Do I speak South Indian?
Venkat sent out a link about more examples of the dumb insular American being more than a mere stereotype. With the Hindi version of "Are you smarter than a fifth-grader" around the corner, we can (and we will!) show the amreekans that we can be as good (or bad) as them. Partly because, the popularity of the show will depend on showing that people aren't as smart as a fifth-standard kid (I've noticed many people say "grade" for "standard". Sigh.)Well, if the only proof of incompetence needed is that of geographical ignorance, then I would like to send in a candidate of my own. This, a well-educated person, who has spent all his life within India, asked me: "So, you must speak South Indian, right?"
I almost gagged there, not out of horror or something, but since there were so many alternative answers to give there, L'esprit_de_l'escalier prevailed. But the sad thought that the education system seems to have utterly failed this chap did cross by. Now, putting on the self-critical hat, I'll readily admit there are several Indian languages I wouldn't be able to identify. But just as I wouldn't ask anyone if they spoke Maharashtrian or Pakistani or Madhya Pradeshi, all I ask is to be extended the same courtesy.
6 comments:
I've met a bunch of people who thought that the language of Pu.La. was called "Maharashtrian". I've met people who thought it was called this by the people of Maharashtra. I met an Indian just yesterday who thought "Malayalam" was a made up word. I've met people who thought all kinds of things about Goa, such as: it is an island, it is a city, it is a part of Mumbai. All these people are literate, numerate and speak at least two languages (by which I mean they spoke English).
Any conclusion based on anecdotal evidence that we as a people are superior to Americans in terms of geographical knowledge is either a case of confirmation bias or of ignorance.
I think the real danger is of making sweeping generalisations encouraged by TV shows like this one; shows run for ratings and profit (clearly so in the USA); the sheer volume of television programming dedicated to sports, especially American sports, boggles the mind. Then you have reality shows that are dedicated to toned-down versions of ways to get some action.
To revisit a cliché, imagine what kind of marketing package all this would provide to an alien civilisation monitoring our media output :)
I have seen worse stereotypes here in city of Pune. Some of them because of plain ignorance, while others because of a sort of superiority complex.
Ok, the point of this whole thing (as I see it) is that people everywhere are likely to be ignorant of other places/languages/people. You are going to see this wherever you go. This is a feature, not a bug. Some people take the pains to learn about other cultures/regions/languages, whether within their country or without. Some people don't, and find other ways to be productive. Thats just the way it is. Using anecdotes like these to tout the superiority/inferiority of certain nationalities/groups/places w.r.t. others is just plain stupid. This is what I am (and I assume JR is) trying to say.
I've met people in US who say that I speak "American" very well while they can not even say 'Namaste' properly in "Indian" language. :)
my language is called kashimiri or cashmeeri...guess I am lucky! :P
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