Regionalisms
The company I work for produces audio and video projects - everything from TV and radio commercials, music CDs, feature films, documentaries and corporate training DVDs. Often a script requires a language translation and a voice talent [or voice actor] needs to be hired to record the VO [or voice over].
Today a client requested a VO session quote for a 30 minute training DVD in both French and Spanish. The French version needs to be read with a Quebecois [/kebe'kwa/] dialect and we weren't given direction for the Spanish.
That's probably because Spanish is spoken by 300 million people worldwide and that means there are many differences. Regionalisms. Much like Quebecois French.
If it's Mexico then a Mexican accent is preferable, ditto for Argentina and Spain. Other Latin countries are not as exacting, provided you never give them a Mexican voice outside of Mexico! What is considered to be a "standard Latin American accent" [one that minimizes regionalisms] is acceptable to all south and Central American countries and is a safe way to go if you don't know the final destination of the product, or if it is aimed at the entire South American market.
We had regionalisms in the States too. When I lived outside of New York City we called soft drinks soda. Growing up we called it pop. Some areas in the southern U.S. call it coke - even if it's NOT!
"What kinda coke you want? Sprite, Dr. Pepper, Pepsi?"
[It's true.]
When you relocate to a different area, or if you move to another country [like I have twice], you have to be very careful how you use your regionalisms. For example, I said schmuck [once] in front of a roomful of Long Island youth, only to hear GASPS of horror that I had used the word! I had just moved to Long Island from Upstate New York where that word was commonly used to describe someone who did something stupid. Well ya, it DOES mean that! But Long Island's predominantly Jewish community had influenced the usage of the original YIDDISH meaning of the word. [You'll have to look it up, cuz I ain't telling you what it means.]
Or the time I said bugger in front on someone Canadian - just shortly after I moved to the Great White North. Ya know, like "hey, ya little bugger!" Apparently the INTRANSITIVE VERB means something VERRRRRY different. Oh my gosh!
[What the heck is an intransitive verb anyhow?! Is it, like, something insensitive?]
I don't use those words anymore.
And I'm glad God's not hung up on regionalisms. But I think He knew that WE would be. I think that's why the Bible says stuff like:
Today a client requested a VO session quote for a 30 minute training DVD in both French and Spanish. The French version needs to be read with a Quebecois [/kebe'kwa/] dialect and we weren't given direction for the Spanish.
That's probably because Spanish is spoken by 300 million people worldwide and that means there are many differences. Regionalisms. Much like Quebecois French.
If it's Mexico then a Mexican accent is preferable, ditto for Argentina and Spain. Other Latin countries are not as exacting, provided you never give them a Mexican voice outside of Mexico! What is considered to be a "standard Latin American accent" [one that minimizes regionalisms] is acceptable to all south and Central American countries and is a safe way to go if you don't know the final destination of the product, or if it is aimed at the entire South American market.
We had regionalisms in the States too. When I lived outside of New York City we called soft drinks soda. Growing up we called it pop. Some areas in the southern U.S. call it coke - even if it's NOT!
"What kinda coke you want? Sprite, Dr. Pepper, Pepsi?"
[It's true.]
When you relocate to a different area, or if you move to another country [like I have twice], you have to be very careful how you use your regionalisms. For example, I said schmuck [once] in front of a roomful of Long Island youth, only to hear GASPS of horror that I had used the word! I had just moved to Long Island from Upstate New York where that word was commonly used to describe someone who did something stupid. Well ya, it DOES mean that! But Long Island's predominantly Jewish community had influenced the usage of the original YIDDISH meaning of the word. [You'll have to look it up, cuz I ain't telling you what it means.]
Or the time I said bugger in front on someone Canadian - just shortly after I moved to the Great White North. Ya know, like "hey, ya little bugger!" Apparently the INTRANSITIVE VERB means something VERRRRRY different. Oh my gosh!
[What the heck is an intransitive verb anyhow?! Is it, like, something insensitive?]
I don't use those words anymore.
And I'm glad God's not hung up on regionalisms. But I think He knew that WE would be. I think that's why the Bible says stuff like:
If what I eat is going to make another Christian sin, I will never eat meat again as long as I live - for I don't want to make another Christian stumble.and
Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on everyone is defined by Christ......not by their regionalisms.
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on Friday, January 20, 2006 at 9:41 PM.
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10:30 AM1Cor. 9:19
Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings."
I know this issue you are addressing is a biggie among those who are churched. Another regionalism in itself.The motive for why we think certain things are right or wrong is the issue. Is it out of a heart of love that we point out certain things in our society or is it out of a spirit of self righteousness...that is always the question. And we know what the Lord says about self righteousness .... one of those things he loathes.
Ephesians 4 talks about "unity" in the body of Christ. The giving of gifts to the body after Christ descended and then ascended. "12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work."
"25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. "In your anger do not sin" Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.....
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Love is mentioned several times in these passages. Always and forever love extended to everyone we deal with. :-)
11:22 PM
Intransitive. I think he's a distant cousin to insensitive. They only meet at wedding's and funeral's though.
Now I'm not sure how good an idea it is to live your life by what makes other's uncomfortable. That's all fine and dandy for the little things (In my case, trying to hold back on the language around those who don't want to hear it) but to live your entire life doing things to make sure that everybody else is comfortable is impossible. What if making everybody comfortable makes somebody uncomfortable? Then what do you do?
And the part about becoming something to win over somebody else, that would make whoever said that (Be it god or whoever) a Canadiens fan to win over them or a Senators fan to win them over as well. I shudder at the thought (I just had to type that out. I started to giggle when it crept into my head and it was even funnier to me when I typed it out. You can add any sports team you don't like and the joke still works. I just happen to be a Leafs fan)
And to end this little humor filled comment just what does "Everything is defined by Christ" mean? Is it that Jesus is supposed to be the answer to everything? Next time somebody asks me the square root of 64 can I say Jesus? I just happen to take things for there literal meaning. I'm really curious to find out exactly what that comment means
Kyle
12:01 AM
"Everyone is defined by Christ..." is one man's translation of the end of Colossians 3:11. It's important to know that the REST of that verse says, "...everyone is included in Christ." Other translators have said it like this:
"Christ is all, and in all."
"Christ is everything, and in all."
"Christ is all that matters, and He lives in all of us."
The Biblical writer of Colossians (Paul) was helping people in the "church" in that city establish a new order, so-to-speak. If you read the whole book, or even just chapter 3, there is much more to the "context" of what the writer is trying to get across.
One commentator says this about that verse:
"(This) lays claim to Christ's lordship over the new order. In Schweizer's words, "Christ is the measure by which everything is to be defined" (1972:200); he is "all that matters" (Harris 1991:154). This is the firm conviction of the new humanity - those who have already "taken off" the fallen order and "put on" the good intentions of the Creator which they have begun to realize in Christ."
In some respects I took the verse OUT of context to make a point, although there are some strong parallels to what Paul was saying and what I was trying to say.
4:44 AM
hey, sorry i'm late. i had to work. i wasn't sure what you guys liked, so i picked up some nacho cheese dip and tortilla chips. some ben & herry's chubby hubby ice crem. some ice cold IBC root beer, and some guiness. feel free to help yourself.
'ism's in my opinion are not good. i quote john lennon. 'i don't believe in beatles, i only believe in me.' good point, there. of course, he was the walrus. i could be the walrus. it still wouldn't change the fact that i don't own a car. - ferris bueller
wendy-
thanks for bringing 1 cor. 9:19 into the mix. it is a passage that was in the back of my mind during our whole PoMo discussion.
kyle-
thanks for your second paragraph. it is a good run down of questions that plague me. the other side of 1 cor. 8:13, which paul referenced in his post. i have often thought of that very thing: so i'm not supposed to do things that 'offend' people. what if i'm offended (and i mean honestly offended) at their offense? should they not, then, according to their own rules, cease and decist from their offense?
i have a problem being a trouble maker. i'm working on it.
thanks for this post. as you know, i think a lot about communication. especially language and its use to that end.
no, we are no longer defined by our regionalisms, but i do think they need to be understood when attempting to communicate with a people group who utilizes them to engage in true communication. (once again, thank you wendy for 1 cor. 9:19)
for example, employing the technique of NOT calling someone a schmuck when you are teaching youth group in long island.
and while i don't speak spanish, i do 'read' it well. the words just seem to flow off the tongue although i have no idea what i'm saying.
"buenos dias senor cleaver. donde este wallace y theodore?"
11:48 AM
Ben & Herry's Chubby Hubby lol Got any sugar cones? Thanks. It's not easy to keep up. Colloquialisms are always changing... there's another 'ism. lol. I think you said those were bad, right? Does bad still mean rad? or is it back to bad... and Theodore's nickname is swimming in my head....not a good choice for today lol
and Kyle...
GO LEAFS GO!!!!! :-)
Yes, yes and double yes!! I would become a Leafs fan just for you so you could know this wonderful Jesus who is alive and well and filled with love and compassion for you.
..and Paul thank you for blogging ... this is totally fun and I always appreciate your views.
2:17 PM
I don't believe it. Somebody actually managed to use a "Ferris Bueller" quote in a blog here and on top of that made it work...I think I'm about ready to break down. How I did not manage to quote my 3rd favourite movie of all time is beyond me. Jon, I tip my hat to you. You the man. And to end it with a "Leave it to Beaver quote....Genius pure genius.
Thanks for the clear up on that one there Paul. Greatly appreciated. Before this was the loop (____) and now this is the loop (____Kyle___). How do you that for graphics. Pretty snazzy huh?
Kyle
3:09 AM
playing the obscure movie line game is one of my favorite things. something in life reminds me of dialogue in one of my favorite movies and i'll just blurt the line out. erin loves to play it as well. i think it's one of the things that has given us common ground over the years.
and i just can't become a leafs fan. sorry. but for obvious reasons, i am a wild man all the way. i am fortunate enough to live in the one state in the union where hockey is not only considered a serious sport, but it is revered as the best. football doesn't even matter in high school. it's hockey all the way. but that's understandable. it's clearly the supreme sport, right?
1:49 AM
so... how has velvet elvis been treating you? anything you want to discuss? hmmm?
10:59 PM
Actually, I'm really enjoying Velvet Elvis. I think I went into the book thinking that I would be freaked out by things this "heretic" (as some are calling him) would say. And yes, he definitely knows how to stir the pot, but always seems to come back to some significant spiritual foundations - all of which seem to be the same foundations that are in my life.
So, I find myself feeling more confident about who I am and where I hope my "faith" will take me in the coming years vs. being afraid that I'll miss the boat.
I don't think this means I'm a genuine POMO, but maybe Rob Bell isn't either. Or, maybe that label isn't about a "new" generation of believers, but instead about confident people who know God and aren't afraid to be real in the meantime.
11:27 PM
"maybe that label isn't about a "new" generation of believers, but instead about confident people who know God and aren't afraid to be real in the meantime."
VERY well said. and for once, i have nothing to add.
much love.
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