Another Cultural Misunderstanding That Might Have Been Averted
I don't know why everyone in the world doesn't just ask me first. I would have been really happy to help Turkey avoid this headline:
Turkish minister announces ORGİ
The government has decided to build the proposed Ordu-Giresun airport, or ORGİ, Turkish Transportation Minister Binali Yıldırım said Wednesday.
Now, I don't want to read too much into this, but one thought strikes me. It's highly unlikely that no one involved in these plans had any idea what that word means. I'd bet the farm that someone did, but was too embarrassed to explain it, especially if it meant contradicting an authority figure.
So. Turkish culture: Some people know something about Western culture, but are too embarrassed and afraid of authority to tell their bosses what they know. Western culture: Most people believe the world's cultures are a multi-hued tapestry or a savage anti-American wasteland, in either case in a galaxy far, far away--in other words, we don't know the first thing about other cultures. So it's highly unlikely that in an analogous situation, however unafraid of authority we are, any of us would know enough to tell our bosses, "Sir, that name's just going to make a lot of the world make fun of our country."
Anyway, Turkey, let me know if you need me to proofread next time. Trust me, I know that language barrier is not easy to bridge.
- Comment (8)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (1)
Comments:
Dec '10
Re: Another Cultural Misunderstanding That Might Have Been Averted
Really, Claire, that's on the very mild end of the acronyms that would cause worldwide joking. About the best one could come up with is, "Is it fun to fly to Turkey?" "Fun? It's an ORGI!"
Now, if they start coming up with acronyms that match Western slang for sexual organs, sex acts, or products of elimination, then you need to intervene forcefully. For example, if your local newspaper proposes a weekly edition called the Sunday Hurriyet in Turkey, advise them strongly against it.
Oct '10
Re: Another Cultural Misunderstanding That Might Have Been Averted
This falls short of the slogans of American products that have hilarious consequences overseas when no one checked the translations.
There are some real examples of egg on face out there...
Jul '11
Re: Another Cultural Misunderstanding That Might Have Been Averted
Well apparently there were multiple individuals involved in the decision to go forward with ORGI
Aug '10
Re: Another Cultural Misunderstanding That Might Have Been Averted
I can't wait to collect the destination tag on my luggage!
Apr '11
Re: Another Cultural Misunderstanding That Might Have Been Averted
When was the last time we built an airport in the US?
May '10
Re: Another Cultural Misunderstanding That Might Have Been Averted
Guess what the airport code is for Fukuoka, Japan?
Jan '11
Re: Another Cultural Misunderstanding That Might Have Been Averted
There's always the any-publicity-is-good-publicity school of thought…
May '10
Re: Another Cultural Misunderstanding That Might Have Been Averted
Leave your car keys in the bowl at the check-in desk. Well at least we finally get to enjoy the pat-downs at security.
Edited on July 28, 2011 at 8:04pm