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Language stereotypes

  Tags: Stereotypes
 Language Learning Forum : Cultural Experiences in Foreign Languages Post Reply
118 messages over 15 pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ... 4 ... 14 15 Next >>
Alkeides
Senior Member
Bhutan
Joined 6148 days ago
636 posts - 644 votes 

 
 Message 25 of 118
27 January 2009 at 4:12am | IP Logged 
Jiwon wrote:
Alkeides wrote:
Jiwon wrote:

Arabic: language for people who want to get easy passes for university exams OR weirdos

That seems a bit unusual. Care to explain? Do Koreans typically find Arabic easy?


Not exactly. It's a bit difficult to explain the whole system, but I'll try anyway.

A few years ago, Koreans could only study 5 "second foreign languages" (Spanish, German, French, Japanese and Mandarin) to fulfill their high school requirements or university entrance exams(not everyone though). Recently, two more were added; Russian and Arabic - but this gave rise to some of the most unexpected responses from the students and schools.

Quite obviously, Korea has a lack of Arabic speakers and teachers(I highly doubt most universities have degrees in Middle Eastern Studies even), and therefore NO Korean high school opted to teach Arabic to their students. What this meant in terms of university examinations was that there would be VERY few people taking university exams, and since you are graded by the percentiles, there is a better chance of getting a higher grade if you do Arabic and get a mediocre mark, than doing Mandarin and competing against millions. Hence, some students actually started learning Arabic on their own in private classes just to pass the exam (even then, all you can say is "Asalam aleykum")

Ah I see. Thanks.

I'll play too.

French: Learners who haven't been to France have overly-romanticized notions of the language; most typically, they think French is a language of love and fashion, slighty less common interests include the food, the wine, and the literature.

German: Learner is usually interested in German music, literature or philosophy. The grammar, being more conservative than most of the rest of Western Europe, also interests people in its compound formation and the vestiges of a declension system. Neo-Nazis prefer it to other options if a second language is compulsory at school, although most of them wouldn't even want to learn a second language if given a choice.

Russian: Kettlebell lifter. ;p. Learner is interested in the Soviet Union, Russian literature or wants to do business in areas where it is spoken, namely besides Russia itself, much of Central Asia with natural resources.

Italian: Much the same as French, though usually without the perceived snobbishness. Other possible interests could include opera, classical music, or the Mafia.

Spanish: Much the same as Italian.

Chinese: Western learners want to get into the Chinese market, or are interested the characters and literature. The characters are a daunting task depending on how they are learnt and I respect any Westerner who learns them regardless of their pronunciation.

Sinoxenic sphere learners typically are interested in tourism and business - the classical literature is taught in translation and isn't that big of a factor.

Japanese: Yes, many Japanese learns are otakus, but I think the distinction between one who watches anime and an otaku is fairly important. Besides otaku, Japanese is still learnt for business, and various aspects of the culture (martial arts, literature, tea), although it is possibly more apparent in East Asia. Japanese fashion is another important factor there.

Korean: Similar to Japanese but with K-dramas instead of anime.

Portuguese: Learner is interested in BJJ, carnivale, capoeira or samba music. Or maybe Brazilian churrasco.

Sanskrit: Learner interested in a Dharmic religon, Indian philosophy or mathematics, comparative Indo-European linguistics or Yoga. Although learners based on Yoga rarely go beyond a cursory knowledge and a few words and phrases.
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Jiwon
Triglot
Moderator
Korea, South
Joined 6436 days ago
1417 posts - 1500 votes 
Speaks: EnglishC2, Korean*, GermanC1
Studies: Hindi, Spanish
Personal Language Map

 
 Message 26 of 118
27 January 2009 at 4:25am | IP Logged 
qklilx wrote:
So should I learn Arabic in case I wind up living in Korea? What do Koreans think of Mongolian learners?


Well, they'll think you are very exotic, but I'd advise you to concentrate on Korean. Clearly, some knowledge of Korean will get you further than solid fluency in Arabic if you want to live in Korea. As for Mongolian, I'd say the same thing as Russian. Most Koreans don't have much idea of Mongolian to have an opinion about it.
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Satoshi
Diglot
Senior Member
Brazil
Joined 5823 days ago
215 posts - 224 votes 
Speaks: Portuguese*, English
Studies: German, Japanese

 
 Message 27 of 118
27 January 2009 at 7:39pm | IP Logged 
Alkeides wrote:
Jiwon wrote:
Alkeides wrote:
Jiwon wrote:

Arabic: language for people who want to get easy passes for university exams OR weirdos

That seems a bit unusual. Care to explain? Do Koreans typically find Arabic easy?


Not exactly. It's a bit difficult to explain the whole system, but I'll try anyway.

A few years ago, Koreans could only study 5 "second foreign languages" (Spanish, German, French, Japanese and Mandarin) to fulfill their high school requirements or university entrance exams(not everyone though). Recently, two more were added; Russian and Arabic - but this gave rise to some of the most unexpected responses from the students and schools.

Quite obviously, Korea has a lack of Arabic speakers and teachers(I highly doubt most universities have degrees in Middle Eastern Studies even), and therefore NO Korean high school opted to teach Arabic to their students. What this meant in terms of university examinations was that there would be VERY few people taking university exams, and since you are graded by the percentiles, there is a better chance of getting a higher grade if you do Arabic and get a mediocre mark, than doing Mandarin and competing against millions. Hence, some students actually started learning Arabic on their own in private classes just to pass the exam (even then, all you can say is "Asalam aleykum")

Ah I see. Thanks.

I'll play too.

French: Learners who haven't been to France have overly-romanticized notions of the language; most typically, they think French is a language of love and fashion, slighty less common interests include the food, the wine, and the literature.

German: Learner is usually interested in German music, literature or philosophy. The grammar, being more conservative than most of the rest of Western Europe, also interests people in its compound formation and the vestiges of a declension system. Neo-Nazis prefer it to other options if a second language is compulsory at school, although most of them wouldn't even want to learn a second language if given a choice.

Russian: Kettlebell lifter. ;p. Learner is interested in the Soviet Union, Russian literature or wants to do business in areas where it is spoken, namely besides Russia itself, much of Central Asia with natural resources.

Italian: Much the same as French, though usually without the perceived snobbishness. Other possible interests could include opera, classical music, or the Mafia.

Spanish: Much the same as Italian.

Chinese: Western learners want to get into the Chinese market, or are interested the characters and literature. The characters are a daunting task depending on how they are learnt and I respect any Westerner who learns them regardless of their pronunciation.

Sinoxenic sphere learners typically are interested in tourism and business - the classical literature is taught in translation and isn't that big of a factor.

Japanese: Yes, many Japanese learns are otakus, but I think the distinction between one who watches anime and an otaku is fairly important. Besides otaku, Japanese is still learnt for business, and various aspects of the culture (martial arts, literature, tea), although it is possibly more apparent in East Asia. Japanese fashion is another important factor there.

Korean: Similar to Japanese but with K-dramas instead of anime.

Portuguese: Learner is interested in BJJ, carnivale, capoeira or samba music. Or maybe Brazilian churrasco.

Sanskrit: Learner interested in a Dharmic religon, Indian philosophy or mathematics, comparative Indo-European linguistics or Yoga. Although learners based on Yoga rarely go beyond a cursory knowledge and a few words and phrases.


I agree in everything. And, BTW, what is BJJ you mentioned?

And yes, Japanese usually has to do with otaku. But I don't see it as a bad thing. Most otakus are otakus because they love Japanese culture as a whole.

And Klingon: yeah, no need to comment.
1 person has voted this message useful



tim.mccravy
Newbie
United States
Joined 5780 days ago
19 posts - 21 votes
Speaks: Spanish

 
 Message 28 of 118
27 January 2009 at 9:13pm | IP Logged 
Mostly applying to college students and in the Foreign Language dept:

French: Homosexual or Lady's man (remember, not "my" stereotypes :) )
German: "serious" language student (as opposed to Spanish students)
Russian: Must like vodka
Italian: Food'n'wine kinda person
Spanish: went for the easiest language to get the FL credits out of the way
Chinese: Lama-licker
Japanese: watches way too much anime and drives a Honda with a wing, a 6 inch diameter tailpipe, and a turbo charger
Arabic: Either really really loves, or really really hates Muslims.
1 person has voted this message useful



Alkeides
Senior Member
Bhutan
Joined 6148 days ago
636 posts - 644 votes 

 
 Message 29 of 118
27 January 2009 at 11:35pm | IP Logged 
Satoshi wrote:

I agree in everything. And, BTW, what is BJJ you mentioned?

BJJ - Brazilian Jiujitsu.
The word sounds a bit strange if you know Japanese, it's actually 柔術 but somehow they added the "i" in Brazil. :D

Edited by Alkeides on 27 January 2009 at 11:36pm
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 30 of 118
28 January 2009 at 8:14am | IP Logged 
In Brazil, some languages have the following stereotypes:

Spanish is still hailed as one language for "cucarachas", poor people, communist dictators, mariachis.....it's even worseif any southern starts speaking it in another state, you are called "Argentine's bitch"

French is a gay language.....Japanese, only emos and poofs love it.

 English, only for guys who are dressed in suits and work for big corporations...otherwise, they'll ask you why you are studying it.

As for German, if you live in the southern tip of the country or Espirito Santo state and love this complicated language, you are a nazist!!!!...hehehehe

I'm not generalizing, but sadly ignorance doesn't choose social class over here.

Edited by Alvinho on 28 January 2009 at 8:17am
1 person has voted this message useful



qklilx
Moderator
United States
Joined 6186 days ago
459 posts - 477 votes 
Speaks: English*
Studies: Korean
Personal Language Map

 
 Message 31 of 118
28 January 2009 at 9:45pm | IP Logged 
It seems that language learning is looked down upon in Brazil.
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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 32 of 118
29 January 2009 at 1:18am | IP Logged 
French: old language of nobility, sounds nice (or ugly to someone, because of the french "r" and strange pronuciation rules)
German: harshly sounding, again the "r" sound, a good choice (Germany is our largest foreign trade partner). Business, machinery, cars.
Russian: the most _____ language in the world :D
Italian: funny, absolutely not serious. Felicità, amore... Food, fashion, vacation.
Spanish: quite distant, hard to learn according to many (though I think the opposite). Songs, soap operas, tropics.
Chinese: incomprehensible, impossible to learn, strange sounding. No offence, but it's sound makes us laugh and make jokes.
Japanese: technologies and lifestyle to admire, but either way the language is a target of jokes.
Arabic: strange sounding with many "kh".

Edited by Siberiano on 29 January 2009 at 1:26am


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