LINGUIST List 2.549

Mon 23 Sep 1991

Disc: Warning

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  • Mimi Klaiman, WARNING
  • bert peeters, 2.539 Warning

    Message 1: WARNING

     Date: Sat, 21 Sep 1991 14:38:55 -0500
    From: Mimi Klaiman <klaimanux.acs.umn.edu>
    Subject: WARNING
    I agree with Christine Kamprath that it's dangerous to ascribe the differing content of German, French and other warning messages to cultural differences. Last time I rode the Calcutta subway--earlier this year--there were Hindi and Bengali language versions of a warning about leaning on the sliding exit/entrance doors. The Hindi one merely said leaning on the doors is forbidden, while the Bengali one more solicitously said that leaning on the doors is dangerous. I didn't ask anyone but I doubt it would have been unnatural had the Bengali one like the Hindi one simply forbidden people to lean on the doors. M.H. Klaiman

    Message 2: 2.539 Warning

     Date: Sun, 22 Sep 91 9:56:55 EST
    From: bert peeters <peeterstasman.cc.utas.edu.au>
    Subject: 2.539 Warning
    > From: LIFY460orange.cc.utexas.edu (Christine Kamprath) > This is in reply to Bruce Fraser's suggestion that the different content > of warning signs in French, German and Italian may be some indication > of cultural difference. WARNING: it's very dangerous to start thinking > along those lines. > (...) > I just don't > think we can make any inferences about cultural differences from how > these signs are worded, especially not the French, German and Italian > ones. WARNING: :-) It is AS DANGEROUS to ignore the possibility of cultural differences as it is to underwrite their existence unreservedly. Christine Kamprath seems to come very close to doing the former, whereas Bruce Fraser (whose side I choose in this discussion) is not quite doing the latter (cf. the wording above - I trust it reflects Fraser's real views: "may be some indication of cultural difference"). Dr Bert Peeters Tel: +61 02 202344 Department of Modern Languages 002 202344 University of Tasmania at Hobart Fax: 002 207813 GPO Box 252C Bert.Peetersmodlang.utas.edu.au Hobart TAS 7001 Australia