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Cultural Differences in Speaking and Not Speaking
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| 1. |
14 Oct 2011 Fri 12:28 pm |
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Learning a new language doesn´t only mean keeping grammar rules and vocabulary lists in mind. It´s not only about how to say something, it´s also about what should be said and what is better to keep to yourself. I would like to hear the members´ experiences about cultural differences, especially those that concern communication. We come to this site from different backgrounds and I´m sure there is a lot to share (in a friendly spirit, of course).
I come from a society where straight talk is very much respected, to the extent that a person can sometimes be rude in order to stick to the truth. Friendliness, if there is any, is shown more in action. My experience of Turks is vague and remote in time and I can´t say much but I know a lot of people from the same area and I feel straight talk is always a problem to me with Eastern people even though I have learned some things from experience.
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| 2. |
14 Oct 2011 Fri 02:38 pm |
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Turks often are not direct nor open enough always hiding something..Even the answer for a question that is to be answered with yes or no may become a word salad telling nothing:
Q- Darbe girişimi oldu mu?
(Had there been any coup attempt?)
A - Oldu da diyemem, olmadı da diyemem. Kasaptaki ete soğan doğramam.
( I can´t say there had or hadn´t any. No need to chop onion for the meat in a buthcher´s shop*).
* It must be a saying known only by the answerer who´s one of the former chief of the Turkish Armed Forces.
Edited (10/14/2011) by scalpel
Edited (10/14/2011) by scalpel
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| 3. |
14 Oct 2011 Fri 06:44 pm |
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It can be really annoying if you have to look for the truth between the lines too often, but undirect expressions can also be a descreet form of politeness.
Edited (10/16/2011) by Abla
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| 4. |
14 Oct 2011 Fri 08:13 pm |
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In Turkish, asking a question in negative form may smell a piece of politeness..For example you can say "hamsi yok mu?" in place of "hamsi var mı?", but because such a question has the risk of making you look like a fool, it is better to add "değil" to it.. "hamsi yok, değil mi?"
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| 5. |
16 Oct 2011 Sun 12:05 pm |
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In Turkish, asking a question in negative form may smell a piece of politeness..For example you can say "hamsi yok mu?" in place of "hamsi var mı?", but because such a question has the risk of making you look like a fool, it is better to add "değil" to it.. "hamsi yok, değil mi?"
Personally I cannot sense any difference between them (red bold text above) but I can sense a politeness if you ask it this way:
Sizde hamsi bulunur mu (acaba)?
even more polite:
Sizde hamsi bulunur muydu (acaba)?
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