03-05-2013, 01:24 PM | #11 |
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: New York City
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Re: Subtle / obscure signs for identifying native CF
Well to get back on track....
I was told that people from islamic cultures tent to push down (or remove) the backs of their shoes (because it's a pain to lace and unlace them 5 times a day for prayer). They then have a distinctive way of walking in them (like when one weras slippers or thong-sandals) so the shoes don't go flying off. So if you see somone walking like they are in slippers & are not it could give away that they are from an islamic culture. Or ofcourse if their shoe backs are pushed down. |
03-05-2013, 02:23 PM | #12 | |
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Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Southeast NC
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Re: Subtle / obscure signs for identifying native CF
Quote:
Hand holding as an expression of platonic affection is not the norm in the West. To suggest that feeling awkward expressing affection in a way that is not normal for your culture can only be the result of homophobia is a bit... odd. I for one wouldn't hold another man's hand in public, because to me (as a product of my upbringing) it is a romantic gesture, and I do not have romantic relationships with men*. I also wouldn't share such a gesture with women with whom I'm not in a romantic relationship. * Not that I see anything wrong with those who do. If someone is homosexual, I do not assume they hate heterosexuals. It seems the opposite courtesy is occasionally seen as optional.** ** And do not get me started on how much I HATE the term "breeder."
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RyanW - Actually one normal sized guy in three tiny trenchcoats. |
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03-05-2013, 02:33 PM | #13 |
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Where the Celts originated
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Re: Subtle / obscure signs for identifying native CF
The parts of one's culture that are most difficult to un-learn are usually the
culture's typical unwritten non-verbal communication rules. Eye contact has already been mentioned, another common example is personal space, like the usual distance between two persons in a neutral situation. |
03-05-2013, 03:16 PM | #14 | |
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Lawrence, KS
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Re: Subtle / obscure signs for identifying native CF
Quote:
Bill Stoddard |
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03-24-2013, 09:53 AM | #15 |
GURPS FAQ Keeper
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Kyïv, Ukraine
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Re: Subtle / obscure signs for identifying native CF
Found another tell-tale (actually, it's silly that I missed it the first two sessions), though it's partly linguistic too:
Turning a final i-vowel into a y-consonant. The character is supposedly Japanese, so ending a word in a consonant is pretty weird already, particularly when it is a word spoken in your native language (the word being 'hai'). Planning to dig through body language peculiarity guides and see if he shows a conspicuous lack of reaction to some gestures. |
03-24-2013, 10:50 AM | #16 |
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Augsburg, Germany
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Re: Subtle / obscure signs for identifying native CF
This is probably not quite on the original topic, but I hope a funny story all the same.
In 1984 I was jaywalking in what was then still called Leningrad, near Gorkovskaya Metro Station. One of a pair of Milli-men, i.e. Militia men or policemen, crooked his finger at me and asked me if I was a "prieezhij", which means someone who moved to the city recently from the sticks. I said that I was even more than that, I was a foreigner, and definitely not "myasNOJ". What I should have said was "MESTnyj", i.e. not "local". As it was, I said was "I am not meaty". |
03-24-2013, 10:55 AM | #17 |
GURPS FAQ Keeper
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Kyïv, Ukraine
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Re: Subtle / obscure signs for identifying native CF
The inability to pronounce the letter/sound Ы is a pretty nasty shibboleth on its own, yes. (That is, it would likely be noticeable even after sorting out the 'familiar-sound' errors.)
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03-24-2013, 11:02 AM | #18 |
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Augsburg, Germany
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Re: Subtle / obscure signs for identifying native CF
I don't have any problem with Ы, but I do sometimes pronounce the "Z" in Zugspitze in the American way, much to my shame.
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03-24-2013, 11:34 AM | #19 |
GURPS FAQ Keeper
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Kyïv, Ukraine
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Re: Subtle / obscure signs for identifying native CF
Good for you. Many people have troubles with it.
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03-24-2013, 11:48 AM | #20 |
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Augsburg, Germany
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Re: Subtle / obscure signs for identifying native CF
The Ukrainian "г", on the other hand, is a real killer for me. I think I mentioned that here before.
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Tags |
cultural familiarity, roleplaying |
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