Recently in another one of my classes we discussed the importance of language in business relationships and the importance of coherent communication between parties of different native tongues. In this novel, Filkins discusses that a lot of the Iraqi's didn't know how to speak English as much as the English didn't know how to speak Arabic. They used technology in some instances to relay messages to the Iraqi's in non-violent situations. One Iraqi wanted permission to have water returned to his irrigation system. The Marines used their tape recording of different phrases to express that they were there to help the Iraqis, and sure enough, they returned the water to the Iraqi.
Communication barriers can have disastrous effects however. For example, what if the Marines did not have that tape recording? The Iraqi soldiers wandering into that part of the desert might have reacted violently to the Marine's gestures simply out of misunderstanding. Would you trust a soldier who invaded your country? I wouldn't. Imagine feeling that way every day simply because you can't speak the same language as those around you.
Filkins obviously had a translator with him wherever he went. It is lucky for him that he did because the translator has gotten him out of fatal and dangerous situations. Shortly after the tape-recorder event, Filkins discusses that one man wanted to kidnap him and hold him for ransom; they could split the profits. Thankfully his translator told him he wanted no part of that and saved Filkins from being a hostage of war. Filkins has an advantage here that the majority of people in Iraq and Afghanistan during the war did not and still do not have. If it weren't for the translators, Filkins may not have made it out of Iraq alive.
No comments:
Post a Comment