Who Has the Right Answer? Differential Cultural Emphasis in Question/Answer Structures and the Case of Hmong Students at a Northern California High School
Author(s):
Findlay, Michael Shaw
Format:
Journal article
Citation:
Issues In Applied Linguistics, Volume 6, Issue 1 (1995-06). pp. 23-38.
Language:
English
Abstract:
An ethnographic study of Hmong students' behavior focuses on responses of Hmong students (N unspecified) attending a northern CA high school to teacher-generated questions. Noting the Hmong patterns of communicative interaction emphasizing group identity, modesty, passive observation, limited speech, cooperation, & formal respect, it is concluded that behavior categorized as "shyness" by educators is actually a display of normative language socialization rules in traditional Hmong society. It is also surmised that underlying cultural emphasis used by students to answer certain types of content-related questions produces answers considered incorrect & hinders communication between students & non-Hmong teachers. The implementation of cultural & linguistic assistance & theoretical models are suggested to develop a workable understanding of how culture influences the situational construction of question/response exchanges. 1 Table, 24 References. Adapted from the source document