Transcriber: Chiara Mondini Reviewer: Zsófia Herczeg
What images come to your mind
when you see or hear the word “culture?”
If you were to ask me personally, I would say food,
because who doesn’t love to bond over a great meal?
But have you thought about the implications
of culture on language,
and more importantly, how culture can impact our everyday communication?
Just by a show of hands, how many of you speak a language other than English
or know someone who does?
Take a moment to look around you,
because almost all of you have raised your hand.
Having grown up both within the United States and Iran,
I have been exposed to two very different and unique ways of life
each with their own distinct culture.
But it was only when I started to teach English in Iran
that I began to understand
the dynamic relationship between culture and language.
Culture can impact what we communicate verbally and non-verbally.
And to demonstrate that to you today, I’d like to reflect
on some of my English language teaching experiences.
You can understand the shock on my face when my student addressed me as master.
For a second, I didn’t know how to respond.
Was this a scene from Karate Kid?
Was I master Miyagi, and my student Daniel-san?
Wax on, wax off.
However, with the help of one of my colleagues,
I came to understand that one of the Persian words for teacher
when translated to English has a similar definition to master,
highlighting and signifying the high degree of respect
a student holds for his or her teacher.
Or another time when after a long and stressful day of teaching,
my students stopped me
and said in the calmest and smoothest of voices,
“Don’t be tired.”
I wasn't sure what to make of that.
Was I being encouraged or mocked because of my teaching efforts?
When I told a colleague of mine,
she said that the statement that my student had uttered
was similar to a simple “thank you” in the English language.
However, it differed in that the connotation of the expression
underlined the mental and physical efforts
that I had put into class that day.
Now culture is not only limited to verbal modes of communication
but can also impact nonverbal communication as well.
Think about body gestures for a second.
Let’s say that you and I were having a conversation,
much like the one that we’re having right now,
and I decided to fold my arms.
What would you make of that?
For one, it could mean that I'm cold.
But what could it potentially reveal about my personality?
Here in the United States,
folding your arms is associated with being unfriendly,
distant or standoffish.
But what if I told you that the same exact body gesture
has a completely different connotation in another environment,
like East Asia and the Middle East?
In that context,
folding your arms is a sign of contemplation and wisdom,
indicating that you are wholeheartedly thinking about what has been said to you
to provide the best possible response.
Now oftentimes there are even cultural concepts and notions
that are virtually nonexistent in another environment.
Take, for instance, the Persian cultural concept of “tarof.”
Simply put, “tarof” is a staple and integral part of the Persian culture,
emphasizing polite gestures and cultural pleasantries
in a wide array of situations.
And here’s what it looks like.
For me going out to eat looks very different,
depending on whether I’m with my Persian or non-Persian friends.
With my non-Persian friends,
it’s a very peaceful and tranquil experience.
When the bill comes, everyone pays for the meal they had separately,
and we leave.
However, it’s a completely different story when I’m out with my Persian friends.
It’s a battlefield
as we try to snatch the bill from the waiter
to proclaim victorious in paying for everyone.
Now this might seem strange,
but this is a sign of hospitality within the Persian culture,
indicating that you have greatly enjoyed the other person’s presence,
and they are your guest for the meal.
This can even go to extremes as we arrive earlier at a restaurant
just to provide a credit card,
so our guest has absolutely no chance of paying.
So take it from me.
Make sure you have some Persian friends.
That way, you’ll never have to pick up the bill.
Cultural concepts such as “tarof” are even more difficult to grasp
for individuals not familiar with the context.
So you can imagine the puzzling look on my European friend’s face
when he came to Iran for the first time,
and the cab driver told him that he didn’t have to pay the fare,
saying something along the lines of,
“It’s not worthy of you.”
Next thing you know, the same cab driver is shouting and yelling at him,
“Where do you think you’re going, pal? You forgot to pay the fare.”
My friend, unaware of the cultural concept of “tarof,”
solely relied on his understanding of language,
which led him to literally take the offer.
However, it is this cultural knowledge that makes it known
that it’s customary for service personnel to refuse payment two or three times
as a sign of hospitality
all while expecting the payment to be completed in the end.
Now keep in mind,
all of the examples that we have talked about today
represent a very microskill
of the present-day multiculturalism that exists.
Currently, there are around 1.35 billion English speakers around the world.
Out of which around 1 billion also speak a language other than English,
which consciously and unconsciously brings with itself cultural norms and perceptions
which may influence and impact their English communication.
And the United States is a wonderful example of a multicultural environment.
As of 2018, there are around 67 million individuals
who speak a language other than English right here.
Now you might be asking yourself: Why is any of this important?
Well firstly, fostering and developing an appreciation
that each and every single culture
brings something to this table called life.
And secondly, for me personally,
this is important because, as an English language instructor
and doctoral student here at Texas A&M,
I feel responsible for paying forward this knowledge
to the future generation of educators
so that they not only know
what to provide in the classroom in terms of the language
that is accurate and appropriate
but also take into context the richness and culture
that these individuals possess.
Which brings the question:
What can we do when the landscape is so rich?
Realistically and practically speaking,
we cannot be expected to know every single thing there is
about the wide array of cultures that exist.
But if there’s one thing
that I would like for you to take away from this talk today, it’s this:
That just because individuals act and say things
that may slightly differ from our norms and perceptions
does not mean that they are wrong, and we are right.
Rather, it offers a different lens and perspective of looking into life,
one that you and I might be interested in learning a little bit more about.
Thank you.
(Applause)