Clashes between two value systems boundaries are common.

It seems that the author of the original post knows both Chinese and English pretty well. Then he/she probably knows that the art of translating one language into another is not a slam dunk. Otherwise a machine can replace a translator. For example, what's the meaning of "个人界限" to an ordinary Chinese? Not quite sure because it’s not in their dictionary《新华字典》. The relevant words they use in their daily conversations are "太过分了" "出格了" "欺人太甚" "咱俩谁跟谁呀" "一笔写不出两个李字". To a Chinese, the "personal boundary" thing depends on the circumstances such as how close two parties are, whether they are in the same family, whether they are business partners or rivals, and their relative social status. In that sense, it is very PERSONAL.

By definition, boundary means a line upon which something stops and another thing begins. But it is hardly set in stone. Nor is it well defined. We could be trained to become more sensitive about the issue so that two parties involved can discuss the RIGHT way of communication. Should we put other people's feeling first or should we express ourselves freely? How should we present OURSELVES, as an individual or part of a collective mass? Should we ask for help from others or should we leave everything to ourselves and our fates? There are not right or wrong answers to any of the above questions. What you decide to do is your own choice and you live or die with it.

One muggle

所有跟帖： 

• Thank you for your comment -洁心- ♀ (58 bytes) () 02/19/2008 postreply 23:22:45