Week 4 Wall
Communication across cultures is tricky. Do you have an experience of how you successfully or unsuccessfully negotiated a cultural boundary? Did you work out a “middle ground”? How?
Lost in translation.
Photo credit: John M. Unsworth, 2009
lindseyaw, 
FribaRezayee235, and 5 others are discussing.
lala 9:31 am on September 23, 2013 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Connor Easton
When I first moved to Canada I spoke little to no English, and as such had serious communicative issues. I had great difficulty creating a connection with other students, which proved to be an issue with making friends. Upon reflection, I realise how important language in relation to cultural boundaries. Even if I spoke English, I likely would have had issues connecting with Canadians. Because I was incapable of speaking English, it amplified the intensity of my disconnection to fellow students. However, as I developed a capacity for the English language, I slowly became able to make friends. I believe that language is the most significant form of “middle ground.” A path in which two vastly different cultures may connect.
It is also interesting to consider the same issues that the colonizers of New France must have had. With the cultural boundaries in mind, it is much easier to understand the tension that rose between the French and the Natives, or even the English and the French in the later ages.
Nadir Surani 10:22 pm on September 25, 2013 Permalink | Log in to Reply
This week, we learnt that the Indigenous Nations and the Europeans had to figure out a way to deal with each other, across cultural boundaries and come up with a middle ground. We also saw that by not finding a middle ground, various tensions arose and wars were fought across cultures. On the plus side, once a middle ground was found, many traditions and cultures were shared amongst the groups. For instance, the fur trade was established. During and after the establishment of the Peace Treaty, we see the French and Europeans adapting to Indigenous cultural practices. This Peace Treaty allowed the French and the Indigenous Nations to arrive at a good solution, both politically and economically, so in essence the groups were able to create a middle ground. Also, in the cultural ceremony of the recognition of the Peace Treaty, a Two Row Wampum Belt was used, which was part of the culture of Indigenous Peoples, however, clothing for the ceremony was inspired by the French and Europeans. Each group therefore, benefited and gained knowledge from each other.
I have successfully negotiated cultural boundaries during my facilitation of work meetings and club meetings. I managed to find a middle ground by allowing members of different cultures to speak and share their opinion. In some cultures, people are uncomfortable with speaking up, so I asked members to express their opinions with me privately if they were not comfortable doing so in a group setting. By doing so, it helped develop greater confidence and understanding as well as allowed for an expression of opinions. It is straightforward when everybody shares a common culture because one understands what is considered right, wrong, acceptable, or unacceptable behavior. However, since Canada is a very multicultural country that encompasses different cultural backgrounds, it is important to manage or negotiate boundaries so that a middle ground is worked out to arrive at a good solution.
Susanna Chan 12:06 am on September 26, 2013 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Growing up in a community full of Caucasian people, I never really encountered cultural boundaries other than the occasional First Nation’s person from a nearby town. Through that, I learned what is acceptable and not when it comes to their cultural. For example, some stereotypes are considered jokes, while other jokes are outright offensive, and could get one in trouble… or even saying certain things. I used to have a best friend who was Aboriginal when I was younger, and we both established boundaries between each other of what was acceptable to be a ‘joke’ and what ‘went too far’ when it came to our friendship. The two of us pretty much called each other Pocahontas and Mulan (acceptable in our opinion). This was the middle ground. basically, through some discrimination we both learned what was wrong/right. This created stability….which is similar to when Richard Philips created the treaty called “Neutrality” to settle land issues. It created political stability, and a middle ground.
Pierre-Marie B. 6:54 pm on September 26, 2013 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Since my first linguistic trip to England in 9th grade, I have been given the opportunity to visit several other foreign countries such as Sweden, Ireland, Germany and Canada. Because I come from France, language was the most important issue that I faced while in these countries, for their population is not French speaking – except for Quebecers, since I went to Montreal. Therefore I had to adapt to the language used there and do my best to be understood, by speaking English. It was a particularly difficult situation in Germany because the woman who hosted me didn’t speak a word of English… However, we did establish a communication, a so-called “middle ground” by using drawings/sketches and sign language to understand each other. The picture chosen for this blog entry is a striking example of this way of dealing with differences of language, with a visual image that everybody can understand.
There is another point learned in lecture which I can relate to my personal experience of meeting people from a different culture: the custom of gift-giving. I don’t think it is still a strategic manoeuvre nowadays as it used to be at the time the Great Peace was adopted in 1701. But it is still an effective way to share our own culture with the others and find some topics to talk about. I remember having brought French wine and dry sausage, plus a book presenting pictures and the story of Lyon -my hometown- to the English family I visited. Consequently we discussed for a long time about French cuisine and the heritage/architecture/monuments of Lyon and France.
geenalee 12:33 pm on September 27, 2013 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Different cultures are born and evolve from people sharing common histories, values, perspectives, and ways of life. In North America in the 18th century, settlers from France and indigenous nations clearly came from very different cultural backgrounds. Moreover, they spoke entirely different languages which further made any sort of interaction difficult. That is, there was very little with which each side could personally identify with in terms of cultural similarities. In order to break through these distinct cultural gaps, the “middle ground” was absolutely necessary for cultural accommodation to take place, and ultimately, for the peaceful interaction between them.
In 2012, I participated in a program called Global Perspectives at my high school where I traveled with a group of 25 students and 3 teachers to a rural village in northern South Africa called Hazyview, situated in the Mpumalanga province. Despite the fact that we closely studied about South Africa throughout a year before actually setting foot on the plane, the cultural differences only became vividly clear once we arrived in Hazyview. For example, while travelling on rural roads, it was common for the majority of passers-by to greet us and wave. At the elementary school and orphanage we worked with, I was frequently pushed out of my comfort zone in dancing and singing. And of course, the language barrier was very much present. Not only did we interact with the black South African population who spoke two different languages (Zulu and Swahili), we also met white South Africans – Afrikaners who spoke Afrikans.
Overall, these differences were quite overwhelming in the beginning of my month-long stay. However, they were easily overcome. For instance, the language barrier was barely even an issue. Rather, I realized culturally apparent differences did not change the fact that we were all humans capable of feeling emotions and expressing love. Smiles and laughter resonated more strongly than the articulation of words. The middle ground that I established with South African people was in many ways, similar to the one that was created in 18th century North America. Of course, while we did not take part in hostage sharing, we gave gifts to the community of Hazyview that we brought from Vancouver. Likewise, they prepared many gatherings and performances where we were able to become more accustomed with South Africa’s vibrant culture. By making the genuine effort to appreciate differences and focusing more on the ways which made us similar, I was able to successfully display cultural sensitivity and cooperation throughout this whole experience.
FribaRezayee235 1:09 pm on September 27, 2013 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Communication across cultures is tricky. Do you have an experience of how you successfully or unsuccessfully negotiated a cultural boundary? Did you work out a “middle ground”? How?
Communication across cultures is tricky indeed. As being born and raised in Afghanistan where culture and traditions varies very much from Western countries. I witnessed a good Afghan friend of mine had to work out a “middle ground” for her marriage. Her name is Fatima. It explains well by its definition of “middle ground”; a position or set of opinions that is acceptable to many different people. Fatima had to negotiate between Western and traditional Afghan culture in order to marry the man of her dream. Her family did not approve of her marriage to a white Canadian at the first place. Therefore, her negotiation was to follow the exact tradition marriage, which involves a certain fund to the girl’s parents, fancy gifts, and a large wedding party. In the party groom arranged a traditional food, which is long grain rice, chopped carried, and fried reasons called Palaw, and beef stew with tomatoes sauce along with plenty of fruit for dessert. At a large wedding hall, Afghan music was played in order to please girl’s parents. The groom was also expected to wear tradition clothing, which had lose pants, long shirt in white colour. More importantly, the wedding ceremony was done in Afghan-Muslim way, which is called “Nekkah”, where the bride and groom take oaths. Its western version is marriage document, and the priest performs the oath. In that way, the couple’s middle ground successfully worked.
According to our latest lecture, Aboriginals of Canada had to work out a “middle ground” with Europeans under the colonial rule in order to get a diplomatic solution in 1604. During seventeenth and eighteenth centuries wampum (a trade item was adopted through Europeans) and Europeans trade goods enjoyed primacy of place in gift exchanged between various Aboriginal peoples. The gifts of Algonquiens to Europeans usually consisted of wampum belts and beaver fur. Wampum is traditional sacred shell beads of the Eastern Woodlands tribes of Aboriginal peoples in North America; affairs of great moment between Aboriginals themselves were marked by presents of trade goods and wampum belts as well. Further more, once a middle ground was found, many traditions and cultures were shared amongst these mentioned groups. For example, the fur trade was established. During and after the establishment of the Peace Treaty, the French and Europeans adapted to Aboriginals cultural practices. This Peace Treaty allowed the French and Aboriginals to arrive at a good agreement, solution, both politically and economically. During the ceremony Treaty ceremony two wampum belts were presented, however, the chortlings were in European style. Following this middle ground negotiation, both parties established political understand, and respect to each other.
lindseyaw 1:13 pm on September 27, 2013 Permalink | Log in to Reply
The negotiation of a cultural boundary in my experience, has always been with more than one person at a time. Living on campus, I have met many people from a number of different cultures, due to the great amount of international and transfer students that go to UBC. Language barriers are sometimes an issue with roommates, but also other parts of culture, such as the types of food one can eat and cannot eat. Since Vancouver is a very multicultural place, there are many places that offer hybrids of cultural foods, which allow every one to have an option when going out for floor dinners and the like. The middle ground for my roommates and I have been understanding why we do and do not do certain things for cultural purposes, and this understanding leads to a respect of other cultures.
I think that having an understanding of other cultures, and being understanding of what they want and believe is more important than forcing them to try something new that goes against their cultural beliefs. Much like with the French and the Five Nations, they were able to find a middle ground to create The Great Peace, and to ensure that each side was to keep their priorities in check, while still peaceful with one another. Much like with my roommates from other cultures, having an understanding of why we do certain things, allows us to have more respect for each other, and makes getting along much easier. This respect is our middle ground, much like the peace was for the French and the Five Nations.
Tina Loo 4:58 pm on September 28, 2013 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Some general comments on Week 4 :
Many people in the class brought up the fact that UBC is a very multicultural campus in a culturally diverse city, so that learning how to accommodate oneself to differences is something we have to do all the time. There were some great examples of how people react to differences – everything ranging from reacting with unease, frustration, and sometimes with aggression and bullying to making an effort to learn and adapt, whether through trying new foods, learning new words, figuring out new customs, or sharing (whether it be food or a love of football).
Your stories led me to think that the key to making a middle ground is a mutual interest and commitment in doing so. The French and Indigenous nations that met at Montreal really wanted the same thing – trade and above all, peace – to the extent they were willing to be hostages in the “enemy’s” camp. Most of us don’t engaged in treaty negotiations, but we do have to find a way to get along in the midst of different cultures, and doing so successfully seems to be premised on an ability to get beyond our fears and to be open to new experiences, to let go, to a certain extent, of some of the ways we do things. This begins by recognizing that the way we do things, the things we think are “normal” aren’t necessarily seen that way by everyone!