Week 7 - October 27th/2020 - Differences in Manner

 

Differences in Manner

In this week’s studies, I am learning about differences in manners around the world. These differences exist and to avoid misunderstandings, we must learn about them. Learning a new language is not only learning words or phrases in a given language, it implies learning the culture of the language as well. In fact, language is an essential part of the culture of a place. When learning about a new culture, we must learn about the way they do things. In the video that I had to watch in preparation for this post, John J. Ivers, a professor at BYU-IDAHO university suggests several times that if we do not know the rules of the culture, we should pay attention to what most people do, and act consequently. This reminds me of the saying “in Rome, do as the Romans do”.

Professor Ivers mentions in his video many cultural differences that exist around the world. I have experimented with those differences when I was a missionary. I am from Argentina, a country in Latin America. As I served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, I learned that it was inappropriate to eat with my elbows on the table, something most people do in my country, unless you are participating in a very high-class meal. Something that I learned from the American culture is that while eating, people should place the napkin on their leg, specifically on their thigh, while in my country we put it on the table next to the plate. I also learned that in some Central American cultures people do not give firm handshakes as we do in my country. I served my mission in the USA, and I saw how many immigrants had adopted the manner of leaving their shoes next to the entrance door when entering a house, which is a more American manner.   

Manners are different all around the world, and as professor Ivers mentions, it is important that whenever we are in a place with different manners, we better learn them quickly so that our attitudes and behaviors are not misunderstood.

References:

https://people.howstuffworks.com/13-examples-of-good-and-bad-manners-around-the-world.htm#page=0

https://video.byui.edu/media/06+Difference+in+Manners/0_xc0a34gb