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Falling in love with a language/culture

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airborne

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Is there any rational reason for this to happen?

I've began falling in love with my own culture(israeli), although the country was founded with heavy socialist ideals. The language also is the result of the religion and lots of the culture is affected by it.

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I would say it depends on what aspects of the culture you have an affinity for, and why. How's that? ;) A friend and I were just talking night before last about how we very much enjoy the Japanese sense of aesthetics.

Any more concrete information you could help us out with?

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I've began falling in love with my own culture(israeli), although the country was founded with heavy socialist ideals.
Living in the past isn't a good idea. I'd look instead at the facts of the contemporary culture and ask "What is it that I like here, that has to do with culture?". What makes Israel viable, IMO, is that it is generally forward-looking even though there are infestations of primitivists. Respect for rights, respect for reason -- these are good things, that one should love about a culture, if they are present. You decide.
The language also is the result of the religion and lots of the culture is affected by it.
Again, the historical origins of the Hebrew revitalization aren't particularly important (positively or negatively). Professionally, I find Modern Hebrew to be an interesting case study that tells us something about the nature of language, but that's just me. I like my languages to have more spit to them, but that's just me.
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Living in the past isn't a good idea. I'd look instead at the facts of the contemporary culture and ask "What is it that I like here, that has to do with culture?". What makes Israel viable, IMO, is that it is generally forward-looking even though there are infestations of primitivists. Respect for rights, respect for reason -- these are good things, that one should love about a culture, if they are present. You decide.Again, the historical origins of the Hebrew revitalization aren't particularly important (positively or negatively). Professionally, I find Modern Hebrew to be an interesting case study that tells us something about the nature of language, but that's just me. I like my languages to have more spit to them, but that's just me.

The Yemenite pronunciation of Hebrew is filled with glottal stops (more than Arabic) and lots of hacking. Mucous flies. Is that enough spit for you?

Bob Kolker

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The Yemenite pronunciation of Hebrew is filled with glottal stops (more than Arabic) and lots of hacking. Mucous flies. Is that enough spit for you?
Yeah, I've argued that that should be the standard pronunciation, but these kids just don't listen.
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I would say it depends on what aspects of the culture you have an affinity for, and why.

I think that is really the bottom line.

I spent equal parts of my life growing up in the United States and in Taiwan. I love and respect certain things about both cultures, and I love both English and Chinese (there are just so many things that you cannot as adequately, beautifully, or concisely express going from one language to the other).

The only question left really is what do you love about them, and more importantly, why. If you can come up with a rational reason for "why", then you've answered your original question.

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I think that is really the bottom line.

I spent equal parts of my life growing up in the United States and in Taiwan. I love and respect certain things about both cultures, and I love both English and Chinese (there are just so many things that you cannot as adequately, beautifully, or concisely express going from one language to the other).

The only question left really is what do you love about them, and more importantly, why. If you can come up with a rational reason for "why", then you've answered your original question.

For me the culture represents a struggle for freedom from oppression and discrimination. Although the link is not really solid, there is something beautiful I find in many Jewish historical events such as the Warsaw Ghetto uprising, Independence War, 67 War, Yom Kippur war. Now you could probably argue that they are fighting for a Jewish state given by God etc etc but I don't see it that way(although there is definitely some people who believe that).

Also another rational reason would be my love for being direct. In israel we say "dugri". This means you don't go around in circles you just get to the point. "Water", not "pass the water please"(although being polite is possible depending on the situation). "feel free here" means actually feel free. Open the fridge take what you want. People also love to help soldiers - you need a place to stay, its very easy. Most families are willing to host you for a night or two. I cant claim to know the families motivation, maybe its "for the greater good" or maybe they believe they are helping soldiers and therefore themselves.

A bus driver is not addressed as "Sir", nor is anyone else. On a bus if you want the driver to stop you say "Driver, stop for me at the next stop". Having grown up in Australia I'm used to addressing the driver as Sir and in many cases no one was sure who you were addressing so you'd have to walk up to the driver and address him as Sir.

Of coarse there are many things I really disagree with - the draft, no public transport/business on sabbath and all that.

Edited by airborne
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  • 3 months later...
Is there any rational reason for this to happen?

I've began falling in love with my own culture(israeli), although the country was founded with heavy socialist ideals. The language also is the result of the religion and lots of the culture is affected by it.

Happens too often in countries and regions with socialist democratic leanings. Nationalist tendencies are taught and encouraged.

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  • 6 months later...

I'm in love with English and with America.

My love of English began while I was learning it, when I began to read science fiction in it. I found English to be more adabptable than my native Spanish, more prone to create new nouns, verbs and adjectives to keep up with the times, and more economical for the expression of technological and scientific concepts.

My love for America came as a consequence of reading Ayn Rand's non fiction, when I realized the kind of bastion of liberty America represents, and what business, which America still excells at, really means for life on this world. What's odd is that I had a long acquaintance with the US long before then, but I'd never really seen the country for what it is.

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A friend and I were just talking night before last about how we very much enjoy the Japanese sense of aesthetics.

Could you tell us more about this ?

I'm nearly half way through my first year Japanese studies, and as I'm progressing i'm becoming more disillusioned with the culture.

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