Research Stories

by Sheilah Britton

Victor Agadjanian knows that clear communication is a key to intercultural understanding. Words are tools to avoid garbled messages. But they have to be the correct words.

The ASU sociology professor speaks eight languages. He is fluent in his native Russian and in English, as well as Armenian, Portuguese, Spanish, French, Swahili, and Shangana, the language of Mozambique.

Speaking the language of the locals is a great asset for a visitor. It is doubly important for a scientist studying a culture. Agadjanian says that it allows for the establishment of great rapport between people.

"People feel differently when foreigners speak their languages," he explains. "Knowing the language also helps you monitor the work of your team. I can catch some errors or problems before they make it to translation into Portuguese."

The differences between African and western languages can be severe or subtle. Poor translation can result in embarrassment or bigger problems. The ASU professor says that many expressions, terms, and concepts require specific words for accurate description.

"For example, polygamous marriages are common in Mozambique," he explains. "When you talk about women who are in polygamous marriages, they refer to other wives of their husbands in their native language, Shangana. They say maquid—which means sister. When they talk of the other wives in Portuguese, they translate the word into rival."

In their native language polygamy is a norm–the term is sister. The meaning is obvious. But Portuguese is a western language associated with Christianity. A second or third wife becomes a rival, tension, or an element of competition. For women in Mozambique, the terms are fully equivalent.

Agadjanian adds, "When you think of other terms of that sort that seem to be fully equivalent, they actually represent major cultural leaps."

Read more about Victor Agadjanian's research in "Spiritualism in the HIV world."