Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Context within Cultural Dissonance

by Victoria Hanson
Marrakech Kebab, a new unique Cagli gem, offers nontraditional Italian food.

Usually kebabs consist of lettuce, tomato, onion and a variety of sauces towering over tiny spectacles of lamb, with falafel being a vegetarian option.

I ordered the falafel after pointing with my left index finger and using descriptive language for the addition of fresh vegetables and juicy sauces. Finding similarities between the Italian name, the Spanish name and even the English name proved successful.

Once seated, Claudio, the store owner, approached the table welcoming feedback. Asking if I was a vegetarian I explained I prefer white meat. He grasped what was being said and began clarifying that the meat used is not lamb.

Cluck, cluck, bak, bak and flaps of wavering arms were paired with verbal communication of small, large, holiday and feast. Knowing un po Italian and Claudio having little English knowledge, the verbal mismatch of cultural dissonance was highly evident.

Instead of focusing on animals themselves, Claudio emphasized noises the animal made and where the animal is found. Claudio also used the concept of Thanksgiving to create a larger context.

Slowly putting the pieces together I interpreted that the meat served is not lamb, but turkey.

When entering a new culture and experiencing a new language, being open to looking at the larger context proves beneficial. Zoning in on one path, such as the name of an animal, limits the window of recognition, reducing the possibility for successful communication.

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