The Never-Ending Game of Catch Phrase
Do you know the fun party game called Catch Phrase? I used to really like that game, but now it's our life.
Games like Charades, Pictionary, Taboo, or Catch Phrase are common every day occurrences for any average language learner, but I can't help but think it's a little more complicated in French. Being a high-context culture means that word choice becomes much more important, and therefore, we must get the actual word, not just a close synonym.
"I'm looking for a synonym for _________," our professor often says. As the class begins giving words, she regularly scrunches her face in thought, shrugs her shoulders, and shakes her head. "Well...," she hesitates, "You have reason, but no..... Almost, but not exactly." If it's not the exact word that she has in her head, it must not be a true synonym.
If we were actually playing the game of Catch Phrase, we'd definitely be the losing team.
Or perhaps it's more like the game of Connection. 10, 9, 8, 7….
Games like Charades, Pictionary, Taboo, or Catch Phrase are common every day occurrences for any average language learner, but I can't help but think it's a little more complicated in French. Being a high-context culture means that word choice becomes much more important, and therefore, we must get the actual word, not just a close synonym.
If we were actually playing the game of Catch Phrase, we'd definitely be the losing team.
Or perhaps it's more like the game of Connection. 10, 9, 8, 7….
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