|
 |
Language stereotypes | ||
Tags: Stereotypes | ||
Share with:
| ||
 Language Learning Forum : Cultural Experiences in Foreign Languages |  | |
| Siberiano Tetraglot Senior Member Russian Federation one-giant-leap.Registered users can see my Skype Name Joined 6493 days ago 465 posts - 696 votes  Speaks: Russian*, English, ItalianC1, Spanish Studies: Portuguese, Serbian | Message 33 of 118 29 January 2009 at 1:32am | IP Logged | |||||
I guess, this is the same for any big country with the same language everywhere. In Russia, you may live all your life, without feeling the need to go abroad: there are mountains, a warm sea, lakes, big cities, universities and scientific cities for smart guys, etc. I see, the same is in Brazil, maybe except mountain skiing resorts or ice skating (Am I wrong?). Why bother learning a foreign language? 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| Satoshi Diglot Senior Member Brazil Joined 5823 days ago 215 posts - 224 votes Speaks: Portuguese*, English Studies: German, Japanese | Message 34 of 118 29 January 2009 at 2:42am | IP Logged | |||||
I don't really think that way. I guess Alvinho just has had bad experiences. Besides English, which I guess about 50% of non-poor and non-miserable has at some point taken classes (besides normal school foreign language classes), language learning is seem as very academic and smart. Most people I know have at some point studied some language, even if no fluency ended up achieved. Spanish is often sought as a easy way towards speaking a foreign language, due to its closeness to Portuguese and very easy mutual comprehension. English is the dominant second language, due to obvious reasons. Japanese has a big presence due to the "colônias", small communities of Japanese population inside Brazil. Most Japanese descendants have at least a basic grip of Japanese, though the prevalent language in those places is the so-called koronia-go, a very bizarre mix of Japanese and Portuguese, most likely ininteligible to a normal Japanese or Brazilian. The only drives to learn German are music (Ramnsteim and Lacrimosa being the main names) and, to a much lesser degree, the opportunity to be called to Germany as a manual laborers. There is, however, places with a large German population and people living there will most likely have some command of the language. Chinese is sought only because of China's accelerated economic growth and the prospect it could be useful. French: often seen as a gay language, though the chic factor exists. Also there's literature. Italian: I've only seen people learning it because they have Italian relatives. It is not perceived as a useful language at all. Russian: the learner is deemed either a scholar or of Russian ancestry. North European Language: black and folk metal fanatics. Finnish is an exception, being sought after by the more normal symphonic/power metal fans. On a much lesser degree, learner might also be deemed a scholar, studying vikings or mithology. Lord of the Rings fanatics also have a little place inside the common stereotype. Latin: scholars only. Occasional wannabe magician. Greek: scholars or people from a Greek family. 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| sapedro Triglot Senior Member Portugal descredito.blogspot. Joined 7118 days ago 216 posts - 219 votes Speaks: Portuguese*, English, French Studies: Croatian, Serbian, Greek | Message 35 of 118 29 January 2009 at 4:21am | IP Logged | |||||
|
Stereotypes in Portugal:
French - No stereotype, virtually everyone had at least 3 years of school-learning. German - Horrendous and impossible to learn but for German teachers. Italian - The most beautiful language in the world (I obviously disagree). Spanish - You need it more and more for business. Chinese - Everyone should learn it because it's the language of the future. Russian - You're crazy. Any other European language - You're definitely nuts. 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| Alvinho Triglot Senior Member Brazil Joined 6234 days ago 828 posts - 832 votes Speaks: Portuguese*, English, Spanish | Message 36 of 118 29 January 2009 at 7:40am | IP Logged | |||||
I might have overstated it, but I won't withdraw it all.......yeah, there are Japanese descendants in both Sao Paulo and Parana states.....but if a non-Japanese-blooded guy starts studying it without intending to fly to Japan either to work or study, some will say you're nuts or in some cases you are an emo.....will you deny it?....obviously not everyone has such a lame view...... As for Spanish, the more you study it, the more convinced you'll get that such languages are not thaaaat clooooose, even both ones have the same origin.....but it's still an underrated language though......furthermore, because of some stereotypes towards our neighbouring countries. The prostitutes in Fortaleza would disagree with you on the fact that Italian is perceived as an useless language...lol....if you've already been there, you know what I'm talking about....hehehehe Anybody is not supposed to study a determined language only due to their roots. Finally, the English stuff......yeah, among middle class, wealthy dudes and barbie girls is deemed "essential" or "fashionable", but most of them have studied it due to only professional demands....I may be utterly wrong, but aiming at only that same professional issue doesn't allow you to come by the essence of the language itself...previously I had the chance to take those English courses which focus on business stuff.....instead of wasting my time and money with such courses, I'd rather study it on my own so that I might end up acquiring more and more words... Siberiano, in my view despite my country has lots of natural resources, stunning landscapes and nice cities and universities, we're just witnessing a globalization process...actually I like it a lot....therefore, I cannot cut myself off outside world....I'd be silly if I did so...I don't believe you are, cos in my opinion you are such a smart guy. Edited by Alvinho on 29 January 2009 at 8:01am 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| Satoshi Diglot Senior Member Brazil Joined 5823 days ago 215 posts - 224 votes Speaks: Portuguese*, English Studies: German, Japanese | Message 37 of 118 30 January 2009 at 7:24am | IP Logged | |||||
|
Alvinho, I really don't see the conection between emo and japanese. Those two are not related at all.
And someone with a non-Japanese ancestry learning Japanese is not seen as nuts. They are seen as nerd otakus. They will only be deemed crazy or nuts if one is unaware of the whole otaku subculture, in which case they are the ones to blame for such a lack of general knowledge. 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| eoinda Tetraglot Senior Member Sweden Joined 5948 days ago 101 posts - 113 votes Speaks: Swedish*, English, Spanish, Mandarin Studies: French | Message 38 of 118 30 January 2009 at 8:19am | IP Logged | |||||
|
I hate these stereotypes, especially the fact that they are generally 95 percent true and those of us who don't fit the
stereotype are generally the ones who suffer. For example it is impossible for me to convince some people that I am serious about Spanish even though I am very serious about it and my skills prove it. 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| Starfallen Groupie United States Joined 5817 days ago 43 posts - 49 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Japanese | Message 39 of 118 30 January 2009 at 8:43am | IP Logged | |||||
Actually I see this stereotype too... mostly on the internet, and mostly by young people. I think the term "emo" has evolved into a general insult to describe anything lame. It's basically the same as calling someone a loser or saying something is "gay". Why? Because emo became popular and trendy...and as with anything that becomes very trendy and mainstream, there's the inevitable backlash. It seems like the whole "weeaboo" stereotype is more associated with the younger generation. I'm in my late 20s now and it seems like older people tend to think of "food/sushi, World War II, martial arts, cars, electronics, business, etc" when they think of Japanese. They still generally consider it a "really difficult" language though, so I guess "nerd" isn't too far off. Edited by Starfallen on 30 January 2009 at 8:55am 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| Satoshi Diglot Senior Member Brazil Joined 5823 days ago 215 posts - 224 votes Speaks: Portuguese*, English Studies: German, Japanese | Message 40 of 118 30 January 2009 at 11:02am | IP Logged | |||||
|
Starfallen, I also have a theory as to why people see the conection: the visual proximity between emo and Visual Kei.
So I guess people seing otakus and their cosplays and idols, they immediately relate it to the most similar known thing, and that would be emo. Though I don't really think thre is an emo scene in Japan. At least not a very prominent one. Even if there is, they would certainly blend in with the more mainstream Visual Kei. But I don't really see that Japanese-learning emo stereotype. Unless the "emo" word is used in the more general ofensive way, such as "gay" sometimes is, and not denoting a member of a subculture. Though it makes little sense to use it the way Alvinho did if the meaning was intended to be a general "bad word" people use. As a side note, the same monopoly happens between visual kei and goth. The goth scene in Japan is hugely supressed by all the maiden/lolita/visual kei-ers there are. You get very few instances of a normal goth scene, some instances of a mid-way blending scene (Velvet Eden comes to mind) and dark-themed pseudo-goth Visual Kei (like Moi Dix Mois) supressing any chance of a real goth scene development. 1 person has voted this message useful |
|  | 
Printable version
|
| Copyright 2024 FX Micheloud - All rights reserved No part of this website may be copied by any means without my written authorization. |
