Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Week 4 - Spoken Discourse
"The stages of the Noble Path are: Right View, Right Thought, Right Speech, Right Behaviour, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness and Right Concentration." - Buddha
The right speech. What defines the right speech?
Hm (...)
Speech is right when the message intended for the listener is brought across in the most appropriate and clear manner. Such messages can sometimes be explicit (I've got to hang up now.) or implicit (Well, that's just life.). Indeed, thats's just life - speech is abound everywhere and all of us are subconciously programmed to say certain things during certain occasions or situations. Where did that come from?
AH::!
CULTURE!
I lived in the US for one and a half years about 12 years ago and I attended the local elementary school (primary school) during that time. When I started having lessons there, I immediately fell in love with the culture. The teachers would address us, students, as "sweetheart", "honey", etc. etc. Here in Singapore, or in Malaysia (before I went to the US), students are generally addressed by our names or even (Ms./Mr -insert surname-) when the teacher is trying to be sarcastic. (Perhaps not an attempt, but a genuine intention)
Oh dui (...) / (eh) exactly
So what accounts for the difference?
hm (...)
In Asia, schools meant for students to learn and en route, we are taught moral values deemed to be essential in becoming a well-cultured person. Education centers on structure, conformity, and frameworks. Respect, righteousness, integrity, sense of shame, loyalty, filial piety, humanity, and love. （礼仪廉耻，忠孝仁爱）There is a system for almost everything. Greeting the teacher when lesson starts and again when it ends and this must be done standing upright and followed by bowing. When elsewhere in school and a teacher walks by (regardless of whether you know the teacher or not), you will have to greet him/her.
In the West, schools are meant for fun-filled learning with emphasis placed on creativity, innovation, and flexibility. Individualized progress is encouraged and
academic achievement is not the pure priority. With such an ideal in mind, teachers aim to develop each student to the best of their abilities, whether academic or not. Test results here are not so stressed upon as compared to in the East.
The right speech. What defines the right speech?
Hm (...)
Speech is right when the message intended for the listener is brought across in the most appropriate and clear manner. Such messages can sometimes be explicit (I've got to hang up now.) or implicit (Well, that's just life.). Indeed, thats's just life - speech is abound everywhere and all of us are subconciously programmed to say certain things during certain occasions or situations. Where did that come from?
AH::!
CULTURE!
I lived in the US for one and a half years about 12 years ago and I attended the local elementary school (primary school) during that time. When I started having lessons there, I immediately fell in love with the culture. The teachers would address us, students, as "sweetheart", "honey", etc. etc. Here in Singapore, or in Malaysia (before I went to the US), students are generally addressed by our names or even (Ms./Mr -insert surname-) when the teacher is trying to be sarcastic. (Perhaps not an attempt, but a genuine intention)
Oh dui (...) / (eh) exactly
So what accounts for the difference?
hm (...)
In Asia, schools meant for students to learn and en route, we are taught moral values deemed to be essential in becoming a well-cultured person. Education centers on structure, conformity, and frameworks. Respect, righteousness, integrity, sense of shame, loyalty, filial piety, humanity, and love. （礼仪廉耻，忠孝仁爱）There is a system for almost everything. Greeting the teacher when lesson starts and again when it ends and this must be done standing upright and followed by bowing. When elsewhere in school and a teacher walks by (regardless of whether you know the teacher or not), you will have to greet him/her.
In the West, schools are meant for fun-filled learning with emphasis placed on creativity, innovation, and flexibility. Individualized progress is encouraged and
academic achievement is not the pure priority. With such an ideal in mind, teachers aim to develop each student to the best of their abilities, whether academic or not. Test results here are not so stressed upon as compared to in the East.
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on my GEK1036 Cross Cultural Communications and Discourse