Una Abracadabra

Indirect Communication

- How Taiwanese express themselves-

Do you sometimes find it difficult to understand

what yours taiwanese friends or colleagues are trying to express?

You may already realize that the Taiwanese ofen speak in a very indirect way

and what is NOT said is more important than what is.

As an example, take a look at these indirect phrases:

1. If a Taiwanese person asks: " Is it difficult to put the computer back together?"

it could mean "Put the computer back together now. I need to use it."

2. If a local asks "Do you know where I can get a tuxedo shirt?",

the implication is "You need to recommend a place and if possible, accompany me" 

3. If a Taiwanese says: "Sogo has s sale, and everything is 50%off",

it might mean 'it's a bargain! Let's go and spend some money now"

or "It's a great place for you to get me a present."

♥

Taiwan A to Z: The Essential Cultural Guide

ISBN 9789579784764 第103頁

這本書作者雖然十三歲就與家人移民至美國居住，

但對於台灣傳統文化依然相當眷戀，

於是便有了這本從外國人的角度來看台灣的文化書

以旅遊觀光來說，這本書幾乎不具參考價值，

但以文化層面來說，這本書宛如一本小辭典，

從台灣人對ABC的看法、傳統節慶、台灣人情、種族、自我認同、各種產業、飲食文化等等，

即便我是土生土長的台灣人，讀了之後也相當驚喜。

♥

另外想分享的是，我如何購得這本書？

當時我還在輔大念書，由於每到開學首周，就必須到校內的敦煌書局去購買上課用書，

敦煌書局的安排極為有趣，往往是一箱箱書貼上課程、系所名稱後，

便直接任學生購買，

於是乎，觀察大家上課都看甚麼書，是我的小嗜好。

偶然地，在一堂英文系的文化課程中，發現這本有意思的書，

書名立刻吸引了我，僅閱讀完目錄便決定買回家。

 ♥

隨意翻開你手邊的一本書的任何一頁，寫下映入眼簾的第一個句子，

或是寫下你正在閱讀的書籍的句子，

標上書名、ISBN和頁數，當作回應。

閱讀讓思想更有力量，我們一起來讀書。