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Language stereotypes | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : Cultural Experiences in Foreign Languages |  | |
| robsolete Diglot Senior Member United States Joined 5385 days ago 191 posts - 428 votes  Speaks: English*, Spanish Studies: French, Russian, Arabic (Written), Mandarin | Message 113 of 118 03 June 2010 at 3:10am | IP Logged | ||
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Totally unfounded, absurd stereotypes about the language, then it's learners (at least in the U.S.)
French: French speakers always seem to know something you don't, and aren't really all that interested in what you have to say. You get the sense they'd rather be talking to someone more interesting (another Francophone), but like having an audience so they'll put up with your pathetic attempts at conversaton. Learners of French are either art history nerds, or annoying people who always trash on their own country for having no culture, then go ahead and compensate by covering every square inch of their apartment with Eiffel-Tower-shaped lamps and posters of old champagne advertisements (both of which were mass-produced in Asia). German: Forthright, trustworthy people who do something when they say they will. Logical and brilliant, but perhaps a bit socially awkward and easily to play jokes on. Often wear eye-damaging outfits when vacationing in the tropics. Fussy and perfectionistic and never entirely overjoyed about anything until they're drunk. Learners of German are usually scientists, WW2 history buffs, or people with German heritage who cling a bit creepily to the memories of their family trips, to the point of throwing leiderhosen-filled Oktoberfest festivals in Midwestern towns. Russian: Mysterious, but in a somewhat threatening/alluring way. Smokers. Always. Always vaguely dissatisfied, but with a very dark sense of humor. Dress in tasteful clothing with very limited color patterns. Often charismatic, but always laced with the feeling that you can't *really* know what their intentions are. Russian learners are an odd bunch. Intellectuals, fashionistas, or revolutionaries. Also smokers. They don't really seem to want to show off the fact that they speak Russian, as you're not really on their level anyway. Italian: Gaudy, glitzy, loud, vivacious people who are great dinner guests and terrible neighbors. Italian is actually 70% sign language, with a few words thrown in for dramatic effect. There is probably a Virgin Mary in a half-bathtub in the garden, and a portrait of Jesus in the living room that is either (a) painted on velvet, or (b) has pulsating, seizure-inducing lights attached to it. They dress sharply, but litter indiscriminately. Italian learners are either classical singers or someone who has 5% Italian heritage (or maybe none) but nonetheless frames everything from their "Italian" point of view. They act like an extra from the Sopranos and refuse to eat any meal without a kilogram of carbohydrates. They drink a bit too much and tend to collect divorces. Spanish: Generally well meaning, hard-working people--but never get them mad. Prone to having loud, dramatic relationship fights in very public places. Good dancers but not always charismatic. Somewhat intense. The toughest Latino gangster in the world is still terrified of his mother. Very open about making comments to others, good or bad, based on their physical appearance. 70% of Americans under 40 have tried (and usually failed) to learn Spanish. Everyone realizes they should, and wants to, and has put it on their New Year's Resolution list at least once--but then they really got into American Idol this year, and. . . Chinese: The Chinese are probably very warm and interesting people, but the gulf of understanding, sense of humor, and cultural references is so wide that they may as well be from Mars. Try really hard to laugh at American jokes, but you can tell they're forcing it. Mechanically pragmatic with their money 99% of the time, with obscene splurges: an old Chinese woman will haggle at the grocery store for 25 cents, then blow 10 years worth of saved quarters on a mink coat (which she will insist on wearing, even in the summer). Not easily impassioned or worried about many of the things Americans stress themselves out over. Chinese learners are often businessmen who learn to speak just enough bad Chinese to look impressive at the bar and get through a shake-hands-and-sign-the-damned-contract meeting. You'll also have amateur Sinologists who actually know the language, but in the path of doing so have come to believe that anything that exists was already invented in China 500 years before Westerners discovered it. Japanese: Similar to the Chinese, with a stroke of bizarre humor that makes them more relatable (and a bit scary). Pornography vending machines, bullet trains, capsule hotels, and eating live octopi. . . who they hell ARE these guys? But they soak up our pop culture like sponges and any crap American rock band can still do a tour in Japan to feel like they're living the dream, so it's all good. Very organized, and probably will always think they're a little bit better than you (they're probably right). Can drink an amazing amount of liquor for their size, and have adopted Karaoke as the national religion. Japanese learners? WEABOOS. Or hardcore Buddhists who live in monasteries. To be avoided and regarded with suspicion, although they can be useful when you want a reliable source of kanji for your next "wicked sweet" tattoo. Arabic: Very exotic, very foreign, very intimidating. Warm, earnest, hospitable. . .but a bit sensitive and humorless. Not someone you crack jokes with. Somewhat argumentative and stubborn. Very set in their opinions--maybe entertained by the spectacle of America but always consider it inferior to back home. Arabic folks might party hard with Americans during college, but will always end up marrying whoever their overbearing mother tells them to marry. Arabic learners are always political: either they want to join the CIA to "catch the bad guys" or they want dedicate their lives to protesting "Zionist apartheid." Or they're religious studies folks who want to try to explain Islam to Americans in terms they can understand (though such reasonable debate will never overpower the BE AFRAID propaganda machine). Not at all my opinions, but just a profile of what people here tend to associate them with. Edited by robsolete on 03 June 2010 at 4:38am 6 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| justgoogleme Newbie United Kingdom Joined 5332 days ago 26 posts - 27 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Italian, Spanish, Arabic (Egyptian), French | Message 114 of 118 03 June 2010 at 7:12pm | IP Logged | ||
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General and no offense intended.
French, prob loves to sneer and has an air of arrogrance and believes that their ShXt does not stink. Had people blow smoke up their backside must swirl wine before drinking and loves to shrug alot. Italian, you are not in the mafia. you will never be in the mafia. you are not a soprano, the sopranos are not real. German, you will be a bore, predictable, uninspired and unipiring. think its an achievement speaking it. it is not. as said before, unless you like to remind people of Hitler, give it up. Chinese, Japanese, korean. show offs. hiding self esteem issues and this is a proxy for gaining friends. NO, now you are only sad and wee waaa niii haaa still means that. spanish, THE SHIELD IS OVER. YOU ARE NOT VIC MACKEY. YOU ARE NOT ON THE STRIKE TEAM. Polish... unless you work at Bene bene, the car wash, are a plumber or electrician, WHY, dear god Why. 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| arturs Triglot Senior Member Latvia Joined 5271 days ago 278 posts - 408 votes Speaks: Latvian*, Russian, English | Message 116 of 118 24 August 2010 at 8:07am | IP Logged | ||
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These are the comments that I get, when talking about languages:
French*: You must be the most romantic person, since you learn French. German*: You must be a fan of Rammstein. Russian*: (On this I get mixed replies) From some couple dumb@ss nationalists: Why should you even bother your brain with knowing Russian? From normal people and Russian people: Nice man. You have some opportunities in your life knowing Russian. Italian*: Why Italian?? You want to sing in the opera or be the Pope? Spanish*: I'm sick of those Mexican soap operas. Aren't you?? Why should you learn this language? Chinese: You're joining the karate club or what?? (yes, I know that karate is Japanese stuff, but other people think it's Chinese martial art) Japanese*: You must be one of those freaks, who likes all those weird cartoons. Arabic*: OMG!!! Should I be scared?? Are you joining some terrorist group? The (*) means that I speak or learn the language. Now for my replies or thoughts: French*: I love Canada and I don't think that saying "calisse" and "tabarnac" 100 times a day makes me romantic. (yes, I swear with these words, so I can do it like million times a day and no one will ever understand what I'm saying) German*: I always wanted to live and work in Austria - one of my favorite places on earth. Russian*: Possibility to work, live or just cooperate with people from ex-Soviet countries. Italian*: Opera's good, but I like Italian literature better (you know, Dante, etc) Spanish*: In Latin America you are nothing without knowing Spanish. Chinese: Some day it can become an important language in the world. One of the UN official languages. Japanese*: Japanese is more just than cartoons - it's a deep and mysterious culture with a long history and knowing Japanese can maybe help you understand the culture. Arabic*: It is one of the UN languages and nowadays cooperation with Arab speaking world is very important and the language itself is very beautiful and melodic (just listen to the Azan) and no, I will not convert or something like that - I just like the culture and that's all. And it's challenging to learn a language that has sounds unfamiliar to Europeans. 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| garyb Triglot Senior Member ScotlandRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 5207 days ago 1468 posts - 2413 votes Speaks: English*, Italian, French Studies: Spanish | Message 117 of 118 28 August 2010 at 3:43am | IP Logged | ||
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French: learning because they visit France frequently. Most likely for reasons involving fine food or fine wine. In the UK French doesn't have quite as posh a reputation as in the US; in fact its reputation here is more like the US reputation of Spanish as the "standard" language to learn at high school.
Italian: a middle-aged or older person who wants to travel in Italy because they love the language and culture. Latin: cute, slightly geeky girl who studies/studied Classics. German: thinks the language sounds cool (I'll admit that Rammstein did a lot to glamorise the German language), eats lots of meat, is a cool and down-to-earth and attractive person. If not a metalhead, they're a big fan of electronic music, particularly EBM or (proper) techno. Wants to live in Berlin for the nightlife and the music scene. Polish: a guy who's met an attractive Polish woman and wants to learn her language, be it to attract her, communicate with her and her family and friends, or just for fun. Russian: is living, or going to live, in Russia, or has Russian family. I don't know anyone who's learned it for pleasure. Spanish: One of the many British people who want to move to the south of Spain and start a new life in this sunny and laid-back country. Wannabe Japanese learner: has the intention of someday learning the language. Has even downloaded learning materials, if they could find space on their animé-filled hard drive, but is yet to have more than a cursory glance over them. Actual Japanese learner: one of the more sociable Japanophiles who actually leaves the house and goes out a lot, is in good shape, has a life, and is adventurous enough to actually go to Japan for a period of time. Arabic: I've only ever met one Arabic learner. She was a girl from Alabama who, to be honest, was very far from what I'd imagine a stereotypical Arabic learner to be like. Very far from what I'd imagine a stereotypical Alabama resident to be like as well, for that matter. So I have no answer to this one. Norwegian or Finnish: enjoys Amon Amarth, believes in Asatru or some other form of neo-Paganism and is fascinated by Norse mythology, and wants to marry a melodic metal guitarist. Swedish: likes hot women and metal, and is fairly liberal. Should that be another one on my list? :P Edited by garyb on 28 August 2010 at 3:48am 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| arturs Triglot Senior Member Latvia Joined 5271 days ago 278 posts - 408 votes Speaks: Latvian*, Russian, English | Message 118 of 118 28 August 2010 at 7:48pm | IP Logged | ||
This is soooo true. I had a pair classmate girls, who were into those Japanese cartoons or whatever - they said, how they will start to learn Japanese language - I even suggested some materials for that purpose and they even said that they have started up learning the language after some couple of weeks. Once I asked them something to bring me something, and I said to one of those chicks: "Arigato" and she's like: "What the hell that means??" I think even a person, who has never studied Japanese, know words like "Arigato" and what they mean. 1 person has voted this message useful |
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