piratecommander
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quote:
ORIGINAL: submaleinzona
quote:
ORIGINAL: piratecommander
quote:
ORIGINAL: marie2
I have no idea where non-Americans get their ideas from with regards to what Americans are like. But I have noticed that a lot of non-Americans on the boards have formed some seriously innacurate conclusions. Besides, I really don't think any generalizations can be made anyway, as it really is a melting pot of different cultures and various attitudes. Even from state to state, the "cultures", beliefs and behaviors vary greatly.
Care to give a non - American ... (not even a United States Of America [n]) (what is the term for that actually, at the "homeland" security booth they were calling me an "alien", I know I have my peculiarities, but come on "guys")
... some examples of said "seriously inaccurate conclusions"
Oh, and isn't using the phrase "a lot of non-Americans" one of the generalisations you don't think can be made?
(these are questions, not a conclusions)
I can speak several languages, so maybe I can help a bit with the translation,I am currently refining my fluency in United States English,I am getting favourable results too,if you use the term "U.S." or U.S.A. then people from Iberia in particular may be less confused as to which American country you refer at any given time.
Pirate
"Alien" is a perfectly legitimate term, although perceptions of the term may have changed in recent decades with all the movies and stories about UFOs and aliens from outer space. But I didn't think that the U.S. was the only country to use that term. I thought other countries used it as well.
In Canada or Europe, I would be considered an "alien" or an outsider, foreigner, Yank - I'm sure they have all kinds of choice terms to call us. When I toured some countries in Europe in 1987, people would say things to me about U.S. policy as if I was somehow in a position to make policy. I couldn't explain Ronald Reagan to them; I didn't vote for the man, and I didn't care for him too much myself. I never could understand that. I can understand if they didn't like the U.S. government, but why take it out on ordinary people who aren't doing anything wrong and just trying to enjoy their vacation?
I ran into an elderly British couple when I was at the historic site for the Battle of New Orleans, and this man was pretty funny actually. He said, "Well, it looks like we Brits should have stayed home that day."
In my own experience, in dealing with newcomers to America in real life, as well as in online conversations with people in other countries, I find that there are some misconceptions and a certain lack of knowledge regarding America, especially from those who came from countries with a controlled media or if they only know America from TV shows and movies. One thing that seems to throw a lot of people off is that they think of "America" as a singular, monolithic entity, but it really isn't, nor was it ever that way.
I used to tutor English as a second language and have worked with many newcomers to this country, and I sense that a lot of them seem slightly disappointed, as if they were expecting America to be different, like they thought the country would be one giant "Disneyland." One example that I've heard frequently is that newcomers really can't stand "official" America, as in bureaucrats, customs officials, clerks at U.S. embassies, and so forth. They learn something that most Americans have known all their lives: Our government is riddled with incompetent jerks and a-holes. So, when they say things like this to me, I'll give them a wry, sardonic smile and say, "Oh, you noticed that, huh?"
There's also this strange perception that Americans on the coastlines are somehow more sophisticated, enlightened, and progressive than those in the interior areas of America. Some people also get into this "red state/blue state" business which seems to get uglier and more divisive. But I just don't understand that myself, because, wherever I go in America, I feel at home. Usually, most people are friendly wherever I go in America, whether in rural or urban areas.
Another misconception which I've noticed a lot is in terms of the lack of knowledge regarding the differences between Federal, State, and local governments and laws. There seems to be some confusion about that. That's no minor thing, either, since one needs to understand that in order to truly understand a large part of our history, which is necessary to understand just who and what we are as a nation.
As for those in Iberia, I think they would be inclined to use "norteamericano," as it's used in Mexico and Central America, as far as I know. Of course, Canadians are also inhabitants of North America, so I'm not sure how they distinguish that.
That's great, thankyou for stepping up with at least a few real examples, I was begining to worry (needs Diazepam apparently, according to one contributor) that no one would. Most of the examples I can follow and your effort in identifying political and historical lack of awareness has to be admired.
I was attempting to add a little humour by my use of the word "alien" and the opportunity to explain this sort of humour is reinforced by your example of the bloke at the battle site.
Thankyou for being one of the people that understands that there are linguistic barriers.
I would not turn down the opportunity to visit the U.S. ever, indeed I would look forward to it, except if offered the "all expenses paid family holiday of a lifetime in Orlando and Disney with obligatory itinerary" that gets given away as a "prize" in UK newspapers and profitmaking TV phone quizzes, I would turn it down just as much now as I would always have done. I think it is bad that the U.S. is represented in the media (including the U.S. media broadcast elsewhere) as slantedly as is, but then, that's why I don't need a TV licence, I saw sense and stopped watching.
Pirate
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