topic Re: Universal language in Community Chat

Universal language

qualitygal — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 11:29:53 GMT

I think it might be music. Others might say love.

What say you?

Re: Universal language

wilma — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 12:02:54 GMT

I agree music can be universal. I also think a smile and laughter can be universal.

Re: Universal language

June222 — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 12:06:40 GMT

MONEY$$$$$$

Re: Universal language

CatsyCline — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 14:45:25 GMT

" If you smile at me, I will understand
'Cause that is something everybody everywhere does
In the same language..."

Wooden Ships - Crosby Stills & Nash

lyricsDavid Crosby/Stephen Stills/Paul Kantner

Re: Universal language

momtochloe — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 14:46:10 GMT

@ashleigh dupray wrote:

" If you smile at me, I will understand
'Cause that is something everybody everywhere does
In the same language..."

Wooden Ships - Crosby Stills & Nash

lyricsDavid Crosby/Stephen Stills/Paul Kantner

I was just going to post "a smile" but you said it much more beautifully! . . .

Re: Universal language

AngusandBuddhasMom — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 14:48:24 GMT

A coke and a smile:

Re: Universal language

sunshine45 — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 14:52:40 GMT

hands down.....COMPASSION.....there can never be too much and usually there is never enough.

When sincere Compassion is practiced more and more,
there will be lots of happiness and peace in store. (author unknown)

Re: Universal language

straykatz — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 16:29:07 GMT

A head nod....a yes nod means yes no matter where you go...and a no nod means no everywhere.

Re: Universal language

faeriemoon — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 17:31:59 GMT

Math

Re: Universal language

Chrystaltree2 — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 17:38:24 GMT

I say it's money.....

Re: Universal language

tansy — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 17:46:41 GMT

Good food.

Re: Universal language

Lila Belle — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 20:00:09 GMT

Laughter

Re: Universal language

MacDUFF — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 21:39:11 GMT

@faeriemoon

I was thinking physics LOL.

Re: Universal language

ChynnaBlue — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 21:50:52 GMT

Money isn't universal. There are still cultures in the world that use the barter system and don't have currency.

America and western culture are not the whole of the universe.

Re: Universal language

Bestdressed — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 21:56:34 GMT

A hug

Re: Universal language

MacDUFF — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 22:13:10 GMT

DNA?

Re: Universal language

MacDUFF — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 22:14:36 GMT

I know!! Emoticons! LOL!

Re: Universal language

ChynnaBlue — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 22:31:18 GMT

@qualitygal wrote:
I think it might be music. Others might say love.
What say you?

I understand why this seems appealing and I want to agree, but it excludes the hearing impaired who can't hear music. I don't think a true universal language would exclude people.

This seems negative, but maybe pain and suffering are universal. Everyone knows pain, either physical or emotional. People who can't feel physical pain are rare, but they do feel emotional pain. People who can't feel emotional pain are less rare, but they can feel physical pain. Feeling pain allows most of us to recognize it in others and that allows most people to feel compassion and empathy. Compassion and empathy make the world a better place and we would have neither if we didn't know pain and suffering,

Re: Universal language

sailor_moon — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 22:44:00 GMT

@straykatz wrote:
A head nod....a yes nod means yes no matter where you go...and a no nod means no everywhere.

In certain countries, nodding your head up and down means no, and shaking your head from side to side means yes.

On the other hand, profanity gestures are probably more universal.

Re: Universal language

ChynnaBlue — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 23:29:48 GMT

@sailor moon wrote:
@straykatz wrote:
A head nod....a yes nod means yes no matter where you go...and a no nod means no everywhere.
In certain countries, nodding your head up and down means no, and shaking your head from side to side means yes.
On the other hand, profanity gestures are probably more universal.

Yes, even a head shake is not universal. And neither are profanity gestures. A thumbs up is an offensive gesture in some cultures and using the US "OK" symbol is the same as the middle finger in other places.

I do communications and training for a global corporation and we are always very careful of the photographs and images we use in presentations. I have to be careful of pictures, word choices, and colors because of cultural differences.

If you are talking about a universal language, you need to expand the focus to think beyond the United States, North America, or the western world.