Fili’s world

Language is considered to be one of the basic compounds for culture, but does it necessarily mean that people who share the same native language share the same culture? does sharing the same language make people feel closer to each other?

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For Hebrew speakers, this is clearly the case. When a Hebrew speaker hears another person speaking Hebrew then its a clear indication of a common base with that person being either Israeli or a Jew, which according to both cultures usually implies that it's almost obligatory that you feel closer to each other. One big happy Hebrew speaking family.

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As the language is shared among more nationalities, it becomes more complicated.

When traveling around Asia, I've had the pleasure of spending lots of 1on1 time with various English speaking nationalities and it always surprised me how they referred to English speaking people from other countries. It involved a lot of politics, obviously, yet there was also alot of comments regarding the use and understanding of language - even in countries who have a lot in common with each other. It was made clear from my first day traveling that a Canadian is not to be mistaken for an American, a New-Zea-lander shouldn't be addressed as a possible OZ and that you might risk a fist fight if you'd suggest that an Irish accent sounds to you like British or confuse the Scottish accent with the Welsh. The more I spent time with English speaking nationalities, the more I realized that for them - the English language is very much a sign of being different than being similar. British folks would discuss their accents for hours comparing the Yorkshir accent to the Londonese, and Belfast's to Edinburgh's (?). It's not only the accent differences - it's not even the same English any more. 

Asking some of my westerner friends in Taiwan how they feel when meeting other English speaking nationalities, I expected that they would find it easier to get closer to each other, but some of them suggested that it's actually more about nationality. Some stated that the thought of similar appearance (aka being white) or sharing the same language resulting in intimacy is ridiculous. I've read with great interest some blog and forum discussions about whether two western people in Taiwan who are riding the same MRT next to each other should nod or say hello, just on the basis of their common appearance or language. Some were offended when such a gesture wasn't acknowledged and some wondered why they should be nicer to a complete strangers on the MRT just because they speak the same language.

Arriving at Singapore with no prior knowledge of what it was like I was extremely surprised to find out that some Singaporeans, or maybe most, are native English speaker with a very non-western accent. It took my brains a while to acknowledge that the accent I was hearing was indeed a native one, and honestly, I've always had the same trouble with South-Africans. I guess that in my mind there were several sub-groups for 'native-English' which didn't include those two accents. Either way, I'm sure that for those native English speakers it's even more difficult to find a common ground with the other English speaking nationalities.

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The reason why I was contemplating this subject yesterday, was because of my observations of the Taiwanese-Chinese interactions here in London. I know… I know… China and Taiwan is a very complicated issue, but I guess I've always wanted to believe that this was more between governments than between people, and that the shared background and using the same language would help bridge the gaps in distant places, like in London. Clearly, that's not the case, as it is easier for Chinese to get closer with other Chinese and for Taiwanese to spend time with other Taiwanese. Although most use the same Chinese dialect - Mandarin - there are still many differences between the Taiwanese Mandarin and the Mainland Mandarin, and it takes them a split second to realize which is which. Try to refer to a Taiwanese as Chinese and you'll be hurting someone's 'face'/feelings. I've also come to realize that it's not only between Taiwan and China but also between different parts of China.  As it is with the English speakers, my foreign non-Chinese non-English speaking mind tends to couple together nationalities that do not wish to be coupled, and I have to fight strongly against it.

Being interested in Chinese culture I was very curious about seeing what London has to offer on that with the little Chinatown near SOHO. But, Taiwanese don't seem to feel related to that, probably because it's more Cantonese than Mandarin, but also because they don't think the basic Chinese culture is a true reflection of their own culture. When I suggested to the Taiwanese we had dinner with yesterday that they might find the food that they're missing from home in China-town they responded that "it's a complete different thing". I'm sure it is…