Aurelia wrote:I know it's difficult to make generalisations of whole nations, but would you say Czechs are more frank and straight forward, or more polite and indirect? I mean for example when a person is asked out by another person he/she doesn't like in that way... A Dutch reply might be: "Hahahah no, never!!", whereas in an Asian face-saving culture it might be "Yes" even though the person has no intention of going. A Finn is somewhere in between, most likely will say no but still try to make it polite: "Well... Maybe that's not the best idea... I mean I think you are great, but there's just all this stuff going on..."
My jsme v tomhle ohledu podobní jako Finové, alespoň z mého pohledu. Ale jak píšeš, velmi záleží na jednotlivci, jsou Češi podobní Holanďanům (Haha, ani náhodou), pak je asi většina těch co jsou jako Finové, no a nakonec i pár co jsou jako Asiaté
We are, in this, very much like the Finns, at least in my point of view. But as you write, it depends on the individual, there are those similar to Dutch (Haha, no never), then ther's the majority like Finns and at last some are like the Asians.
Aurelia wrote:Finns also (in general) tend to mean what they say. In American culture, "How are you?" and "We should have lunch sometime!" don't mean anything but social chatting, but in Finland the first gets a detailed reply of what's going on in their lives and the second gets a suggestion for a date and time of the lunch date!
Odpověď na otázku "Jak se máš?" záleží na tom, jak se moc se s tazatelem znáš. Obvykle víš jestli je to jen "social chatter" a máš odpovědět "Dobře" nebo "Ok", nebo jestli se tazatel opravdu zajímá o to jak se máš a chce podrobnou odpověď. Kdežto "Měli bychom někdy zajít na oběd" u nás, stejně jako ve Finsku, dostane jako opověď otázku "Kdy máš čas?". Či-li opět je to velmi podobné jako ve Finsku
The answer for the question "How are you" depends on you relation to the person asking. You usually feel how the question is meant, whether the other one wants only social chatter or if he really wants to hear an honest answer. Whereas for the sentence "We should go for lunch sometimes" usually gets answer "And when do you have time?". Which means it is similar to Finnish way
Aurelia wrote:Also, another aspect of this, in China I was repeatedly told I was fat (which I am not, but anyone is huge compared to them) straight to my face with a smile. And in Italy my friend will always hear "Oh look at you, you have gained so much weight!!", like there is nothing special about that statement. I've been asked by a German how much money I make and by an American what my religious and theological views are - within five minutes of meeting them. In Finland, it would be very unusual to hear any of this in a conversation, as we respect privacy and minding one's own business almost above any other thing. So what about Czechs - can these kinds of things be talked about?
Popravdě řečeno, nad tímhle jsem nikdy nezamýšlel
Říct někomu, že ztloustnul, nebo přibral je obvykle urážející. Co se náboženství týče... hmm o tom se u nás obecně moc nemluví, protože víc jak 60% procent lidí se nehlásí k žádnému (mám dojem, že to je nejvyšší procento v Evropě). A je bráno za normální zeptat se kde pracuješ, ale už ne tak kolik za to bereš (opět, mezi přáteli je to něco jiného, není to pak až tak striktní na co se smíš a nesmíš ptát
). Jinak nevím, opravdu jsem se nad tím takhle nezamýšlel a nesledoval to
To be honest, i never though about that
. Say to someone that he/she is fat, or gained weight is considered rude. As for religion .... well, we don't talk much about it, as there are over 60% percent people who claim that they are not religious (i think this percentage is the highest in Europe). And it is normal to ask "Where do you work", but not that much "How much do you earn" (again, this is something different between friends, it would be much less strict about the things you can and can't ask). But i don't know, i have never thought about this that way and have never paid any mind to it.
Sorry if my english sound weird, but at 4:35 AM on a night shift is my brain not working to the full extent