recreational). A waste disposal operative, a person who collects rubbish. A highway hygiene operative, a road sweeper. Homemaker, previously housewife. There are many more and they are worth checking out if only for their comic value, here are some from www.bored.com Censorship - Selective Speech Cheating - Academic Dishonesty
Crime Rate - street activity index So in conclusion, its definitely worth doing your homework before launching yourself verbally into the mass communication world. Take a bit of time to do some research and think before you speak, it will not only give you an insight into cultural language but can be very entertaining. Finally something you should never say to an English man you lucky dog, why are you so Gay today? and never say to an English woman You butterfly, your eyes are like a cows BE CAREFUL!!
