On 14/07/2012 09:06, blind Pete wrote:
Frank Griffin wrote:
On 07/12/2012 06:01 PM, Johnny A. Solbu wrote:
I tend to not answer the question,
I think you're missing the point. In some cultures, not giving offense
trumps telling the truth.
I've found this to be the case in the past with the Japanese on IT
matters. When they say "yes" they really mean "I understand the request
you are making", not "I am committing to doing it". They expect you to
know that what you are asking is (in their view) unreasonable.
Think of it as a translation problem. They don't have words
for, "you", "library", "book shop", or "yes". Their nearest
equvalents are roughly back translated as, "dear", "book place",
"book place" (again), and "I understand the request you are making".
Good translations are very difficult.
Thanks Pete!
When I started this thread, I asked:
"How do we cope with such differences within our community?"
Thinking of it as a translation problem is the best I've heard so far :-)
It's the same with the Northern Irish kids (and probably the
British,since it's the same school system model). They'll agree to do
things they have no intention of doing because you just should have
known that nobody would do that regardless of what they promised you.
Like I said,culture.
