Deaf Insights

How much etiquette do we need to respect and understand each other without offending or patronizing others ? Etiquette is essential to fostering mutual respect and understanding while avoiding any sense of superiority or condescension . “ Etiquette is the art of seeing others and respecting them ”, as described by Chinese philosopher Yixing Zhang . Etiquette can be fun or challenging when it comes to cultural differences . Interacting with an unfamiliar culture can be challenging , especially when it comes to etiquette in general .

As a world-traveler , I have a lot of experience in this area . The first one happened in Malaysia . Being American , I am accustomed to eating with both of my hands . However , during my first night in Kuala Lumpur with my Malaysian Deaf host family , I quickly learned that eating with two hands was not the norm around the world . As I sat on the floor eating dinner , my host family looked at me strangely . I soon realized that everyone held their food in one hand . The other hand was exclusively for bathroom use . It was then that I learned about Malaysian dining etiquette .

During my visit there , I discovered many aspects of Malaysian etiquette beyond dining , and I realized that American and Malaysian cultures differ significantly regarding customs and traditions . It was an eyeopening experience that taught me the importance of being aware of and respecting cultural differences .

My experience with my Deaf host family , taught me that etiquette is an essential aspect of communication and cultural understanding . It is crucial to be aware of and respect the customs and traditions of the people we interact with , especially when we are in an unfamiliar culture . By doing so , we can bridge cultural gaps and build meaningful connections with people from different backgrounds .

In this article we will explore the meaning of proper communication etiquette

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