Can we really understand other cultures?

That’s quite a question. Why? If we could fully understand cultural differences, we would probably have the answer to a lot of the world’s problems!

Perhaps the real question should be, do we really WANT to understand other cultures?

There are certainly some very good keys that help us understand the different ways of thinking and different cultural traditions and ways of doing things. One of the very big keys is language. Even when we speak the same language there are misunderstandings and conflicts.

There is a song I heard over and over again when working in a well know Italian Restaurant.

You say potaytoe – I say potarto  (pronounciations of potato)
You say tomaytoe – I say tomartoe .. etc.

It would play several times a shift, and I would laugh to and at myself. Why? Because actually we kiwis (for the most part) say potaytoe – and tomartoe. Now work that one out!

Well actually how we pronounce a word is not near as important as how we understand that word. Sure the dictionaries tell us how we should understand each word, but our brains often have their own idea about things. In our minds words are translated into mental pictures and these pictures are what bring us the understanding.

Now picture this:

I grew up in New Zealand where rubbers are things you erase pencil lines with and guillotines are things you cut paper with. I cross the ocean to the USA and Mexico. In the USA I worked in the office of a christian children’s magazine. You can imagine the bewildered looks I got when I went around asking where the guillotine was, and then the consequent laughs when it was understood what I really wanted – mm the paper cutter!

Ok, these are simple examples and of lesser consequence than other words and ideas that have different interpretations according to developed life experiences, tradition and culture. And what about the languages that don’t even have words to express some of the ideas that are so much a part of our culture and/or beliefs?

For example some of the dialects don’t have a word for atonement. How is a missionary able to share the gospel with no word for atonement?

Creative missionaries found ways! But it took time and dedication. They spend time with the local people observing everything they do and say in an effort to understand the way they think.

This helped them come up with ways to describe concepts so that the people can understand them even though there is no actual adequate word in their language to express these ideas and truths. This is why computers may be able to translate, but never interpret. Translations can be a mess, but a good interpretation will communicate.

So just how DO we break through some of these cultural differences?

1. Understand that everything we speak creates a mental picture in the listener’s mind. Every listener will have a slightly different picture.
   
   
2. If you really want to communicate, it will mean taking time to understand just what your listener is understanding from what you are saying.
   
   
3. To detect what your listener is understanding, ask questions.
   
   
4. If your message is really important, ask your listener to repeat what you said in their own words.
   
   
5. The real question is are you content to just talk (throw words in the air and hope they are understood) – or do you want to learn to really communicate?
   
   

Yuli

You will also enjoy reading:

• Rediscovering New Zealand
• Culture Shock