Can you think of a time when you discovered the emic meaning of something? by Erika Kuever

2024-09-10 08:51:32 UTC

Having to say the pledge of allegiance in the US

Fire

2024-09-10 08:52:17 UTC

Danes denote the word for fire in regards to whether said thing should be on fire or not: "Ild" and "Brand" and sometimes "Ildebrand" (Which is a bad fire just fyi)

Not apologising in American grocery stores when you pass people makes them think you're being rude.

Calling your teacher/lecturer by their name is not considered rude in Denmark

2024-09-10 08:52:18 UTC

Turkey

2024-09-10 08:52:19 UTC

How drinking tea is important to welcoming guests and socializing

Emic perspective

2024-09-10 08:52:57 UTC

Listening / singing the American national anthem before every sporting event

2024-09-10 08:53:02 UTC

When I learned more of the history of bowing in South Korean culture, and gained a better understanding of why to bow and began bowing myself as a sign of respect

Language

2024-09-10 08:53:10 UTC

Learning that "pica pica" wasn't children running around saying sounds like Pikachu , but that the words actually means "itchy itchy"

Germany

2024-09-10 08:53:32 UTC

Avoiding eye contact in public transport

Language

2024-09-10 08:53:34 UTC

Making a "tsk" sound as "no" in persian

Emic Perspective

2024-09-10 08:54:05 UTC

Saying "Kurwa" is actually bad, and when I asked my mom what it meant she told me not to say that word again, even though the rest of the world only knows that one singular polish word!

Drinking culture

2024-09-10 08:54:09 UTC

I remember when I participated in the Danish drinking culture for the first time. I thought that actually being intoxicated was necessary for being a part of the culture, and not being so would lead to exclusion. In truth, I found out that just holding a beer was enough to not be excluded; even though I didnt drink at that time

Small skirts in England

2024-09-10 08:54:15 UTC

When I thought just one women was wearing a very small skirt and found it a bit weird until I saw that almost every girls were wearing the same kinds at a festival

Emic perspective

2024-09-10 08:54:16 UTC

When I came to Denmark, I struggled with many of the danish customs such as humor, language and social skills at first. After spending a few years here and getting to know danish people more, I also adapted the same type of humor, language and social skills as danes (to an extent)

Eye contact when drinking

2024-09-10 08:54:18 UTC

Not holding eye contact while ''cheering'' with liquor, which is considered rude where I'm from

Standing up for teachers in Slovakia

2024-09-10 08:54:22 UTC

In Slovakia, when a teacher walks into the classroom, all students stand up to sort of honor and greet them, instead of saying anything

Emic perspective

2024-09-10 08:54:31 UTC

How religion in Asia has a lot of power (e.g. monks getting praised and given gifts)

2024-09-10 08:54:36 UTC

"Social support" means that people are willing to help each other and always kind in Denmark.

Italian early adulthood

2024-09-10 08:54:41 UTC

During exchange-studies, I discovered that it is more common for young adults in Italy to live at home throughout their 20s and sometimes into their 30s

Learning eskimos kiss with noses because of the cold

2024-09-10 08:54:46 UTC

2024-09-10 08:54:47 UTC

The fact that in Asian countries, openly talking about weight is normal and it is normal to tell someone to lose or gain it. In western countries that would be very rude.

Walking the Camino

2024-09-10 08:54:56 UTC

Greeting everyone I meet on the Camino with 'Buen Camino' as a Dane not used to talking with strangers.

Spanish in Ecuador

2024-09-10 08:55:11 UTC

If people sneeze you say salud, which means bless you, but is they keep sneezing, you bless their family, and then their home an so on

Canadians

2024-09-10 08:55:17 UTC

Not accompaning a girl somewhere at night is not considered impolite.

2024-09-10 08:55:19 UTC

In Japan, you're not supposed to stick your chopsticks into your rice bowl which I knew was rude and thought of it as simple dinning etiquette. However, I later learned that it is done during funerals, hence seen as inappropriate in other context.

I don’t know if this counts…

2024-09-10 08:55:40 UTC

But seeing something in a photo is not the same as being there.

For example, as someone who’s been there, the gates to Auschwitz are nowhere near as intimidating in person. However the empty rooms inside the camp, especially ones that aren’t totally made into an exhibit, give off an entirely different feeling once you learn what precisely was happening there.

Turning right on red in America

2024-09-10 08:56:06 UTC

Just the fact this is allowed.

In Greek

2024-09-10 08:56:19 UTC

When I found out that "Malaka" in Greece has many "not flattering" meanings (as "man who masturbates", and this friend of mine explained to me that is also used for "brother".

Israel

2024-09-10 08:56:50 UTC

In Jerusalem a lot of people walked around with automatic guns everywher. Even though I knew there was a war going on it didn´t really hit how it was important to be ready for fighting at every moment until i was there for a week and experienced stuff like seeing a bomb beeing dismatled, molotov cocktails being thrown at the police station and a missile being fired towards the city i was in. I quickly understood the need to be ready...

Good morning

2024-09-10 08:57:00 UTC

In Poland you say „good morning” every time you enter public space even if people there are strangers to you.

Canada

2024-09-10 09:15:11 UTC

Guys support polygamy there.