Reading Response #3

Video Clip Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GT86iWiH2mI&feature=related

The video starts off at a quick pace; the setting is in a dimly lit room with a desk, a large map or chart of some kind, radios, perhaps radar equipment, communication devices, et cetera. We can immediately assume it to be a navigation room of some sort. Two people are present in the room and they’re both speaking to each other in a foreign language, id est, they’re not speaking English. The setting appears to be semi-formal or lightheartedly professional and we can instantly deduce who is in charge based on the nonverbal communication or body language being used. It looks as if there is an older person showing an apparent younger rookie the ropes, even though, unless the individual viewer knows German, that supposition can’t be inferred through verbal comprehension alone. After the superior displays a few objects, tools and probably discusses some of its functions and components, he gives his ostensibly naive trainee a fleet and moderately forceful, but friendly pat on the back, a gesture which might symbolize expectation and commitment; he then takes his mug and walks away. The rookie gives off a distraught, frustrated and nervous impression, possibly due to it being his first time on the job and his superior may have placed too much trust and confidence in his ability to do the job satisfactorily. In the next scene, a radio call comes in from what I assume to be a British vessel, they frantically call “mayday” repetitively over the radio, an emergency is certainly transpiring. The shipman repeatedly says over the radio that they’re sinking, but never refers to his ship, which is what we usually instantaneously presuppose to be actually sinking. Alas, the rookie doesn’t seem to fathom what he is trying to say. The rookie attempts to be articulate and understandable, he tells them that he is with the German Coast Guard in English. The shipman once again reiterates, “We’re sinking!” Now with the rookie being apparently confused by this message asks, “What are you…sinking about?” A quick pause is given and is then followed by sonorous classical music which interrupts the sober awkwardness, or from the audience’s perspective, the comical anecdote. The text “Improve your English” shows up, proceeding with a company logo and slogan, “Berlitz®” “Language for life” exemplifying that this was indeed an advertisement, and a rather humorous one at that.

We can easily surmise the situational setting even though the location takes place in what we, or at least I believe to be a different culture and country; this relation of understanding in these events serves as evidence that we as nation-states, are bringing our global perspectives together as most of us, irrespective of cultural backgrounds, can relate to, a nervous amateur being given a highly important position especially one where even a slight mistake could result in outright failures, even if we haven’t personally experienced such an important task. If a person watching this video clip doesn’t know the German language, he or she would almost solely have to rely on nonverbal communication factors to understand the preliminary dialogue that takes place. Cultural differences can also change body language meanings, but in this context they remain relatively similar in comparison to Western culture, exempli gratia, United States or Canadian cultures. The body language used throughout the video exhibits the attitude of both the rookie and superior. The rookie is of course taking the role of a naïve novice and is nervous about his performance on the first night on the job. The superior on the other hand seems calm and secure as he entrusts his distressed subordinate to maintain careful watch at the post. The most prominent part of the video is when the communication between rookie and shipman takes place. This coincides with the point of the advertiser’s product that they’re trying to sell, language learning and cultural training courses. With English at the present time apparently becoming the global lingua franca, it is important for most employees and workers in international fields to acquire the ability to speak proper and fluent English. The joke ingrains itself into this message risibly when the lack of understanding the shipman’s dire condition by the rookie is given with confused feedback and questioning, hilarious to an outside observer’s perspective since we know that this circumstance is not really occurring, or else it probably wouldn’t be quite as funny.