tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3960293404576749034.post6269646317430123567..comments2024-02-22T03:17:33.594-05:00Comments on The White Hindu: Culture and LanguageAmbaahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17928793933638999583noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3960293404576749034.post-53663688739201933702010-11-10T12:52:47.695-05:002010-11-10T12:52:47.695-05:00We white Americans do have a very strong culture, ...We white Americans do have a very strong culture, but one part of our culture is something called white normativity. We see whites having values, not culture. Brown, black, and yellow people have culture in our eyes. We aren't doing culture, we are just being. Well, that is a huge myth. We have just as much culture as the rest of humanity. Our white Americanness often becomes apparent to use for a variety of reasons. A main one: we have intersections with people of other cultures and we are sometimes introspective enough to realize that our way isn't normal/lack of culture while Other's way is culture. Like when we go and live abroad, or due to an intermarriage or a close friendship with a person from a different background.<br /><br />About language as culture, language is indeed a vehicle of culture, like food, religion, values, etc. However, culture is also the way in which we view the world. I don't think these things become immediately apparent even if one becomes fluent in a foreign language. There is linguistic competence and then cultural competence. This is why English-fluent foreigners still seem awkward or different to us and why we seem that way to them when we learn their languages. I do think speaking the language does bring you deeper within the culture. However, it doesn't make you understand everything about the culture. Even with a lot of effort made, there is always more to learn. Language is definitely a gateway, though.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3960293404576749034.post-70294980180134869252010-06-22T13:56:59.146-04:002010-06-22T13:56:59.146-04:00I'm so glad you're here!
I get discoura...I'm so glad you're here! <br /><br />I get discouraged because people keep saying that text book Hindi isn't how people really talk. Well, I decided to keep going forward anyway and get as much input as possible, preferably from native sources. I watch Hindi movies without subtitles and read Hindi kids books from India. I figure eventually I'll be able to get good enough to sort out the good from the bad!Ambaahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17928793933638999583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3960293404576749034.post-39442596159798598312010-06-22T09:03:21.117-04:002010-06-22T09:03:21.117-04:00Ooh I am loving your blog - am going to have to ca...Ooh I am loving your blog - am going to have to catch up on all of it when I have more time - have only read about three so far. The Hindi thing is difficult - I have had different guidance from different people - usually depending on location - and also depending on formality. Plus, there just seem to be some difference. And, most of the resources I have found have some errors that even I can see - this includes one for my iPhone, and livemocha as well - so keep on getting discouraged.Wicked Witch of the Westhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00003458713764591195noreply@blogger.com