Concept A easily expressible in language X, claim that language X speakers don't understand concept A

[ricketyclik]

I've often misread the intent of people from other English speaking cultures when they're speaking to me. It wasn't unbridgeable by any means though.

[DaShi]

Someone's getting excited for "Arrival."

[BlackCat]

German humor. I think it can be expressed in most languages but only understood by germans (and maybe austrians).

[BeBMan]

Coming somewhat back to the language aspect, I'd say that if something is reasonable and can be rationally explained in one language there is no fundamental reason why other ppl using a diff. language would be unable to get it.

IIRC languages sometimes incorporate foreign terms that label something previously not known in the culture using that language.

However, to me it seems that certain aspects which do still feel more or less "alien" do appear so mainly because of those cultural factors, like mentality/mindset/history etc (so not purely because of different languages)



Well, at least that's what I think for now without being limited by any kind of expertise on the matter

[Dauphin]

Coming somewhat back to the language aspect, I'd say that if something is reasonable and can be rationally explained in one language there is no fundamental reason why other ppl using a diff. language would be unable to get it.

IIRC languages sometimes incorporate foreign terms that label something previously not known in the culture using that language.

However, to me it seems that certain aspects which do still feel more or less "alien" do appear so mainly because of those cultural factors, like mentality/mindset/history etc (so not purely because of different languages)



Well, at least that's what I think for now without being limited by any kind of expertise on the matter

In English they are loan words, but I don't think the English language got consent beforehand and has no intention of giving them back.

[Bereta_Eder]

this happens a lot

[Bereta_Eder]

IIRC languages sometimes incorporate foreign terms that label something previously not known in the culture using that language.

from english, it's the word "sissy"

[Lorizael]

I think the gaps are very real, but they're not unbridgable per se. If you're not brought up in a culture where foreigners are all looked down on (Japan for instance) or a country where thinking long term is more natural than thinking about the short term (Japan again) or a country where embarrassing yourself in certain free time social situations but maintaining a cast iron aura of respectability in the workplace and most day to day social situations is required (yeah, that'll be Japan again) then understanding that culture in a way that it can actually seem natural to you is probably extremely difficult. We can describe those concepts in our own language but do we really understand what they represent, and the larger role they play in the overall culture?

So here's the thing for me. We can, as you did, describe those concepts in English. Additionally, amongst the hundreds of millions of English speakers worldwide, I suspect we could find someone who exemplifies the above traits (especially the first two). And if we can talk about and even choose individually to live it, it seems the only difference is in how widespread the concept is, not in how understandable it is. As far as why a concept is widespread, I'm just going to wave my hands and say "historical forces."

[kentonio]

So here's the thing for me. We can, as you did, describe those concepts in English. Additionally, amongst the hundreds of millions of English speakers worldwide, I suspect we could find someone who exemplifies the above traits (especially the first two). And if we can talk about and even choose individually to live it, it seems the only difference is in how widespread the concept is, not in how understandable it is. As far as why a concept is widespread, I'm just going to wave my hands and say "historical forces."

All you'd be doing then is finding people who share traits associated with the culture and using them as a point of comparison. You can understand parts of a different culture and still manage to fall flat on your face over other parts (something I do regularly in France still, despite it not being radically different to the UK).

[The Mad Monk]

Perhaps it is easier to do that in a closely related culture, because you make assumptions you shouldn't?

[ZEE]

any yall gits gon catch a fade wit dis O.G.?

[kentonio]

Perhaps it is easier to do that in a closely related culture, because you make assumptions you shouldn't?

Maybe.