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Meaning is Found in Context
Author: Steve Evans
Date: 26.06.2010
Category: Orality
Translations
For a word, there is no meaning outside of context. In a way, that is also true for stories. Consider an iceberg. When we tell or hear a story, all that is understood about that story is the tip of the iceberg seen above the waterline, unless we also know all of the context that is hidden below! When we know the context, the story often takes on different or fuller meanings or understandings. Often, when we take stories from the more oral cultures to the more literate ones, some subtleties are grasped, but not all and not always. However, when we take stories from the more literate world to the oral one, oftentimes the gaps and barriers are huge and little is comprehended. So, the words and phrases used in a story then become very important, as well as an understanding of how the story will be understood from "their" point of view within their cultural, social and historical contexts. Therefore idiomatic expressions and colloquialisms don’t "translate", jokes aren’t understood, and, most times even proverbs, are not understood. While stories speak at the heart level, and stories speak the language of the heart, we need to be especially mindful of "packaging" the story in the language of the ear, the mind, and the emotions.
When storytelling across cultures, we need to take into consideration several things: meaning, context, cultural gaps, important or difficult words/phrases and expressions, worldview, the plot/theme and intended meaning of the story, idiomatic expressions, historical implications, implicit information, frame of reference and shared frame of reference, etc. In short, we need to do a lot of homework! [All of this kind of takes the fun out of just telling a story, doesn’t it?] Anyway, cultural anthropologists repeatedly say that a culture’s stories reveal worldview. And I strongly believe this. I also believe that it is stories that shape worldview. Therefore, if one is not an "insider’ of that culture, sometimes it is hard to understand its stories and tell its stories. The issue of language is really an important one. If you don’t know a language well, you can’t really tell a story well in that language. Word choices, implicit information, grammatical structures, idiomatic expressions, etc, all come into play here, and when telling through a translator, all of these things need to be worked through with the translator so the story can be conveyed with the meaning you intended but through understandable expressions. You can tell in a local language, and sometimes there’s a certain charm to it. This, however, should become part of the storytelling "style" - playing on it to the storytellers advantage - but even in the broken simple language (or I should say especially in the broken simple language) meaning must be conveyed in understandable forms.
In cross-cultural situations, it is important that the storyteller conveys to the audience that he or she understands the audience and its culture, at least somewhat. Then, the stories in some way need to touch on that audience and its culture -- telling within that shared context or shared frame of knowledge, experience, and meaning. The audience appreciates it when it can relate to your stories, when they don’t seem so foreign that the audience can’t relate to them. If "foreign" stories are told to illustrate, inform or enlighten, they really must be told in ways that they can be understood and appreciated! So, it is good to tell some of "their" stories and even how, being an outsider, you messed up in sometimes telling their stories. Sometimes audiences enjoy some of the cross-cultural "snafus"! Oftentimes, they also want to be exposed to new cultures (that’s why they come to hear "you"). But it is important to help them understand and not be confused! Be magical, be mystical, be enchanting, be entertaining, be informative. And be YOU. You and who you are are the greatest translator from one culture (yours) to another.
Keywords: context, meaning, orality, story, storytelling, gaps, culture, barriers, understanding
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United States
Your post is very enlightening. It reminded me of how things were when I first moved from New Jersey to North Carolina. The two cultures even within the United States are vastly different. So I had to adjust my testimony about God’s faithfulness and my calling to fit the perception of the people around me. The The story was still the same but I had to relate the content so the peoplle I told it to would understand what God was and still is doing in my life.
I think as witness of the Gospel our stories stay the same but we have to adjust to the "audience" so they will understand what the Lord is saying to them through those stories.
11.07.2011
United States
@ MzBoom:
Content and how to relate that content is important. Because some people may not understand content on the same plane as you do. I agree one needs to relate content based on people’s understanding, but still give the same message.
16.07.2011
United States
What a great reminder that while we may know how to tell a story in our own language and to our own culture, we can’t expect it to work the same way in a different culture or language. Context is so important, and I think the best way to learn what the best context is, is to fully invest in the culture with which we are trying to communicate. Thanks for your thoughts.
11.03.2011
South Africa
@ abenfield:
Yes! And this applies whether we are going around the world to do cross-cultural missions and ministry or around the corner in our own local neighborhood!
14.04.2011
Kenya
Hi Steve, When I read this, I was amazed ... You end on a simple optimistic note, but your sharing contains some pretty deep challenges! Thanks!
30.06.2010
South Africa
@ Jim_Harries:
Thanks, Jim. I find that without context a lot of meaning is lost! And you know what? I’m a photographer too and that holds true for images as well!
26.07.2010
Kenya
@ Steve_Evans:
... and this has MASSIVE implications for inter-cultural mission.
28.07.2010
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