Chapter 5
Language
Quesons
1. Language dierenates us into groups by controlling the way we think, the way we
2. The reasons teenagers and other groups develop jargon and slang are many and varied.
3. A )amboyant U.S. salesperson would probably not get the sale. If the salesperson did
their homework on Japan and chose to ignore what they learned, or did not do their
4. Students are to give examples of conversaon taboos in their home or group of friends.
5. A bicultural/bilingual interpreter has a be5er understanding of what is meant as well as
6. A worker would need to be knowledgeable of a foreign language in situaons where the
worker interfaces with the other cultures directly. If a U.S. person is working for a
7. Ethnic groups that enjoy verbal dueling in the U.S. include those of Italian, Greek,
German, or French extracon. More verbal dueling is also observed in the North and
8. Vocabulary equivalence means there are words in each language with the same
9. Argot is language of a co-culture. Generally the words are the same but the meanings
10. The restricted codes of the Bernstein Hypothesis are messages that are highly
11. Culture and language aect the way we think. We learn to think along a linear or
nonlinear connuum. Our culture teaches us how we should perceive what has been
Case 1
The suggeson that, due to a large Hispanic populaon in Florida, Spanish should be
considered the .rst language, brings up several problems. Because the main language of
the U.S. is English (which most immigrants have learned), the Hispanics, by not learning
In countries in which interacng with people from other cultures is quite common, the
teaching of other languages should be a priority. In the European Union, for example,
Case 2
Joe was apparently unfamiliar with the Mexican culture and did not understand the
Mexican way of thinking. Ge:ng to know the persons with whom you work is very
important in the Mexican culture. By not meeng the people, he sent the unintenonal
Case 3
They should hire the Brazilian because he would know how to hire people in South
America, would have no problem living in South America, and because he speaks
Case 4
When you learn a new language, you may not know all the correct terminology. Also if
you are thinking about something new parcularly, it is easier to think about it in your
home language and then translate it into the second language later. The Germans did
Case 5
Cultural dierences between people of the United States and Venezuela o?en
account for issues in the U.S. workplace. When Barbara, the U.S. manager, conducts the
Acvies
1. Responses will vary. Students who have not traveled to other countries may provide a
list of slang expressions that would have negave connotaons in certain parts of the
2. The local library will have books listed under proverbs and parables that can be used for
3. Possible conversaon taboos in the U.S. include how much things cost, polics, and
4. Although responses will vary, students will probably menon problems with word usage,
5. Instructors may wish to provide an abstract format for students to use for the arcle on
6. Responses will vary; students may have encountered passages in other books that have