....that the "otaku" (translates very roughly as 'geek') subculture in Japan dictates the direction most technology takes. They have a large influence over the market and due to what they buy and do not buy companies know what to produce and what not to.

.....that cross-cultural misunderstandings may arise due to different interpretations of pauses and interruptions during conversation? For instance, speakers of Anglo-Saxon languages might interpret interruptions as impolite, where as, more verbal Latin speakers might view frequent interruptions as a demonstration of how interested each is in what the other is saying. Speakers of Oriental languages often use silence to show respect to others by taking time to process information. A westerner might interpret this silence as a failure to communicate, whereas the lack of a pause might make a speaker of Oriental languages wonder if the person digested what the other has said.

.....that the phrase, "Forgetta 'bout it", is used to mean a variety of things? The contributor of this quarter's cultural tidbit, John Loiacono, explains:

My family is from the lower east side of Manhattan. I was born there and my grandparents owned the neighborhood Italian grocery store (it's now a restaurant) across the street (125 E4th Street). Growing up (my formative years were spent in Northern New Jersey), there was a somewhat universal phrase that had different meanings depending on how it was said. The phrase is: Forgetta 'bout it (FBI). Here are the different uses:
A response meaning "you're welcome." As in, "thanks," response: "FBI."
A response meaning "no thank you." As in, "can I do this for you?" Response: "FBI."
A response having the literal meaning. As in, "what should I do?" Response: "FBI."
Can be used to indicate defiance. As in, "I asked you to do this and you were like FBI."
Can be used to indicate you are emphatic about not doing something. As in, "they wanted me to hang around and I was like 'FBI'." Or, something more appropriate for GSFC: "they wanted me to modify my POP submittal and I was like 'FBI'."

....that we use many words from Native American languages everyday? Here are a few names of places you may be familiar with, what they mean in English, and their native language if known:

Anacostia--"village trading post" (Nacotchtanke)
Assateague--"a place across the water" (Assateague)
Chesapeake--"great shellfish bay"
Nanticoke--"tidewater people" (Nanticoke)
Occoquan--"at the end of the water" (Doeg)
Patuxent--"place where tobacco grows" or "at the little falls" (Doeg)
Pohick--"hickory" (Doeg)
Potomac--"where the goods are brought in" (Powhatan)
Quantico--"by the large stream" (Doeg)
Roanoke--"shell currency of lesser value"

--Reference: The Washington Post September 15, 2004

....that the origins of the handshake have been researched, debated and discussed with little official agreement. There's the theory of the handshake's Egyptian origins, having been delivered as a gift from God. And there's the one about medieval strangers shaking hands to assure the other no weapons would be drawn. In the U.S., the handshake was popularized in the 19th century to demonstrate equality between the individuals shaking hands, and today, has become such an accepted sign of mutual respect, that it is often considered a personal insult to refuse an extended hand when greeted or introduced. However, comfort in touching others varies from culture to culture. Although many people from non-western cultures are aware of the handshaking custom and will shake hands, it's important to be sensitive to the fact that they may not be comfortable with it. When in doubt, it's a good rule of thumb not to offer your hand first and allow the other person to take the lead. Or, learn and use your counterpart's form of greeting. You will establish an immediate and positive connection with them.

....that twice as many Britons speak Urdu, Punjabi, or Gujarati as Welsh, the native language of Wales and the U.K.? Since World War II, tens of millions of immigrants from a variety of countries have made the U.K. their home. In response to this trend, there has been an increased emphasis on cross-cultural training as part of U.K. management development.

....that traditionally, Chinese businesses are held together not by binding contracts, but by family connections, friendships and mutual trust--a system that evolved over the past two millennia? In China, a person's word is considered stronger, more important and more binding than a written document. The Chinese have always held themselves in high esteem, in fact, the name of their country translates to "center of the world".

...that in 1620, the area from Narragansett Bay in eastern Rhode Island to the Atlantic Ocean in southeastern Massachusetts, including Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, was the home of people who called themselves Pokanoket. Starting around 1675, they became known as the Wampanoag, which is the name still used today. Traditionally, each Wampanoag village was headed by a leader called a sachem, who ruled by persuasion and by consent of the people. Ordinarily, the sachemship was passed down through the male line in royal families, but a woman did inherit the position if there was no male heir.

...that India has 16 official languages, including English, as well as more than 1400 dialects? Limited internal transportation has resulted in the isolation of people and has facilitated the growth of diverse cultural regions and this variety of languages. Most of these languages originated from the ancient Indian language called Sanskrit.

...that though Canadians on the surface may appear to be culturally "just like" their counterparts in the United States, there are distinct differences. Canadians have a strong respect for authority and treat government officials in their ten provinces with as much gentleness and deference as they do each other. Most Canadians are expected to represent the objectives of their organizations ahead of their personal objectives and there is a distaste for rugged individuality.

To follow up on the Cultural Tidbit presented in the last Critical Path…

How does the word familia connote more to a Latin American than the U.S. sense of the word family? In Latin America, in addition to meaning people who share a biological bond, the word familia is commonly used for relationships where there is comradery, such as within work teams or amongst artists. Salsa singers often use familia in their songs when referring to their fans and other salsa singers.

...that the word familia connotes much more to a Latin American than the U.S. sense of the word family. Understanding that not all words translate exactly from one language to another is important when communicating with people with a different native tongue.

...that Indonesia’s national motto "Bkinneka tunggal Ika" roughly translates to "unity through diversity"? Indonesia is a nation of 13,677 islands, of which 6,044 are inhabited, situated across the equator between the continents of Asia and Australia and is the largest archipelago in the world.

Storytelling and proverbs are revered in African culture. These oral traditions convey history, traditions, and values, preserving them for generations to follow. Their use continues to evolve and thrive today through communal experiences where they are told and retold.

Proverbs are the daughters of experience. - African Proverb

“…it is only the story that can continue beyond the war and the warrior. It is the story that outlives the sound of war-drums and the exploits of brave fighters.”
- Chinua Achebe, Nigerian Novelist and Poet

· that more than 7 million Muslims and another 3 million non-Muslims of Arab descent live in this U.S.?
· that the majority of Muslims in this country are not Arab, but African-American?
· that the majority of Arab-Americans are Christian?
· that George Mitchell, Donna Shalala, Ralph Nader, Helen Thomas and John Sununu are all Arab- Americans?
· that approximately one billion people from a vast range of races, nationalities and cultures across the globe are Muslim?
· that approximately 18% of the world’s Muslims live in the Arab world?
· that the native peoples of Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan are not Arab?
· that the world's largest Muslim community is in Indonesia?
· that substantial parts of Asia and most of Africa are Muslim?
· that significant numbers of Muslims can be found in the former Soviet Union, China, North and South America, and Europe?

Recent events have stimulated a lot of discussion about Muslims and people of Arab descent. The above facts are presented to provide some context for those discussions.

...that laugh clubs are being organized in Germany to combat the trend toward seriousness. Statistics show that on average Germans only laugh six minutes daily. As of the year 2000, there were 22 laughing clubs around the country with about 350 members.

…that in Japanese, the words corresponding to "yes" and "no" do not translate exactly to the English meanings? In Japanese culture, when two people are having a discussion, the word for "yes" may be used to convey that the person understands what the other person said, but doesn't necessarily mean that there is agreement about what was said. Also, in certain circumstances, "yes" may be said to be polite, when the actual answer is "no" (and vice versa) and the expectation is for the person on the receiving end to understand the difference between an actual "yes" and a polite "yes".

Understanding that the meanings associated with certain words can vary from one culture to another can help clear communication barriers. When we learn to communicate clearly with people different from ourselves, we avail ourselves to what they have to contribute.

…that the two most common hand gestures used in the U.S. to signal everything is “OK” have quite a different meaning in Iran? Let’s just say that they are only used in situations where everything is not okay.

Understanding that the meanings associated with certain behaviors can vary from one culture to another can help clear communication barriers. When we learn to communicate clearly with people different from ourselves, we avail ourselves to what they have to contribute.