"Language is the dress of thought." - Samuel Johnson
Dear Friend,
As we travel this summer, we will renew old connections in far away places and make new
friends. Gift-giving is a wonderful way to show appreciation and solidify these relationships,
but etiquette varies between cultures. What we consider appropriate and pleasing may not be
received as such by our international friends. In this issue of The World Linguist,
we share with you Part I of Guidelines for International Gift Giving: Flowers and Consumable Items.
Be sure to also check out recent pieces of language in the news and our language resources section.
As always, we look forward to seeing you at some of the great international events in the
area and wish you a safe and happy summer from all of us here at The World Company!
Clodagh Bastian
Director
Guidelines for International Gift Giving
The type of gift you are giving will depend on the situation you are in. Almost universally, it is
considered polite to bring a hostess gift when invited to a private home (with the exception of the
Arab world, where presenting a gift directly to a host's wife is considered disrespectful). This gift
may consist of flowers, a specialty from one's home town or country, sweets or something to drink. But
always do your homework; different gifts can represent different things within a culture. See below for
some pitfalls to watch for:
Flowers - Flowers are usually appreciated by female recipients,
but avoid roses and flowers that are associated with funerals or graves in that country (examples may
be carnations, lilies, dahlias and chrysanthemums). In Europe, the number of flowers is important; make
sure you present an odd number (except 13), whereas in China uneven numbers can imply separation or
loneliness (but beware of the number 4 with Chinese and Japanese counterparts as it is associated with
death). In different cultures, color choice also plays an important role. Avoid white in Japan, yellow,
red and white in Latin cultures, and white and blue in China.
The safest way to ensure correct protocol when selecting flowers as a gift is to
consult a local florist. They will be able to advise you on the appropriate choice for your occasion.
Alcohol - A nice wine or bottle of liquor is appreciated as a
gift in many cultures, especially if it is representative of your area of origin. However, be aware of
your host's religious restrictions. Never present a Muslim with alcohol or any products containing
alcohol. Similarly, any wine presented to a Jewish person should be kosher and many Hindus would not
consider alcohol appropriate as a gift. In France, bringing a bottle of wine to a formal dinner may
obligate the host to serve it with the meal at the expense of the wine he or she selected for the
occasion. In most European countries, however (and in France at less formal occasions), a good bottle
of alcohol is a welcomed and appropriate gift. Try to inform yourself of any restrictions your
counterpart might have in advance and select an up-market product, preferably representative of your
home town or country.
Food - Chocolates are generally a good choice for
many occasions and make an almost universally appealing gift when selected and
presented well.
Regional foods that introduce the giver's place of origin also often make good
gifts. As with alcohol, however, beware of religious or ethical dietary restrictions.
Avoid animal products in general for Hindus, pork for Muslims, and shellfish and anything
not considered kosher for Jewish acquaintances.
It is also best to steer clear of products your host region is known for
producing well. It would be unwise to present a Belgian with chocolate, a German
with beer or a Russion with caviar.
Enjoy your gift shopping and be sure to check out the next issue of
The World Linguist for Part II of Guidelines for International Gift-Giving:
Non-Perishable Items and Presentation!
Language in the News
National Museum of Language Opens
Since its opening on May 3, The National Museum of Language (NML),
located in College Park, Maryland, has continued to grow daily.
While there are many language museums in the world, NML is similar to only one or two
of its kind. The underlying themes of the Museum will focus on
"Language in Society," "World Languages" and the "
Universal Aspects of Languages."
Read the full article . . .
Switching Languages Can Switch Personality
A recent U.S. study revealed that people who are bicultural and speak two languages may unconsciously
change their personality when they switch languages. The study involved bilingual Hispanic women with
varying degrees of cultural identification. Researchers found significant changes in self perception or
"frame shifting" in bicultural participants (women who participate in both Latino and Anglo
culture).
Read the full article . . .
Americans Wistful for Foreign Language Studies
Nearly two-thirds of Americans say they wish they had taken more foreign language instruction while
in high school, according to a survey of more than 1,000 adults conducted by Scripps Howard News Service
and Ohio University. The poll found that 62 percent of those surveyed wished for more foreign language.
Read the full article . . .
Language/Culture Tips &Resources
One Minute Languages from Radio Lingua Network offers free weekly podcasts with very basic
introductions to a new language. Language samplings are offered in Polish, Irish, German, Russian,
Norwegian and Luxembourgish. Each language features ten lessons, covering topics such as greetings,
names, counting and more. Each lesson is only a couple of minutes long.
BBC Languages is an outstanding linguistic resource featuring language exercises, grammar
tips, useful phrases, learning games, dictionaries, and a host of self-assessment tools.
Dive in and have fun exploring this gem of a site!
From Cape Town, South Africa,
Just Vocabulary is a free online audio
show/podcast that teaches ESL vocabulary words from the GRE, SAT and TOEFL lists. Hosted by Jan
Folmer, each episode lasts about five minutes and introduces two English words. Example sentences
are used, followed by an explanation of the meaning and history of the word. Just Vocabulary even
offers a quiz for students preparing for the SAT, TOEFL or GRE.
World's Literature is an online source for World Literature, from Argentina to Vietnam.
Upcoming International Events
Learn more about the international events being held in the Triangle
during May and June:
Raleigh International Folk Dancers - Dancing Friday nights
ongoing Glen Eden Pilot Park, Raleigh, NC
Chapel Hill International Folk Dance Club -
Dancing Wednesday nights ongoing Beth El Synagogue, Durham, NC
Opening Day of Marbles Olympics - July 12, 2008
Marbles Kids Museum, Raleigh, NC
Spanish/English Storytime - July 12 and 26, 2008
Kidzu Children's Museum, Chapel Hill, NC
Chinese Cultural Dinner - August 11, 2008
Hosted by International Affairs Council
Location TBD
Exhibits
Far From Home Exhibition - Feb. 17 - Jul. 13, 2008
North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh, NC
The Importance of Peace - Images from Near and Far -
by Russell Gorga - Apr. 4 - Ongoing
Miriam Block Gallery, Municipal Building
Raleigh, NC
Cherokee Pottery: People of One Fire - through Jul. 27, 2008
North Carolina Museum of History, Raleigh, NC
In and Around the Garden: Perspectives East and West -
May 24 - Aug. 31, 2008
Ackland Art Museum, University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill, NC
Dead Sea Scrolls - June 28 - Dec. 28, 2008
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh, NC
Julie Mehretu: City Sitings - Aug. 17 - Nov. 30, 2008
North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh, NC
El Greco to Valazquez During the Reign of Philip III Art Exhibit -
Aug. 21 - Nov. 9, 2008
Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University, Durham, NC
Performances
Greece: Secrets of the Past (Movie) - Feb. 1 - Sept. 30, 2008 Ongoing Wachovia
IMAX Theatre at Marbles Kids Museum
Raleigh, NC
Wild Ocean 3D (Movie) - Feb. 1 - Sept. 30, 2008
Ongoing Wachovia IMAX Theatre at Marbles Kids Museum
Raleigh, NC
Carnavalito (Latin Jazz) - July 11, 2008
2008 Brightleaf Square Concert Series, Durham, NC
BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet - July 12, 2008
North Carolina Museum of Art Outdoor Amphitheatre
Raleigh, NC
American Dance Festival Japanese Festival
- (Part One)
July 16-17, 2008,
Page Auditorium
Duke University, Durham, NC
The Amistad Saga: Reflections - (Outdoor Drama)
July 17 - 20 and July 24 - 27, 2008
African American Cultural Complex
Raleigh, NC
The 400 Blows - (Movie)
July 18, 2008
Movies on the Lawn
North Carolina Museum of Art Outdoor Amphitheatre
Raleigh, NCC
American Dance Festival Japanese Festival - (Part Two)
July 18-19, 2008, Reynolds Industries Theatre
Duke University, Durham, NC
Les Primitifs du Futur followed by
screenings of The Red Balloon and The White Mane -
(Movie/Music) July 19, 2008
2008 Summer Series
North Carolina Museum of Art Outdoor Amphitheatre, Raleigh, NC
A Grand Hindustani Music Recital with Pandit Rajan and Sajan Mishra -
August 23, 2008
Green Hope High School (Venue to be finalized
Cary, NC
Festivals and Celebrations
NATSU-MATSURI Summer Festival 2008 - July 12, 2008
Nippon Club of the Triangle
NC Japan Center, Raleigh, NC
2008 Kodai Vizha Celebration - July 20, 2008
Tamil Cultural Association of North Carolina
Sertoma Amphitheatre at Bond Park, Cary, NC
Diamante´s
Festival Ritmo Latino - Aug. 10, 2008
Fred G. Bond Park, Cary, NC
Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival - Aug.23, 2008
Downtown Cary, NC
2008 International Festival -
Sept. 5 -6, 2008
SAVE THE DATE!
Raleigh Convention and Conference Center
Raleigh, NC
Conferences and Workshops
Haiku Festival Workshop - July 19, 2008
Regulator Bookshop, Durham, NC
Lecture/Demonstration on Bharatanatyam
by Sridevi Jaqannath - July 27, 2008, North Carolina Museum of History
Raleigh, NC
Lecture/Demonstration on Indian Classical Percussion -
Aug 1, 2008, Ten Thousand Villages
Raleigh, NC
About The World Company
The World Company
provides language learners with the
highest quality language training at affordable rates. We offer
individualized instruction, group instruction and tutoring for businesses,
institutions and private students in English, Spanish, German, French,
Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Chinese, Arabic, Russian, and other
languages.
Our proficiency-based approach utilizes a variety of learning styles and
instructional techniques to achieve the most expedient acquisition for
each individual student.
The World Company's qualified and experienced instructors bring to
class not only in-depth knowledge of their language, but also a keen
understanding of the culture within which it is spoken.
Call (919) 796-2876 or
write us and see how we can improve your international communication
skills!
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