Discourse and Pragmatics - 1st investigation

In the following weeks, I will be examining the social interactions going on in my hall’s common room. The setting’s diversity makes it fascinating to observe since this is where many local and exchange students come into frequent contact. It would be interesting to find out whom and what kinds of topics dominate the interactions or if there are any difficulties in communication at all.

Despite speaking the same tongue, people of varying cultures may not understand one another perfectly well. After centuries of political wars and disputes, we are all aware that culture is one of the biggest culprits to miscommunications. Take for instance an American who asks “how is your day?” as a form of greeting, might be mistaken by an English speaking Swiss German as being nosey or overly concern if this is their first meeting. Hence communicating in the same language does not necessarily lead to flawless integration. Since language is arbitrary and ambiguous by nature, it is no surprise that even people in the same discourse community can misinterpret intentions.

Just as Deborah Bull believed, “Body language is a very powerful tool. We had body language before we had speech, and apparently, 80% of what you understand in a conversation is read through the body, not the words.” I prefer to study direct exchanges among people rather than via a technological device. It is harder to hide one’s genuine emotions when conversations are held face to face, thus non verbal language can either reinforce or weaken one’s relationship with his or her interlocutor regardless of the topics they are discussing. Frequencies of gestures are also pertinent to cultures, where for example Brazilians are towards the active end of the spectrum while Fins are usually calmer and convey fewer motions. Moreover, contrary to popular beliefs, body language is not entirely universal. Maintaining eye contact with a superior may seem essential to a Westerner but the same practice may be deemed as rude in Korea. Thus, there is so much more to offer and appreciate in a multicultural environment where people of dissimilar backgrounds physically come together.

It is silly to believe that perfect interactions are possible in any situation or setting. No two person’s social backgrounds are identical, and one’s experiences in life no doubt shape the way a person communicates. Therefore, in order to improve mutual understanding we need to broaden our perspectives, get to know how and why some people talk or react in a certain manner. Perhaps the constant “weirdness” we could not comprehend is affiliated to principals conventional in the society he or she came from.