1. After inviting someone over, is it polite to serve them or appropriate to allow them to serve themselves?
2. When in the company of guests is it appropriate to be relaxes in manner or have more self-control and remain formal? If neither, what is appropriate?
3. In TV programs, if something is going wrong for the good guys, how would they react?
4. In a work scenario, is it appropriate to joke around? How would people react if people were joking?
5. In a high stress situation, like turbulence on a plane, how would people in your culture respond to humor?
6. How is dependency on others viewed in Saudi Arabia? In times of necessary dependence how is gender and age figured in?
7. When asking for a favor, in what manner of speaking should the request be presented—apologetic, act inferior, just use please/colloquial language? What if you are asking for something from someone you do not know (ie a University scholarship committee)?
8. When explaining things about yourself for applications is it more appropriate to give straight facts or to embellish your accomplishments? If neither, what is appropriate?
9. If something like an animal has a disability, in what way would it be viewed—would someone in your culture take it upon themselves to care for it or would just feel pity and move on?
10. If a friend lost a job and you wanted to comfort them, what would you say? Would you even want to comfort them? Does it depend on age or gender?
11. What would be the most appropriate way to approach someone who is grieving a loss?
12. If you are unable to complete a request for a friend, how does someone in your culture best deny this request?
13. If someone you know is about to take a test (admissions test for college or the like,if you wrote them a card what you it say? What would a parent’s card to a child say in this situation?
Saturday, February 28, 2009
China Group: Allie, Kyle, Susan, Whitney S.
1) Is it appropriate to discuss politics and religion with someone you just met?
2) Is it appropriate to oppose or condemn someone's religious preference?
3) Is it appropriate to talk about success in the workplace and monetary success with someone you just met?
4) What is the appropriate response to a greeting? If someone asks "how are you?" or its equivalent in the Chinese culture, is it appropriate to give a detailed response?
5) Is it considered rude to interrupt someone while they are speaking, or does interruption reflect eager involvement in the conversation?
6) What should be stated directly in conversation? What things should be stated indirectly? Does directness imply imposition?
7) Is it appropriate to accept something the first time it is offered to you?
8) Does a rising or falling intonation in speech reflect a question? How are questions stated?
9) How much information should be provided in order to create a sufficient context for your conversation? How much background is necessary?
10) What is a comfortable level of personal space in conversation? Is this dependent on the relationship between speaker and listener?
11) Is verbal aggressiveness considered threatening, confrontational, engaging, or something entirely different? Is the use of verbal aggressiveness depend on your listener?
12) What assumptions / expectations are associated with conversational overlap? Is overlap associated with imposition or involvement? Is this, too, contingent on the relationship between speaker and listener?
13) How do gender differences affect conversation? Does it affect personal space? Does it affect directness/indirectness? Does age play a factor? Does it affect word choice and intonation?
14) What is the appropriate amount of pause between turns?
15) Is it more appropriate to be aggressive or submissive in your culture? Is this contingent upon the audience?
16) Is it more acceptable to speak more quickly or more slowly in your culture? How is speed of speech perceived?
17) What does insistence and repitition imply in your culture? Is it considered rude and imposing? Does it emphasize what you are trying to say? Is it contingent on the situation?
18) After being asked a question, is it polite or rude to respond with a question? Does responding with a question reflect selflessness and produce a sense that the other person is valued more than yourself? Or does it reflect avoidance and apathy?
2) Is it appropriate to oppose or condemn someone's religious preference?
3) Is it appropriate to talk about success in the workplace and monetary success with someone you just met?
4) What is the appropriate response to a greeting? If someone asks "how are you?" or its equivalent in the Chinese culture, is it appropriate to give a detailed response?
5) Is it considered rude to interrupt someone while they are speaking, or does interruption reflect eager involvement in the conversation?
6) What should be stated directly in conversation? What things should be stated indirectly? Does directness imply imposition?
7) Is it appropriate to accept something the first time it is offered to you?
8) Does a rising or falling intonation in speech reflect a question? How are questions stated?
9) How much information should be provided in order to create a sufficient context for your conversation? How much background is necessary?
10) What is a comfortable level of personal space in conversation? Is this dependent on the relationship between speaker and listener?
11) Is verbal aggressiveness considered threatening, confrontational, engaging, or something entirely different? Is the use of verbal aggressiveness depend on your listener?
12) What assumptions / expectations are associated with conversational overlap? Is overlap associated with imposition or involvement? Is this, too, contingent on the relationship between speaker and listener?
13) How do gender differences affect conversation? Does it affect personal space? Does it affect directness/indirectness? Does age play a factor? Does it affect word choice and intonation?
14) What is the appropriate amount of pause between turns?
15) Is it more appropriate to be aggressive or submissive in your culture? Is this contingent upon the audience?
16) Is it more acceptable to speak more quickly or more slowly in your culture? How is speed of speech perceived?
17) What does insistence and repitition imply in your culture? Is it considered rude and imposing? Does it emphasize what you are trying to say? Is it contingent on the situation?
18) After being asked a question, is it polite or rude to respond with a question? Does responding with a question reflect selflessness and produce a sense that the other person is valued more than yourself? Or does it reflect avoidance and apathy?
India Group: Tessia, Emily, Courtney Ginger
1) In Indian culture, is it better to be self-deprecating in conversation, or self-promoting?
2) Is it polite to behave in ways that emphasize the status of a superior, or should you act like equals?
3) Are there different terms of address for older/younger men or women, and can you express more politeness by flouting or adhering to the appropriate term? (aka ma'am and miss) - value of age?
4) Is it more polite to admire certain qualities of people and not others, such as looks vs accomplishments vs possessions vs disposition?
5) Can you achieve the ends of politeness in convo. through ironic/sarcastic speech (specifically, saying something neg. about someone while pragmatic elements indicate the opposite or vice versa if talking about self), or is it better to keep meaning on surface level?
6) How important is it that you use the correct term of address to acknowledge someone's status?
2) Is it polite to behave in ways that emphasize the status of a superior, or should you act like equals?
3) Are there different terms of address for older/younger men or women, and can you express more politeness by flouting or adhering to the appropriate term? (aka ma'am and miss) - value of age?
4) Is it more polite to admire certain qualities of people and not others, such as looks vs accomplishments vs possessions vs disposition?
5) Can you achieve the ends of politeness in convo. through ironic/sarcastic speech (specifically, saying something neg. about someone while pragmatic elements indicate the opposite or vice versa if talking about self), or is it better to keep meaning on surface level?
6) How important is it that you use the correct term of address to acknowledge someone's status?
Angola: Sarah C, Lauren, Abby, Daniel C.
1) How did you interpret your first interactions with people when you moved here?
2) Has your view of Americans changed since you first moved here?
3) What types of rules govern your conversations with others?
4) Is it important to be very polite in order to respect others when you are talking to them?
5) Do you find Americans to be too personal with their conversations with you? Or not enough?
6) What do you consider the norm for personal space?
7) What defines politeness in your culture?
8) What is invading your personal space? w/ friends? strangers?
9) When you first meet someone, how do you feel about them in terms of respect?
10) What's your expectations of others in respecting you?
11) When you are with someone from a different culture, are you comfortable or do you feel intimidated?
12) Is it polite to use facial expressions - what do they mean?
13) What tones do you use w/ a friend vs. a stranger?
14) What tones do you use w/ an elder vs. a child?
15) How do you address people's names - do you give first/last name or just first?
16) How do you introduce yourself - first/last or just first?
17) Is it respectful to use Mr. and Mrs. when talking to someone?
18) Does social status determine your interactions?
19) Is social status the same in Angola as it is in the US?
20) In a convo, is building a relationship more important vs. distinguishing yourself?
2) Has your view of Americans changed since you first moved here?
3) What types of rules govern your conversations with others?
4) Is it important to be very polite in order to respect others when you are talking to them?
5) Do you find Americans to be too personal with their conversations with you? Or not enough?
6) What do you consider the norm for personal space?
7) What defines politeness in your culture?
8) What is invading your personal space? w/ friends? strangers?
9) When you first meet someone, how do you feel about them in terms of respect?
10) What's your expectations of others in respecting you?
11) When you are with someone from a different culture, are you comfortable or do you feel intimidated?
12) Is it polite to use facial expressions - what do they mean?
13) What tones do you use w/ a friend vs. a stranger?
14) What tones do you use w/ an elder vs. a child?
15) How do you address people's names - do you give first/last name or just first?
16) How do you introduce yourself - first/last or just first?
17) Is it respectful to use Mr. and Mrs. when talking to someone?
18) Does social status determine your interactions?
19) Is social status the same in Angola as it is in the US?
20) In a convo, is building a relationship more important vs. distinguishing yourself?
Tunisia Group: Sarah W, Anthony, Katie, Madeline
1) In a conversation is there a lot of overlap? Is it acceptable?
2) Does one person keep the "floor" longer because of his/her status?
3) Is it appropriate for two or more people to talk at the same time?
4) If it is not, is it considered interrupting?
5) Is there a difference in how often or how much you get to talk based on who you're speaking to? Man? Woman? Husband? Wife? Best friend? Employee? Boss, etc?
6) What is the appropriate way to talk, faster or slower?
7) Is the language you speak a faster language?
8) What is an appropriate amount of time to pause before someone else starts speaking? vs. English?
9) Are there different situations where the pace of a conversation is faster or slower?
10) Are there certain people that you talk to that affect the pace of a conversation? i.e. your boss, your husband (if you're a woman)?
11) Was it hard to adapt to America's conversation style as opposed to your own?
12) How about in Minnesota vs. Texas?
13) Is there a difference in pace, content, dialect, etc in different regions of your country? i.e. North, south, east...
14) Are conversations limited on how many questions you can ask per turn?
15) Is it common to switch between people in a conversation often? i.e. quick, quick, quick?
2) Does one person keep the "floor" longer because of his/her status?
3) Is it appropriate for two or more people to talk at the same time?
4) If it is not, is it considered interrupting?
5) Is there a difference in how often or how much you get to talk based on who you're speaking to? Man? Woman? Husband? Wife? Best friend? Employee? Boss, etc?
6) What is the appropriate way to talk, faster or slower?
7) Is the language you speak a faster language?
8) What is an appropriate amount of time to pause before someone else starts speaking? vs. English?
9) Are there different situations where the pace of a conversation is faster or slower?
10) Are there certain people that you talk to that affect the pace of a conversation? i.e. your boss, your husband (if you're a woman)?
11) Was it hard to adapt to America's conversation style as opposed to your own?
12) How about in Minnesota vs. Texas?
13) Is there a difference in pace, content, dialect, etc in different regions of your country? i.e. North, south, east...
14) Are conversations limited on how many questions you can ask per turn?
15) Is it common to switch between people in a conversation often? i.e. quick, quick, quick?
India Group: Janna, Alexa, Taylor, Stephen
Assigned reading: The Technical Editor as Diplomat
(some of our questions aren't directly related to the article but came from tangents we went off on from more related questions or from certain things mentioned in the article...fyi)
1) Is there a polite or preferred method of correcting someone in your native language, in writing or conversation? How do you do it?
2) To whom is your speech or writing most direct? Can you give examples of directness of speech/writing in different relationships, situations, contexts...?
3) Have you ever felt threatened when being corrected in conversation in your native language? Who was correcting you, and why?
4) Do you feel threatened when your use of English is corrected? When and by whom? About what?
5) Do you ever feel the need to be defensive or hostile to get your point across in either language? Is it different when you are writing than when you are speaking?
6) In your native language, are there different methods of framing a request or suggestion? Is it dependent upon who you are directing this toward? Who it's coming from?
7) Is it polite in your culture to reject advice or suggestions, or to tell someone you don't want advice? Should one tell the advice-giver that they will not use the advice given? Should one act appreciative of advice or suggestions, or treat them with little acknowledgement, whether or not it is used?
English? Can you give examples of different times you have felt the need to be more direct or more indirect in your use of both languages?
9) Does difference in emphasis of words change the meaning of your statement or question in your native language? How does it compare to the use of emphasis in English? Have you struggled with the differences?
10) Is there a 'passive voice' in your native language and how/when/with whom would you use it? Is it usually considered polite or impolite to speak in this way? Have you encountered differences with this in English, and if so, what problems has it caused, if any?
11) In your native language, when are interrogatives used, with whom, and in what situations? Are there any times you've used interrogatives to imply suggestion? How is this interpreted by the person you are communicating with, and what kinds of responses are usual?
12) Are there words in your native language that have the same or similar concept as an English word, and if so, in what ways is their use different than their English counterparts? Does it change the way you use the English word?
(Ex: Does the word for 'love' in your language get used as broadly as in English, as in saying "I love you" to your spouse versus saying "I love pizza.")
13) How does your culture view the use of borrowed English words, if there are any? What are some examples of English words that have been incorporated into your native language? (i.e., new technologies, medical terms, foods?)
14) Is it more acceptable in your native language to use direct suggestion versus hinting at what you are suggesting? Can you give examples of contexts where one may be more appropriate than the other?
15) Is advice generally accepted in your culture, or is it seen as invasive? What types of advice? Is advice more acceptable coming from certain people than from others?
16) What types of questions are viewed as personal, and what types are seen as impersonal? Is there a difference in politeness between them? How does your relationship or comparative status with the person asking the question affect how it is accepted or answered?
17) Have you ever been offended or have you offended somebody when asking or being asked questions in English? In your native language, by a non-native speaker? What were these questions and what were the responses?
18) How do different authority figures interact with children in regards to giving instruction? Do different people (teachers, parents, siblings, etc.) have different methods? Is suggestive guidance more common or is there more of an authoritative or demanding attitude toward teaching/raising children? How does this vary in different contexts?
19) How is punishment used and viewed in your culture? Who punishes who and for what? Is punishment treated more as a way to learn from ones mistakes, or is it seen as a method of revenge/retribution? How is this different from American views of punishment that you have encountered?
20) Is advice seeking common in your culture? How does one ask for advice? Is it asked for directly or is it implied that advice or suggestions are needed? To whom do people usually look for advice, and what types of advice are commonly sought after?
21) In a business setting, is it acceptable to make suggestions, give advice to, or correct your coworkers? Your boss, or other 'higher-ups'?
22) Is advice given publicly or in private? Is it seen as an embarassment to receive advice in front of others?
(some of our questions aren't directly related to the article but came from tangents we went off on from more related questions or from certain things mentioned in the article...fyi)
1) Is there a polite or preferred method of correcting someone in your native language, in writing or conversation? How do you do it?
2) To whom is your speech or writing most direct? Can you give examples of directness of speech/writing in different relationships, situations, contexts...?
3) Have you ever felt threatened when being corrected in conversation in your native language? Who was correcting you, and why?
4) Do you feel threatened when your use of English is corrected? When and by whom? About what?
5) Do you ever feel the need to be defensive or hostile to get your point across in either language? Is it different when you are writing than when you are speaking?
6) In your native language, are there different methods of framing a request or suggestion? Is it dependent upon who you are directing this toward? Who it's coming from?
7) Is it polite in your culture to reject advice or suggestions, or to tell someone you don't want advice? Should one tell the advice-giver that they will not use the advice given? Should one act appreciative of advice or suggestions, or treat them with little acknowledgement, whether or not it is used?
English? Can you give examples of different times you have felt the need to be more direct or more indirect in your use of both languages?
9) Does difference in emphasis of words change the meaning of your statement or question in your native language? How does it compare to the use of emphasis in English? Have you struggled with the differences?
10) Is there a 'passive voice' in your native language and how/when/with whom would you use it? Is it usually considered polite or impolite to speak in this way? Have you encountered differences with this in English, and if so, what problems has it caused, if any?
11) In your native language, when are interrogatives used, with whom, and in what situations? Are there any times you've used interrogatives to imply suggestion? How is this interpreted by the person you are communicating with, and what kinds of responses are usual?
12) Are there words in your native language that have the same or similar concept as an English word, and if so, in what ways is their use different than their English counterparts? Does it change the way you use the English word?
(Ex: Does the word for 'love' in your language get used as broadly as in English, as in saying "I love you" to your spouse versus saying "I love pizza.")
13) How does your culture view the use of borrowed English words, if there are any? What are some examples of English words that have been incorporated into your native language? (i.e., new technologies, medical terms, foods?)
14) Is it more acceptable in your native language to use direct suggestion versus hinting at what you are suggesting? Can you give examples of contexts where one may be more appropriate than the other?
15) Is advice generally accepted in your culture, or is it seen as invasive? What types of advice? Is advice more acceptable coming from certain people than from others?
16) What types of questions are viewed as personal, and what types are seen as impersonal? Is there a difference in politeness between them? How does your relationship or comparative status with the person asking the question affect how it is accepted or answered?
17) Have you ever been offended or have you offended somebody when asking or being asked questions in English? In your native language, by a non-native speaker? What were these questions and what were the responses?
18) How do different authority figures interact with children in regards to giving instruction? Do different people (teachers, parents, siblings, etc.) have different methods? Is suggestive guidance more common or is there more of an authoritative or demanding attitude toward teaching/raising children? How does this vary in different contexts?
19) How is punishment used and viewed in your culture? Who punishes who and for what? Is punishment treated more as a way to learn from ones mistakes, or is it seen as a method of revenge/retribution? How is this different from American views of punishment that you have encountered?
20) Is advice seeking common in your culture? How does one ask for advice? Is it asked for directly or is it implied that advice or suggestions are needed? To whom do people usually look for advice, and what types of advice are commonly sought after?
21) In a business setting, is it acceptable to make suggestions, give advice to, or correct your coworkers? Your boss, or other 'higher-ups'?
22) Is advice given publicly or in private? Is it seen as an embarassment to receive advice in front of others?
German Group: Katie Y., Vicky and Daniel P
1) Is there a certain age at which you assume the identity of your spouse?
2) To whom is it appropriate to give advice? Could you advise someone older? Younger? Of the opposite sex?
3) What is the appropriate way to decline an offer for dinner/a movie/hanging out? Do you accept and then just not show up, or do you decline from the start?
4) From whom is it appropriate to accept/decline a meal offer? Would you accept an offer to hang out from your boss?
5) How much alone time is socially acceptable?
6) Would it be acceptable to eat alone, see a movie alone? Could you sit alone in a café and read for pleasure? What about studying?
7) Do you refer to yourself in a group mindset, i.e. “We Germans”?
8) How much of “yourself” is acceptable to show in a social situation? Are there things you can and can’t do? (i.e. humming to yourself, talking to yourself, etc…)
9) When Germans watch TV or movies, do you watch for content of form? Are you viewing the actions of the characters and how they handle themselves or for what they actually do?
10)When dancing, do you dance however you want to dance, or are there set steps you do with a group?
11)When asked a question, is it acceptable to say “I don’t know” or must you have an opinion about the subject? With the lack of interaction Germans exhibit, would they even ask? Who would ask?
12)How do you go about disagreeing with someone’s opinion? Would you say something if you disagreed with your boss? Your grandma? Your spouse?
13)Would you ask someone why they felt the way they do about a subject? Would it depend on the people you’re talking with? What about the subject matter (i.e. touchy subjects)?
14)If your boss asks you a question about your political affiliations, would you respond truthfully? What if your spouse asked? How descriptive would you be? How much passion on the subject is acceptable?
15)If you know someone is embarrassed in a conversation, how do you go about saving their face? Would you redeem them or just ignore it?
16)When someone does decline an invitation, how much detail is usually given? Is it acceptable to probe into why the offer was declined?
17)What is the acceptable level of personal questions allowed? How far can a person delve into someone else’s psyche and ask what they think, feel and do?
2) To whom is it appropriate to give advice? Could you advise someone older? Younger? Of the opposite sex?
3) What is the appropriate way to decline an offer for dinner/a movie/hanging out? Do you accept and then just not show up, or do you decline from the start?
4) From whom is it appropriate to accept/decline a meal offer? Would you accept an offer to hang out from your boss?
5) How much alone time is socially acceptable?
6) Would it be acceptable to eat alone, see a movie alone? Could you sit alone in a café and read for pleasure? What about studying?
7) Do you refer to yourself in a group mindset, i.e. “We Germans”?
8) How much of “yourself” is acceptable to show in a social situation? Are there things you can and can’t do? (i.e. humming to yourself, talking to yourself, etc…)
9) When Germans watch TV or movies, do you watch for content of form? Are you viewing the actions of the characters and how they handle themselves or for what they actually do?
10)When dancing, do you dance however you want to dance, or are there set steps you do with a group?
11)When asked a question, is it acceptable to say “I don’t know” or must you have an opinion about the subject? With the lack of interaction Germans exhibit, would they even ask? Who would ask?
12)How do you go about disagreeing with someone’s opinion? Would you say something if you disagreed with your boss? Your grandma? Your spouse?
13)Would you ask someone why they felt the way they do about a subject? Would it depend on the people you’re talking with? What about the subject matter (i.e. touchy subjects)?
14)If your boss asks you a question about your political affiliations, would you respond truthfully? What if your spouse asked? How descriptive would you be? How much passion on the subject is acceptable?
15)If you know someone is embarrassed in a conversation, how do you go about saving their face? Would you redeem them or just ignore it?
16)When someone does decline an invitation, how much detail is usually given? Is it acceptable to probe into why the offer was declined?
17)What is the acceptable level of personal questions allowed? How far can a person delve into someone else’s psyche and ask what they think, feel and do?
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