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Most Infuriating Myth about your Country? | ||
Tags: Stereotypes | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : Cultural Experiences in Foreign Languages | ( Topic Closed) |  |
| Bao Diglot Senior Member Germany tinyurl.com/pe4kqe5 Joined 5766 days ago 2256 posts - 4046 votes  Speaks: German*, English Studies: French, Spanish, Japanese, Mandarin | Message 9 of 177 20 June 2009 at 11:03pm | IP Logged | |||||
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Marc, it's not the stereotype but usually when I'm with a group of non-German people somebody has to crack a joke about it. And that annoys me because the situation then is not right for a serious discussion about German national socialism, WW2 and the related topics.
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| GuardianJY Groupie United StatesRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 5685 days ago 74 posts - 72 votes Speaks: English* Studies: German, Italian, Swedish, French | Message 10 of 177 21 June 2009 at 1:47am | IP Logged | |||||
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To my knowledge, there is a stereotype in much of Europe and the UK that all Americans are lazy, dirty, and obese. This is particularly true in Germany, France, and the UK, to my knowledge. I'm just putting it out there that not ALL Americans are these things.
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| stelingo Hexaglot Senior Member United Kingdom Joined 5832 days ago 722 posts - 1076 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Italian Studies: Russian, Czech, Polish, Greek, Mandarin | Message 11 of 177 21 June 2009 at 2:17am | IP Logged | |||||
There may be some truth in the obese stereotype but here in the UK at least I don't believe that we sterotype Americans as lazy or dirty. However that Americans are ignorant about the outside world is certainly a common stereotype here. 2 persons have voted this message useful | ||||||
| sprachefin Triglot Senior Member Germany Joined 5746 days ago 300 posts - 317 votes Speaks: German*, English, Spanish Studies: French, Turkish, Mandarin, Bulgarian, Persian, Dutch | Message 12 of 177 21 June 2009 at 6:17am | IP Logged | |||||
I agree. I have been to America so many times, and I enjoy the American peoples' presence. Yes, they can be VERY ignorant and close-minded, but this is a monolingual nation that is essentially closed off from the vast cultures of the eastern world because of their geographic situation. Of course people are like Mexico, Canada, da da da, but the thing is, when an American goes to Mexico, they stay at fine resorts. They don't know the true culture. I think the reason why Americans are so culturally ignorant is because they haven't had the chance to be exposed to so many other cultures, and it is different and weird for them. Bao, I agree with you about those WW2 jokes, they piss me off. I'm not even ethnically German. When I was talking with a few American students the other day while I was out with my friend, they decided to crack one of those jokes. I don't like it, even though it's not malicious. I always clear my throat and say that I'm Jewish. Once I didn't say anything, I just flashed my Star of David necklace, and the person turned really read and started apologizing. Anyone who makes a comment like that doesn't deserve forgiveness. 4 persons have voted this message useful | ||||||
| Spanky Senior Member Canada Joined 5956 days ago 1021 posts - 1714 votes Studies: French | Message 14 of 177 21 June 2009 at 8:59am | IP Logged | |||||
Paranday, May I take the liberty of confirming that you were not referring to me in your comment - presumably you are referring to those Canadians or others who make negative comments about Newfoundlanders? I have never as far as I know made a negative reference to east coasters (even though I am still grudging big time about that whole fishing out the cod stocks thing). Spanky 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| anytram Bilingual Tetraglot Groupie France Joined 5669 days ago 85 posts - 89 votes Speaks: German*, Polish*, French, English Studies: Japanese | Message 15 of 177 21 June 2009 at 11:11am | IP Logged | |||||
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Well, except that all Germans are Nazis, they're obviously also wearing Lederhosen or a Dirndl for the girls...
When it comes to Poland, people -in Germany- tended to say they're thieving - I always replied they're only taking back what the Germans stole during the WWII. I just think people need categories. It's easier with them and hard to except that everyone everywhere is pretty much the same, there are everywhere different types of people. 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| Felixelus Senior Member United KingdomRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 6838 days ago 237 posts - 244 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Spanish | Message 16 of 177 21 June 2009 at 11:33am | IP Logged | |||||
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Rhian:
I'm from England and even I get confused about which countries are in the UK, British Isles how many blumin names we have for our strange collection of states etc etc. I must say it's quite easy for me to say I'm from Southern England since people just say "London?" and I can just nod to make it easier!! My friends from the north of England have a harder time since people confuse "Northern England" with Scotland all the time! It took awhile for my colleague from Birmingham to explain to American colleagues that Northern England isn't Scotland! I felt quite sorry for him and for the Americans who obviously thought themselves very worldly but didn't know this fact. I also feel for the Welsh whose country is often overlooked! On the topic: Common English stereotypes abroad are very bi-polar! For example, 1: in many countries we English are considered drunken and disorderly lobsters who are just there to annoy the locals. English women are considered easy because they are so drunk and my friends who were in Italy got very inappropriate things shouted at them (to their shock and surprise...they weren't drunk and spoke very good Italian) 2: Conversely, somehow we are also snobbish and posh. I think the old assumption that we are stuck-up is mainly held in America (correct me if I'm wrong). Of course no'1 infuriates me since when I go abroad I very rarely get blind drunk. I'm usually trying to learn the language or about the culture and you can't do that when you don't remember the night before! I also respect the locals! I wouldn't want drunken loud behaviour in my home town waking me up so I definitely wouldn't inflict that on any one else. No'2 however, I usually play for laughs! You know start impersonating the Queen to show the difference between her accent and mine for example. Usually goes down well and the other person learns something! :D On German stereotypes: Before I went to Germany I thought this: 1: Major beer loving nation 2: Very jolly, friendly people (probably due to 1 hehe) 3: Also very organised, intelligent but maybe not so imaginative and flowing (if you see what I mean) Inappropriate World War jokes aside, I think those are the stereotypes mostly held by the English. As with all stereotypes or assumptions about other nations there are bits of truth and myth in those! :) 1 person has voted this message useful |
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