09/06/2006 - 09/07/2006

Chinese furious at star's toilet humor

Enraged Chinese Internet surfers have called for a public apology from a Taiwanese model after she poked fun at the mainland's public toilets and their users on a Taiwan chat-show, local media reported Thursday.

Jessey Meng, who made a name for herself as an actress and a television presenter in China, joked about mainlanders' toilet habits to a chorus of laughter from fellow guests on the show "Red Storm" last week.

cultural profile - canada

Introduction: Canada is the second largest country in the world and has one of the highest standards of living due to her vast area and natural resources. Canada is arguably the most multicultural country in the world. Over 60 languages are spoken by more than 70 ethno-cultural groups across the country.

Self-image: Canadians see themselves as fair, laid back and tolerant. Few nationals are as content with their passport as are Canadians.

Japanese Etiquette For American Professionals

The Southeast of the U.S. is quickly finding itself home to a growing number of Japanese companies and executives. Companies such as Astellas Pharma, Eisai and others are making headlines as they enter our market. It has also become commonplace to see local companies in the headlines as they forge strategic partnerships with Japanese companies.

As the owner of two Japanese restaurants, Mura at North Hills and Asuka in the RTP, I constantly see American businessmen trying to practice what they believe to be proper Japanese etiquette when entertaining a Japanese associate. The art of Japanese etiquette can be confusing and difficult to grasp for some Americans, but the basics are actually quite simple.

Australian and Kiwi expat surveys 'battle' it out

Australian expat advocacy organisation Southern Cross Group (SCG) has issued a call to all Australians living abroad to complete an online survey aimed at shedding further light on the nation's diaspora.

does language define us?

How can we define what makes a cultural identity unique? Language has historically been an aspect of cultural identity. The language we speak can indicate and reveal a lot of information about our country of origin. As the world moves towards an English speaking homogeny, where does that leave language as a means of identity?

Read more: Language

100 million to study Chinese worldwide by 2010

You may be able to find a Chinese teaching class close to your home sooner than you think.

The Chinese government is promoting a project to make the Chinese language as popular as English around the world. It aims to have 100 million foreigners learning Chinese by 2010.

It's not a easy task, but there is reason to be optimistic. There are currently 60,000 foreigners learning Chinese in China and 30 million people learning it overseas.

Islamic world gives economic hope to China backwater

Testifying to the power of globalization, China's growing business ties with the Islamic world are opening new economic horizons for one of the poorest and remotest parts of China.

In Ningxia, an autonomous region in northwest China that is home to the Muslim Hui minority, young people are flocking to learn Arabic both for religious reasons and as a ticket to well-paid jobs in the booming seaboard provinces.

MillionDollarHosting.net Announces Availability of New Multi-language Options

MillionDollarHosting.net, a low cost hosting provider, announces the availability of a new multi-language options in its web hosting control panel. Besides English, German and Spanish, the customers can now choose to manage their hosting accounts in French, Portuguese, Norwegian, Russian, Ukrainian and Bulgarian.

Thai government launches Arabic-language Web site

The Thai government on Friday will launch its first-ever Arabic-language Web site to reach out to the Arab and Muslim world, the Foreign Ministry said.

The site was designed by the Foreign Ministry to provide information about Thai society, ranging from Thailand's revered king to the country's economy, arts and culture, as well as the Muslim community on Thailand.

The government hopes the Web site, which can also be accessed in English, will "tighten relations between Thailand and the Muslim world," according to a Foreign Ministry statement Thursday.

word of the day: pervicacious

pervicacious \puhr-vih-KAY-shuhs\, adjective:
Refusing to change one's ideas, behavior, etc.; stubborn; obstinate.

In fact, I'm a word nerd. I get a kick out of tossing a few odd ones intomy column, just to see if the pervicacious editors will weed them out. -- Michael Hawley, "Things That Matter: Waiting for Linguistic Viagra", Technology Review, June, 2001

One of the most pervicacious young creatures that ever was heard of. -- Samuel Richardson, Clarissa

4stones Cross-Cultural Consulting Group Announces 2006 Cross Culture Management Guru Asia Forum

4stones Cross-cultural Consulting Group announced today that it will sponsor the 2006 Cross Culture Management Guru Asia Forum, along with Golden Ideas, a training and conference service provider. As the globalization of the world economy picks up pace, the cultural environment of corporations will also change, and this Forum will focus on the series of difficulties in the cross culture management of corporations, and will be held in Beijing and Shanghai on September 20 and 22, respectively.

Cultural awareness training here to stay says u.s. army

Cultural awareness training designed to better prepare soldiers for deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan will be mandatory beginning Oct. 1 in all Army training and education programs.

Until now, the training was encouraged but not mandatory, said Russell Watson, who retired Aug. 31 as dean of training and training support for the Army Intelligence Center at Fort Huachuca, Ariz.

Diversity Challenge LIVE

Far from being just a matter of legal compliance, diversity brings business benefits and personal advantages to everyone in an organisation, not just those who are perceived to be members of minority groups. Diversity Challenge LIVE is a one-day programme aimed at all employees who are working in our modern business society.

Expats and an expanding EU

The early and mid-1990s were a boom period for expatriate assignments in Central Europe. Billions of euros in foreign corporate investment were pouring into the top economies of the region and with these funds came sharp demand for qualified expats to fill upper- and middle-management positions. To sweeten the deal, many multinationals offered inflated salaries to workers who could set up new operations and get local employees orientated.

Hyundai Motor America Introduces Spanish-Language Television Spot

Hyundai Motor America has announced the introduction of a new, original, Spanish-language television spot for the all-new 2007 Santa Fe. The commercial debuted on national Spanish-language network television on September 4, 2006. The spot rounds out Hyundai's original, Spanish-language campaign, themed Respect, which is already in full gear.

"We are committed to getting the word out to Hispanic consumers that Hyundai has a wide product lineup that delivers high quality and value with segment leading products," stated Cuban-born Robin Robert, Hyundai Motor America's National Manager Hispanic Marketing.

How Language Works

In How Language Works, David Crystal maps out a comprehensive introduction to oral and written communication, from the physical properties of humans that allow us to speak, to the nuanced evolution of language itself. Throughout the book, Crystal artfully defines his topic in terms accessible to the general reader yet transferable should one decide to delve into linguistics more deeply. The result is a volume that will foster an appreciation for the uncommon complexity of language, and a wonder at the similarities and differences between communication systems.

Internet users grow in Kazakhstan in 8 mths

The number of Internet users in Kazakhstan has grown to 4% of the population from 2.7% on January 1, 2006, Askar Zhumagaliev, head of the Information & Communications Agency, told reporters on Wednesday in Astana.

Trevor Phillips will head new equality commission

Trevor Phillips will be head of the new Commission for Equalities and Human Rights when it is launched next year, according to reports.

The commission will initially combine the Equal Opportunities Commission and the Disability Rights Commission, followed by the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) in 2009.

word of the day: verisimilitude

verisimilitude \ver-uh-suh-MIL-uh-tood; -tyood\, noun:
1. The appearance of truth; the quality of seeming to be true.
2. Something that has the appearance of being true or real.

In an attempt to create verisimilitude, in addition to the usual vulgarities, the dialogue is full of street slang. -- Wilborn Hampton, "Sugar Down Billie Hoak': An Unexpected Spot to Find a Father", New York Times, August 1, 1997

For those plays, Ms. Smith interviewed hundreds of people of different races and ages, somehow managing to internalize their expressions, anger and quirks enough to be able to portray them with astonishing verisimilitude. -- Sarah Boxer, "An Experiment in Artistic Democracy", New York Times, August 7, 2000