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Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center

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Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center

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  1. This speech/presentation is authorized by the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center and the Department of Defense. Contents of this presentation are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, Department of the Army, or the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center. Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center

  2. AFPAK Hands Conference Language, culture, and Communication in Afghanistan Farooq Babrakzai, PhD Multi Language School Defense Language Institute Monterey, CA

  3. What is Culture? • Shared knowledge stored in the minds of community members • Ideal model remains stable • Overt practices change with time and occasion

  4. Understanding Culture: Models • Personal space and body touch • Being and Doing • Ear – Oral and Eye – Textual

  5. Models • High and Low Contexts • Face / self and others • Oral and Literate minds

  6. Literate Mind • Consciousness is re-structured in a literate / educated mind • Linear thinking develops with reading / writing • Out-of-the-box thinking has to be taught

  7. Pre-1980 Americans • Readers • Longer attention span • More person-to-person contacts • Social skills

  8. Post-2000 Americans • Digital/CD, DVD, iPod, iPhone, Computer • Language: short, simple, abbreviated • Read Bullet Points / Power-Point • Read for exam only • Short attention span / Patience

  9. Oral Mind • Knowledge transmitted orally from one generation to the next • Redundant – repetitions to convey and absorb the message

  10. Memory • Memory is of paramount importance • History, major events, battles, religious quotes, poetry, proverbs

  11. Pick & choose • Oral cultures store information in mind • Pragmatic – issues that need immediate attention • Pick and choose (the good & positive) what is relevant to the present

  12. Village / community Leaders • Spin giray / Rish safed = Gray Beards • Accumulated experiences / knowledge of the area / history • Walking encyclopedias • How many leaders in Afghanistan?

  13. Aggregate vs. Analytic • Afghans won’t analyze themselves • Use of adjectives, titles, honorifics • Concrete vs. abstract • Memory vs. lists • Anecdotal vs. analytic statements

  14. Non-verbal Context • Afghans read physical setup, body language, movement • How you sit, stand, keep distance, move, shake hands

  15. Communication • Use of anecdotes: the answer is hidden in the story • Analogy: from know to unknown • Metaphor, Proverbs • Quotes from history, events

  16. Self, Face and Others • Self and Face are important • Ranks, Titles, Honor, Prestige are important • Honorifics with names • Lie / mislead to save face • Never admit fault / shortcomings

  17. The Smart Ones • Know everything and can do everything • Blame others for personal failures • What is in it for me? • Self family tribe  ethnic group region

  18. Culture & Religion • Culture takes precedence in pragmatic matters • Lesser Muslim or Lesser Pashtun? • Religion is a psychological/ ideological construct – it enhances and supports one’s view in arguments / self-image / prestige…

  19. Bi-Polar Culture • + Dignity, pride, character, self-image • - Shame, blame, insults, contradictions • Us vs. Them • Family, Clan, Tribe, …Afghans vs. Americans

  20. Bi-polar mind • + Wise, brave, kind, honest, generous, moral, pious, good Muslim, Mujahid… • Therefore, he is equal if not better than you • - Victim, oppressed, poor, needy… • Therefore, he needs your help right now

  21. Concept of SELF • Descent & Genealogy • Personal merit & achievements • Descent over generations • Religious / spiritual standing • Wealth, hospitality, generosity

  22. Context and Business • Create context in which to talk business • Have a few cups of tea • Share a meal • Talk about the area, agriculture, education, jobs, …young men

  23. Stop and think • Have patience • Do not rush to analysis and conclusion • Let events drive time • Build trust, friendship, relationship that will last • Not the matter at hand

  24. Wisdom vs. Intellect • Events drive time, NOT Time drives events • Get to know the key persons • Read faces, body language • Understand the nuances, subtleties, messages

  25. Public and Private • Gender differences are crucial • Men’s world is public • Women’s world is private • Women should talk to women • Same rules of communication apply

  26. Charismatic Leaders • Different from government bureaucrats • Lineage, Descent, Family • Intelligence, Articulate, Good Memory • Age, Experiences, Witness to life events • Tragedies, Hardships

  27. Questions? • Handout on background reading • Short Video titled: Lost in Translation • http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2008/jun/11/afghanistan.johndmchugh.

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