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‘language’ Category

  1. Humor

    December 11, 2011 by elenamary

    I try to tell people interested in interpreting, that knowing a language isn’t achieved by knowing a vocabulary.  Knowing a language is cultural, it is becoming the language, being part of the ethos, it  is a change in personality and perspective.
    Humor is a great identifier of ones culture.  I always realize how I am not so american when I watch American comedies and how I am even less Mexican than I like to think I am when I watch Mexican comedies.

    I suck at pop culture. Both Mexican and American. I’ve never seen Star Wars, Pulp Fiction, American Idol and rarely get the references made in American comedies like The Simpsons.  When I watch or listen to Mexican comedies it is even worse.  El Chavo del Ocho doesn’t make me laugh.  I can’t stand La Familia Peluche and have never once laughed during it.  At least with American comedies I sometimes laugh.  However, in both situations I feel a disconnect especially with people around me who look like the are about to lose bladder control from the laughter.  I’ve been watching a lot of Mexican stand-up comedy and joke telling as of late. I feel overwhelmed by a sense of disconnect and sadness.  I am not really Mexican. I don’t laugh at all and it makes me feel like a failure as a Mexican.  I understand what is supposed to be funny but I don’t find it funny.  I attempt to analyze what it is I am missing.

    On the rare occasions I do find a Mexican comedy funny, moments after my laughing as ceased, I realize that my laughter happened naturally and I feel a sense of belonging.   Below is a clip from a vulgar, Mexican comedy show.  I laughed and enjoyed it and was pleased with my enjoyment.  Additionally, here is a link to a blog post by a British friend of mine.  She writes about Americans (and my) inability to comprehend dry wit or sarcasm…although I like to think I prefer dry humor to slapstick.

    A funny political aside: my mother who has lived in the the United State for 30+ years now, was flipping through the channels and stopped at a speech being given by Rick Perry.  She listened attentively and then looked at me for a cue and asked “Is he real? Or is this The SNL?”   She wasn’t sure if she was supposed to be laughing.

    Category language, Latinos, Ohio, personal | Tags: , | 1 Comment

  2. Kazakhstan week 2.5

    August 22, 2011 by elenamary

    Last night, I finally lost all patience and left my travel partner in the village of Taraz (read about that below).   I am kinda proud of my escape.  I got a cab to the train station where I shared no common language with anyone. Nonetheless, I was able to conclude that there were no tickets left on the midnight train for the city of Almaty (a large European style city in eastern Kazakhstan near the Chinese border–I’m trying to get back to China).  Unsure what to do, I noticed a man going through the crowds whispering “Almaty, Almaty, Almaty”— a scalper!?!?!  He was in fact a ticket scalper! I was elated!  Through amazing, and I am sure hilarious, hand gestures we managed to communicate that I would give him money and he would bribe the police on the train to let me stand the 9 hour train ride to Almaty.  I was excited.  Ten minutes before the train was to arrive I was hustled to the far end of the train station where a middle aged woman was standing.  As soon as the train pulled up were rushed on, and put in a small conductor’s room that had two beds and a small window.  This was an amazing score!  I was going to be able to sleep through the night on a clean bed!  A man came in the room and asked me for about $35 which is slightly more expensive than what a train room like this would go for, but again, this included the payment of the scalper that I had just gotten to bribe a police officer, who I think may have bribed a conductor of the train.  Either way I was set!  I had a good nights sleep and arrived this morning in the city of Almaty.

    There are two train stations in the city of Almaty and I wasn’t sure which one to get off at but decided I would get off wherever more people got off, figuring that would mean I was closer to downtown and hopefully closer to the US consulate.  I left my luggage in the luggage storage at the train station, bought a Russian-English dictionary from the kiosk and went outside and started to walk until I saw a group of police officers.  Using the dictionary, I got them to help me find the embassy.  They hailed a cab for me, negotiated the price with the cab driver, and I was off.  I arrived at the US consulate at 10am.  The consulate, refused to see me until 3pm (they were absurdly unhelpful  and stupid but that is for another post).  I am hoping to get in there at 3pm and register that I am in the country and get more sheets for my passport, as I have run out of pages.  Anyway, I’ve hustled my way out of rural Kazakhstan and into the big city.  Hopefully, I’ll get a bus tonight that will take me to the Chinese border city of Urumqi.   From there I hope to catch a plane to Hainan.

    I may sound like I am complaining a lot…because I am; I am exhausted, dirty, angry and ready for a good rest.  However, I really have enjoyed Kazakhstan.  The people have been hospitable like no other country I have ever visited.

    (more…)

    Category Kazakhstan, language, personal | Tags: | 4 Comments

  3. welcome to China

    February 1, 2011 by elenamary

    I just updated my “About” page to read: “This Xicana quit her job, dropped out of school and moved to a tropical Chinese island…here comes the awesomeness (and fail).”

    Fo’ real son.  I didn’t make the move completely alone.  I am here with my Uncle Octavio (a year my senior) and my brother Patrick (two years my junior).  My brother has been in school here for almost two years now and is pretty fluent at this whole Mandarin Chinese thing.  For my uncle Octavio, this is the first time he has ever traveled, gotten on a plane etc.

    Goal is learn some Chinese, do the Ironman China at the end of May, make new friends, and have lots of fun.   So here goes.

    Category language, personal | Tags: | 2 Comments

  4. language brain

    December 13, 2010 by elenamary

    Understand, my German even at its best, was conversational.

    I am in China.  I do not speak Chinese more than a limited few phrases with a vocabulary of maybe 10-15 words.  The last two nights though my dreams have been in German.  I wonder what my brain is doing at night. What is my brain accessing or storing? What is going on.  I find this all very strange.  I haven’t been to Germany in years and haven’t studied it in almost ten years.   This is all very odd. Anyone wanna take a stab at what my brain my be doing or trying to do?

    Category language, personal | Tags: | 1 Comment

  5. Medical Interpreters

    March 3, 2010 by elenamary

    A lot of people dislike using interpreters whether they be doctors, social workers or school administrators. Arguments like “the interpreter slows the process down” or “we understand each other enough” are not good reasons to avoid the use of interpreters, and it violates Civil Rights Act of 1964. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 requires the provision of “language access accommodations”

    From a New York Times article Doctor and Patient – When the Patient Gets Lost in Translation: “…While the doctors acknowledged that they were underutilizing professional interpreters, many made the decision not to call an interpreter consciously, weighing the perceived value of patient information against their own time constraints. Moreover, despite their personal misgivings,
    the doctors often felt that this kind of shortcut was acceptable and well within the norms of their professional environment.”

    Good interpreters don’t slow the process down.  Good interpreters can provide simultaneous interpretation and cultural understanding.  What might slow down the process down is that now, there is more medical history and better patient-provider interaction.

    Here are some tips for best utilizing interpreters.

    *Speak directly to the patient.
    Instead of saying “please ask the patient if she hurts anywhere” say directly to the patient “does it hurt you anywhere?”

    *Make eye contact with your patient, not the interpreter.

    *Do not say anything in front of the patient that you would not want them to hear.
    A good interpreter, interprets EVERYTHING that is said.  Your non-English speaking patient has the right to know everything that is being said in the room, the same way your English speaking patients would.

    *There are two main styles of interpretation, Simultaneous and Consecutive.  Simultaneous the itnerpreter speaks at the same time as the provider, and is only 3-4 words behind them in interpretation.  In consecutive interpretation, the interpreter, interprets after ever 3-4 sentences.  Try both styles see which one works best for you, and it may vary from patient to patient.

    *If you think something wasn’t interpreted, clairfy that it was.  Again though, a good interpreter should interpret everything.

    *If possible, ask the interpreter if there is a cultural component that they may have noted, that you should be aware of.

    Interpreting code of ethics requires that interpreters not give opinions but they do
    need to make providers aware of cultural differences or misunderstandings.  For example from the interpreting code of ethics:

    “The interpreter alerts all parties to any significant cultural misunderstanding that arises.  For example, if a provider asks a patient who is fasting for religious reasons to take an oral medication, an interpreter may call attention to the potential conflict.”

    Category language | Tags: | No Comments

  6. Miles Curtiss for University Area Commissioner

    June 5, 2009 by elenamary

    My very good friend, Miles Curtiss is running for University Area Commissioner.  Those living between High street to the train tracks, and from 5thAve to 16thAve, can vote for Miles Curtiss.  All you have to do is show up, this Saturday, with either your Buck-ID, or other photo ID, or mail at one of the voting locations (listed below).

    Elenamary & Miles

    Voting Locations:

    Metropolitan Library, Northside Branch
    1423 N. High Street, Columbus

    Jack & Benny’s Restaurant
    2563 N High St @ Hudson & High

    Northwood Building, Election Headquarters
    2231 N. High Street

    The Godman Guild
    303 E. Sixth Street

    I’m Miles Curtiss, a native of the Columbus, a musician, community
    organizer, and third generation chronic do-gooder.  I work with
    FreeGeek Columbus,  The University Area Enrichment Association, The
    Ohio Community Computing Network, and Columbus IndyMedia, mostly
    helping under resourced  people and communities get access to, and
    training for, computers, self publishing, and e-waste recycling.  I’m
    also very active with Yay Bikes, The Third Hand Bike Co-Op, Arawak
    City Gardens and other groups centered around transportation and
    fighting poverty.   In the past, I’ve been involved with the Columbus
    League Of Young Voters, and the BLD artist co-operative.  I’ve been
    drawn to the university area for it’s energy, it’s creative capital,
    and it’s easy maneuverability.  It is a place where tens of thousands
    come every year to become independent.  After finishing my own
    university experience, this is the place I immediately came to.  This
    neighborhood has always glowed with a “make your own future” ethic
    that has informed me ever since I was old enough to walk from downtown
    to the campus area record stores.

    Category art, language, Ohio, personal, Politics, race, sexuality, womyn | Tags: | No Comments

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