It's Not a Language Problem... 不是语言的问题...

The toughest problems communicating in Beijing arise not when a foreigner can't speak enough Chinese to explain what you mean, but when your meaning is so foreign it can't be explained. It's not a language problem, it's a conceptual problem. Or, as one of my colleague's teachers told him on a painful day, "Your language is fine. It's your thought process that's wrong."

One example is the American who asked me to help him translate his request to return a good to a salesman on the street for his money back. He realized he'd been overcharged (by about 1000%) for an item he purchased that he suspected all along was counterfeit, but he had believed would at least be better quality. He believed product failure within 12 hours was sufficient reason for a return. He also believed the reason the vendor wouldn't comply with his request was my inability to explain it in Chinese. He was wrong on all counts.

Such miscommunication is understandable between a street vendor and a fresh-off-the-boat China newbie, I guess. I was much more surprised when it happened with a very with-it, educated, open-minded Chinese friend who speaks excellent English and often hangs out with Westerners. When I mentioned a fundraiser I attended for the 2007 Special Olympics World Games 特殊奥运会, which are going to be held in China, my friend said, "Ah, right, the 'Handicapped Olympics' 残疾奥运会."

I pointed out the term "special" in English - and in Chinese, for that matter - highlights the special qualities the athletes demonstrate in daily life and in competition. The word "handicapped," on the other hand, suggests being held back by something, when clearly athletes who train for a long time and come from all over the world to compete are not letting themselves be held back.

"Oh, there's nothing negative about the word handicapped," was the response, "It just means that their body is broken or they are weak in the head." I'm not particularly PC, but I couldn't take that definition any more than my friend could understand why it bothered me.

In general, any portion of the population that is markedly different from the other 1.4 billion people around here has a tough time. I was glad to see the enthusiasm at the fundraiser, as well as the other events in the leadup to the Special Olympics, which should increase awareness. The government has made some effort in this regard. On May 20, mobile phone customers in Beijing received a SMS blast message notifying us of the 17th annual National Help the Disabled Day (全国助残日), which is held on the third Sunday of May. The message encouraged Beijingers to consider the situation of disabled people in society. I'm sure all the international attention approaching the Olympics does not hurt the effort to shine some light on this aspect of human rights in China.

For more information about the 2007 Special Olympics, follow this link to the web site. The fundraiser, by the way, was to raise money for an website that will show results and live and archived streaming video of each athlete so friends and relatives can watch from anywhere in the world.