A Chinese woman with a good command of English, married to an Englishman for many years, said to the author, 'The English like to insult their friends.' She was really saying they sometimes pull each other's legs unmercifully. When the author asked for an example she said, 'When they meet they say "Hello you cheeky devil."' She could have added they have to be really good friends to do that without bad feeling creeping in. The Chinese lady also admitted, however, that her 'old man' and his friends sometimes told jokes that she could not grasp properly.
The above brought recollections to the author, of British soldiers during World War Two addressing friends. Rather than use the word 'devil,' they would say, 'affectionally,' 'You cheeky bastard.' Although crude, it was by no means uncommon and intended, and taken by many, believe it or not, as good, clean fun.' This is an extreme case among a small section of society, one must admit, but more than one Englishman has run into trouble because a Chinese friend, with a different cultural background, has taken what was intended merely as a mild leg-pull as an insult. Europeans have to be careful that the flippant remark is not taken seriously. A Chinese once said to a European, 'How did you know I was a teacher?' As quick as a flash came the reply: 'You can smell them!'
English humour includes, as related in this paper, wit, sarcasm, understatements and criticism. Self-mockery plays a part too, with Westerners calling themselves gwailo (ghost or devil person, in loose Chinese terminology) and laughing at themselves to get out of awkward situations. As a Hong Kong Cantonese, with a Master's degree in sociology from a university in Britain, said to the author, the Chinese tend not to laugh at themselves because of fear of losing face. If they learnt to laugh at themselves it would make life easier for them, he maintained. In a similar way, the friend continued, if Chinese have complaints or there is something wrong with them they do not relish telling others because it can portray weakness.
There is the tale of a Chinese who lost face by not being invited to a party. As a result, he recounted: If I had been invited I would not have gone; and even if I had gone I would not have eaten; and even if I had eaten I would not have eaten much; and even if I had eaten a bit more than intended, well never mind!
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A Chinese woman with a good command of English, married to an Englishman for many years, said to the author, 'The English like to insult their friends.' She was really saying they sometimes pull each other's legs unmercifully. When the author asked for an example she said, 'When they meet they say "Hello you cheeky devil.” She could have added they have to be really good friends to do that without bad feeling creeping in. The Chinese lady also admitted, however, that her 'old man' and his friends sometimes told jokes that she could not grasp properly.
The above brought recollections to the author, of British soldiers during World War Two addressing friends. Rather than use the word 'devil,' they would say, 'affectionally,' 'You cheeky bastard.' Although crude, it was by no means uncommon and intended, and taken by many, believe it or not, as good, clean fun.' This is an extreme case among a small section of society, one must admit, but more than one English- man has run into trouble because a Chinese friend, with a different cultural background, has taken what was intended merely as a mild leg-pull as an insult. Europeans have to be careful that the flippant remark is not taken seriously. A Chinese once said to a European, 'How did you know I was a teacher?' As quick as a flash came the reply: 'You can small them!'
English humour includes, as related in this paper, wit, sarcasm, understatements and criticism. Self-mockery plays a part too, with Westerners calling themselves gwailo (ghost or devil person, in loose Chinese terminology) and laughing at themselves to get out of awk- ward situations. As a Hong Kong Cantonese, with a Masters degree in sociology from a university in Britain, said to the author, the Chinese tend not to laugh at themselves because of fear of losing face. If they learnt to laugh at themselves it would make life easier for them, he maintained. In a similar way, the friend continued, if Chinese have complaints or there is something wrong with them they do not relish telling others because it can portray weakness.
There is the tale of a Chinese who lost face by not being invited to a party. As a result, he recounted: If I had been invited I would not have gone; and even if I had gone I would not have eaten; and even if I had eaten I would not have eaten much; and even if I had eaten a bit more than intended, well never mind!
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