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“Thank You” in Hindi and English Mean Very Different Things

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Re: “Thank You” in Hindi and English Mean Very Different Things

#81

Post by dudul »

jpatokal wrote: post #71
dudul wrote: post #25

“Thank you for coming to my home” actually meant, “It’s time for you to get out of my house.” Seriously? Find new friends. When I thank people after hosting an event I do mean to thank them for choosing to spend their time with me. I feel like this post is blently dishonest and caricaturing just to tell a nice story.

I think you're reading a bit too much into that. If you're at a social event, when do you hear "Thank you so much for coming" from the host? Usually when you're leaving, or as the writer says, when it's time for you to leave.

But usually the host won't say that until the guests have made it clear that they are on their way out.

- "Honey, we should probably go" - "Well, thank you both for coming"

I have never attended a social event where the host would say "thank you for coming, see you soon" out of the blue.

Re: “Thank You” in Hindi and English Mean Very Different Things

#82

Post by geon »

littletimmy wrote: post #49

As a non-American, this was one of the biggest culture shocks I faced. On the surface, relationships in the US seem very transactional (not making the judgment that they are really transactional). For example, in the US a son would thank his parents for paying his college tuition. In my culture, this would be insulting because it would suggest being distant from family, in the sense that the son ought to believe his…

> I have a feeling that the non-American system is better because it fosters closer family ties

There is just no coorelation. The american "thank you" is simply not translatable to idiomatic hindi.

An american is not diluting the importance of gratitude by saying thanks to the bus driver.

Just as an indian is not an ungrateful bastard for not saying thanks to his parents.

Re: “Thank You” in Hindi and English Mean Very Different Things

#83

Post by icebraining »

chrisBob wrote: post #78

In the military you will often hear "Don't thank me. The government thanks me twice a month." So there are parts of american culture where these pleasantries are less common.

Twice a month? I assume that's the paycheck, but seems like a weird schedule.

Re: “Thank You” in Hindi and English Mean Very Different Things

#84

Post by notNow »

Just to add something, in our culture Egyptian that is, we mostly behave and act like Americans when it comes to these forms of courtesy.

We expect people to exchange (Shukran: Thanks), (Afwan: Welcome), (Lao samahet: please) and so on and so forth in these situations and the lack of them in certain contexts could be interpreted by some folks in certain cases as rudeness and hostility shown toward them.

However, we don't take it to the extreme like Americans would usually do and just insert these courteous words in every sentence or interaction as it might be interpreted as a form of snobbery (distancing yourself from people around you) or fake politeness which is not very tasteful.

Anyway, I just got used to the American way when I'm around Americans and honestly if it were to me, I would take excessive courtesy over the lack thereof or plain rudeness any given day but that's just me.

Re: “Thank You” in Hindi and English Mean Very Different Things

#85

Post by [deleted] »

danieltillett wrote: post #30
hliyan wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've heard Australians say "no worries" (often with a trailing "mate") a lot. I always thought it originated there.

As an Australian I can say that "no worries" is very common here (ocker). It has a bit of an ambiguous meaning as it implies that the person saying thank you didn't really need to, but at the same time it is a means of acknowledging that you recognise and appreciate the thank you.

[deleted]

Re: “Thank You” in Hindi and English Mean Very Different Things

#86

Post by marktangotango »

littletimmy wrote: post #49

As a non-American, this was one of the biggest culture shocks I faced. On the surface, relationships in the US seem very transactional (not making the judgment that they are really transactional). For example, in the US a son would thank his parents for paying his college tuition. In my culture, this would be insulting because it would suggest being distant from family, in the sense that the son ought to believe his…

>> In my culture, this would be insulting because it would suggest being distant from family, in the sense that the son ought to believe his parents wealth is his also, and later willingly contribute his earnings when his parents need anything. It is a difference in the degree to which individualism is the norm.

This is very interesting, and brings to mind something I've been struggling with recently (I'm USA-ian by the way). As a father I want to instill in my children a sense of self reliance, a sense that they can go into the world and make their own way, and be successful, without my help. In my world view, that is the best gift I can give them.

I personally come from a background of rural poverty, my parents weren't able to help me at all financially, but growing up working shoulder to shoulder with my father on the (meager) family farm taught me the value of hard work and thrift. Which I think have served me well (I am clearly biased).

So, from that angle, I don't want my children to see my wealth as their wealth, or my success as their success. I would like them to view my success as the result of hard work and perseverance, and an example of what they can achieve, indeed, they can achieve more.

I post this merely as an example of my thought process, which is evolving. I can see how there is value in what you relate here. So thanks to you in a non-distancing sense :)

Re: “Thank You” in Hindi and English Mean Very Different Things

#87

Post by chrisBob »

icebraining wrote: post #83
chrisBob wrote: post #78

In the military you will often hear "Don't thank me. The government thanks me twice a month." So there are parts of american culture where these pleasantries are less common.

Twice a month? I assume that's the paycheck, but seems like a weird schedule.

I think the standard was to be paid on the 1st and the 15th, but you could opt for one monthly pay check if you had trouble saving for rent with the twice a month schedule.

I never really thought about it. Are weekly or monthly that much more common?

Re: “Thank You” in Hindi and English Mean Very Different Things

#88

Post by dagw »

chrisBob wrote: post #87
icebraining wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Twice a month? I assume that's the paycheck, but seems like a weird schedule.

I think the standard was to be paid on the 1st and the 15th, but you could opt for one monthly pay check if you had trouble saving for rent with the twice a month schedule. I never really thought about it. Are weekly or monthly that much more common?

Certainly in Norway and Sweden I've never even heard of anybody being paid on any other schedule than once a month (normally on the 25th). Until right now it never really crossed my mind that people with 'regular' jobs would get paid any other way.

Re: “Thank You” in Hindi and English Mean Very Different Things

#89

Post by gutnor »

littletimmy wrote: post #49

As a non-American, this was one of the biggest culture shocks I faced. On the surface, relationships in the US seem very transactional (not making the judgment that they are really transactional). For example, in the US a son would thank his parents for paying his college tuition. In my culture, this would be insulting because it would suggest being distant from family, in the sense that the son ought to believe his…

You missed the bit:

> That day, I made the mistake of telling him, in English, “Thank you for inviting me” before leaving his house, realizing the import of my words only after they had left my mouth. He didn’t respond, but I saw his expression turn sour. He was filled with disgust. I couldn’t even apologize for thanking him. The damage was done.

So of course, implicit debt and duty is great because of the closer ties. On the other hand, you run into the risk of hurting people and breaking those ties quite easily by simply talking about it.

That's not a scenario that would happen by mistake in ordinary condition, only when foreign influence is put into the mix. In a multi-cultural context, the American way seems a bit more robust to mistake.

Re: “Thank You” in Hindi and English Mean Very Different Things

#90

Post by icebraining »

chrisBob wrote: post #87
icebraining wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Twice a month? I assume that's the paycheck, but seems like a weird schedule.

I think the standard was to be paid on the 1st and the 15th, but you could opt for one monthly pay check if you had trouble saving for rent with the twice a month schedule. I never really thought about it. Are weekly or monthly that much more common?

I'm not from the US, and I've never heard of anyone paid biweekly, that's why I found it weird.

According to the US Bureau of Labour Statistics, it's actually the most common schedule over there: http://www.bls.gov/opub/btn/volume-3/how-frequently-do-priva...

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