I never knew how writings could be so different across cultures. Probably I have not been exposed to many literary writings by various cultures. I think the environment an individual is in somewhat plays a big part in how the writing is done. The activity we did in class is rather beneficial in bringing out these differences. For example, Arabians write in an assertive way and the Chinese write in a "roundabout" manner. While I have not done Chinese writings for a very, and I really mean very, long time, but I personally quite like the descriptive writings that Chinese writings offer. Perhaps all these allusions to the scenery give off a romanticized feel to the language and offers more than plain, direct speech.
It would be interesting to see how an English man and a Chinese man trying to converse with each other and one is trying to get to the point while the other is beating around the bush even though the topic of the conversation is the same. Imagine the frustrations felt by the Englishmen while listening to the Chinese talk about the scenery and not getting straight to the point. The Chinese might have been proud of all his descriptive language all the time!
In the handouts provided, in 3.7, the Chinese man talks about his own life experience and his thoughts and feelings to the Australian on the other end. However, the Australian might be thinking that the writer is probably writing a load of nonsense to him. To a Chinese, it is rather a cultural and social matter to introduce themselves and establish rapport with the recipient through sharing matters about themselves. Ultimately, the aims are the same but in such a globally connected world, there is a strong need for everyone to accept and learn each other's culture, including discourse. If not, there would certainly be many misunderstandings.
It is interesting to see how a simple telephone conversation can be interpreted in so many ways but in particular, I'm intrigued by the way people talks over the telephone in Netherlands. I would see that happening in corporate front reception or maybe over a helpline we call for our various mobile services. And I definitely do not identify myself when I answer a call. My phone openings goes somewhat like this (if I was answering, with our Singlish):
Me: Eh yo!! How you doing man? What's up?
Friend: Okay lor. Feeling damn sian cuz of work. Anyway right!! *main topic*
This is my usual response to any phone calls. But it depends on what I am talking to as well! If I was answering an unknown number phone call, it'll go like this:
Me: Hello? *very very suspiciously*
Unknown: Hi! Is that *so-and-so*? I calling from ABC company.
Me: *toot toot toot* *hunged up*
Well yes! My phone opening might as well be my closing too. I usually just listen out for who is on the line as I cant be bothered with people who got my number through unknown means.
During the class, we spoke about listener response. I myself feel that it is important for both parties of a conversation to respond to each other with "hmmm"s, "ohh"s or "yes"s. If not, how do we actually know that the other party is listening and taking in what you are talking about? That is why I am very surprised when it was mentioned that Swedes do not have much listener response. How do they actually know that the other party is listening? Or when they talk, they just want someone to direct their subject to? I probably would be very very offended if I was on the phone with one of them.
Once again, culture plays a huge part of how we converse over the telephone and what we say first in a phone opening. After going through this, I began to wonder what people of other nationalities think of our phone openings as compared to theirs. Whether they were offended, confused or just plainly unable to hear or tell any differences. I certainly would not have paid any attention to phone openings until now and I am still, very, amazed by how our simple conversations can be categorised in such a way. I cannot wait to see what the next lesson topics would be.
Speech Acts! After the lesson on Speech Events, what we went through just two lessons back were only the tip of the iceberg! I thought that was quite enough to categorise the way we talk and react to one another but lo and behold, Speech Events came along and started to categorise what kind of conversations we were having. Everything we said, every conversation we held, every response we had, each was a speech event. I was quite intrigued by how everything we said was a start, a part or the ending of a speech event.
Thinking of that, the class activity where we need to come up with a speech event and break them up into the various components was, well, tough for me. I only had one speech event I could prominently think of and that was speaking with canteen operators. I'm glad Huiling from my group had an interesting interview not long ago and we could use that for the activity. *On a side note, Say Wee's handwriting is SUPER ORGANIZED and NEAT compared to ours!*
Nevertheless, the activity made me think much more about my conversations with my friends and family throughout the past weeks after the lesson ended. A simple conversation with my family or friends was a speech event and suddenly, I had so many speech events to list down! Talking about the fishes with my sister, asking my friends out for dinner, telling my mother about my cough, talking to friends who ride about my motorcycle, etc etc. There was so many I came up with while riding to work that afternoon.
And still, to categorise them into the 10 components still prove hard for me and I doubt I will get used to this in a couple of days. Until then, more practice and thoughts about Speech Events for me now. See you all coming Friday!
Ending off the post, I would like everyone to see this video, along with my interpretation with the 10 components. It is very very meaningful and it kind of shows the change of culture and value to the younger generation nowadays. Have we really done our part AT ALL?
Genre: Comparison Topic: How fortunate each mother is Purpose or function: To let others know how great a job their children are doing Setting: Seemingly an old folks' home if I am right Key: Joyous but melancholic Participants: A few mothers whose children are supposedly well off except for one. Message form: Speech and probably some exaggaration of the truth
Act Sequence:
It is hard for me to write out this part but here goes!
Mother 1: *talks about her children's accomplishment*
Mother 2: *continues on the conversation with her side of the story and asks another mother*
The sequence continues on with each mother until they reach the last one who has yet to say anything and gives an extraordinarily meaningful answer which strikes all of the mothers hearts.
Rules of Interaction: All participants are required to share the succes of their children and show others how happy and fortunate they are to have them.
Norms of Interpretation: When the elderly gathers together, the usual would be to talk about what they were doing and how they are coping with their lives. In an old folks' home, there are many parents who were physcially "dumped" by their children who seemingly have no time for them and having to do a lot of work. They would naturally feel lonely and unwanted and when they come to gather together, the usual topic would be how their children were doing. This is the same for my mothers with all my aunts, not that they are in an old folks' home or anything but this what they always talk about during Chinese New Year. In my opinion, these mothers are using the success of their children to cover up how lonely they actually feel and how much they yearn for their children's attention. Being a Chinese, filial piety is of utmost importance and having being born into the world and brought up by your parents without complaints, they would expect their child to do the same. In the current world, values and morals are somehow mixed up with money and materials possessions. In the video, money is viewed as part of filial piety but in the end, it is quite obvious what actually holds more value than money.
I hope what I wrote was somehow correct as I am still having difficulties putting the right words to the right places but do tell me if anyone of you feels I'm wrong somewhere or I'm able to do a better job. Thanks for reading all the way to the end anyway! Hope everyone learnt something from the video. I did.
