Although I have worked in the field of communications for many years, I have to admit that there are a couple of people in my life with whom I know that having a normal conversation is totally out of the question.
With one particular person I decided to give up talking altogether and stick to written communications only, in the hope that things will improve at some point and with the relief that at least I have written evidence of what I said. But even then, if I write “white” he reads “black”, when I write “thread” he reads “threat” …!
The fact that we both speak different languages and have very different backgrounds does not help. Breaking a language barrier by being totally fluent in a second, third or fourth language does not mean that you can easily cross the cultural barrier.
Like the story of a Polish man who moved to the USA and married an American girl. Although his English was far from perfect, they got along very well until one day he rushed into a lawyer’s office and asked him if he could arrange a divorce for him.
The lawyer said that getting a divorce would depend on the circumstances, and asked him the following questions:
L: Have you any grounds?
P: Yes, an acre and half and nice little home.
L: No, I mean what is the foundation of this case?
P: It made of concrete.
L: I don’t think you understand. Does either of you have a real grudge?
P: No, we have carport, and not need one.
L: I mean. What are your relations like?
P: All my relations still in Poland
L: Is there any infidelity in your marriage?
P: We have hi-fidelity stereo and good DVD player.
L: Does your wife beat you up?
P: No, I always up before her
L: Is your wife a nagger?
P: No, she white.
L: Why do you want this divorce?
P: She going to kill me.
L: What makes you think that?
P: I got proof.
L: What kind of proof?
P: She going to poison me. She buys a bottle at drugstore and put on shelf in bathroom. I can read, and it says: ‘Polish Remover’
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