[Mageia-discuss] Cultural difference: indirect request <---> direct request

[Goh Lip]

On 07/15/2012 10:41 AM, Wolfgang Bornath wrote:
> 2012/7/15 Goh Lip<lipg at gmx.com>:
>>
>> Clever preacher. I too was wondering why when diplomats (who speak good
>> English) talk to other diplomats from English-speaking countries, they need
>> to speak in their native language and use interpreters; I used to think they
>> wanted the extra time (while interpreters do their jobs) to carefully 'word
>> out' their responses or/and speak their native language just to demonstrate
>> their nations' sovereignty; neither of these reasons seems justifiable.
>>
>
> A professional interpreter I know who often works in this field of
> high level political talks (for the German government) explained it to
> me: it is for both reasons, first giving the politcian the security of
> having a professional translation (in case he overheard something),
> second to have time to contemplate what the other one is really saying
> between the lines and finding the right answer. But he also told me
> that the important conversations are often held in private, without
> any secretary or interpreter. :)
>

Good information, now I have better understanding.

Cheers - Goh Lip

-- 
Wisdom is not communicable. The wisdom which a wise man tries to 
communicate always sounds foolish... Knowledge can be communicated, but 
not wisdom.
                       ~ Hermann Hesse