LIGAWAD, MELODY P.

PURPOSIVE
COMMUNICATION
BSA 1C

ASSIGNMENT #6- 10 POINTS

A 2003 movie entitled Lost in Translation is a film that shows different speakers from
various regions communicating in a multilingual setting.
Watch this film,summarize it,and then write a brief reflection paper on the linguistic element of the
film. Observe cultural and gender sensitivity and political correctness.

SUMMARY
Bob Harris is an American movie star, but his career is drawing to a close. He hit his
golden age a while ago, and age has gotten the best of him. Now, he mostly films commercials
for an income, and, at the beginning of the movie, he is traveling to Tokyo to film a whiskey
advertisement.On the other hand, viewers are introduced to Charlotte, a young graduate living
in Tokyo. Her husband, named John, is a professional photographer, but she feels that he is
getting too self-centered for her liking, and her relationship with him is at a serious risk. Bob,
too, is experiencing difficulties in his marriage.Bob and Charlotte stay at the same hotel when
Charlotte's husband has to travel for his work as a photographer. The two notice each other
every day in the lobby and elevator, but never really say anything. One night, when neither are
sleepy, they start a conversation, and Charlotte offers to introduce Bob to some of her friends.
The two spend the night together with Charlotte's friends in downtown Tokyo, and they feel a
romantic attraction for one another. Bob, seemingly inconsiderate, meets with one of the female
bartenders the next night. Charlotte gets word of this, and is mad at Bob.The hotel's fire alarm
goes off, and no one knows for sure if there is a real fire or not. Outside, Bob and Charlotte tell
each other that they love one another, and Charlotte quickly forgives Bob about her anger.Time
quickly passes, and now it is time for Bob to return to the States. He and Charlotte kiss each
other goodbye, and they bid a forlorn farewell to one another.

REFLECTION PAPER
A reflection on Lost in Translation in everyday life, communication is constantly and
subconsciously used. The importance of human connection in life is often overlooked. In the first
half of the film, the characters do not meet, which intensifies the communication concept of
culture,filled with chill and dry humor to highlight the problems associated with cultural
differences and language barriers. The primary reason people find it difficult to understand each
other is logical — language and culture. Indeed, trying to fit into a foreign environment and
culture can be challenging. Many forms of intercultural and inter-relational communication are
embedded in the progression of the character’s experiences with culture. High context cultures
favor collective groups of people who share similar experiences and knowledge of their cultural
content. More emphasis is placed on inferences to experience in high context communication.
Often when groups communicate within a high context culture, messages are transmitted
nonverbally. The culture itself does most of the talking. This poses a problem for an outsider,
especially coming from a Low context culture. Low context cultures put emphasis on words
which have concrete and absolute meanings.The primary reason people find it difficult to
understand each other is logical — language and culture. Indeed, trying to fit into a foreign
environment and culture can be challenging.

ASSIGNMENT #7- 10 POINTS

Read the blog "Which Variety of English Should You Speak" in

http://www.britishcouncil.or/blog/which-variety-english-should-you-speak. Then answer the
following questions:

1. Why did the blogger say "you are what you speak"?
" You are what you speak" simply means your language reflects, mirrored or defined
your culture, identity and personality. Using the English language increasingly and deliberately
leads to a way that may identify a person with a particular place. English has a lot of varieties
and it differs from place to place. For instance, according to the blog, in West Midland people
may pronounce “you" as "yow", use 'Brum' for 'Birmingham' and 'cor' for 'cannot' or 'can't'. By
using features in this way, people emphasize their place of origin over other factors such as age,
gender, social class and ethnicity.

2. Is there really a correct variety of English? Explain.

None for me, because even this research highlights how dynamic, fragmented and
mobile the English language has become. As we all know we live in a world where English
crosses national boundaries and migration brings people together from different backgrounds
and cultures. Moreover, the influence of traditional gatekeepers of 'standard' English, such as
the BBC, is now weakening. The implications of this in educational policy is that we can no
longer speak of the " superiority" of one variety of English over all others. Instead we need to
recognize the roles and functions that different varieties of English, including that of standard
English, fulfil.

3. Which variety of English should schools teach? Explain.

A common and long-held belief among many in the English teaching profession is that
the best people to teach spoken English are 'native' speakers of the language, especially the
teaching of pronunciation. But we know from research that linguistic variation is a characteristic
of all languages and all varieties have their own rules and systems. Yet, besides these facts, a
successful communication is more a question of understanding and being able to engage
successfully, in the contexts of use rather than whether one is a 'native' or 'non-native' speaker.
Whatever variety of English a school should teach, the most important thing is that we are
willing and able to achieve a successful communication towards other people no matter what
variety of English they use.