Culture Clash

Cultural expressions can sometimes create confusion.

Split image showing a bold American speaker on the left and a subtle Japanese listener on the right.
Split image showing a bold American speaker on the left and a subtle Japanese listener on the right.
Cultural Expressions

  •  Cultural expressions and sayings are often rooted in the values, beliefs and traditions that make up a culture. They are part of the people’s identity and may have a rich historical background.

  • Sayings, idioms and proverbs enrich the language through vivid imagery. These can have different purposes often being used as advice or to simplify some more abstract thoughts.

A group of colorful speech bubbles on a wooden wall
A group of colorful speech bubbles on a wooden wall
Two speech bubbles overlapping, one bold and one subtle, illustrating cultural clash.
Two speech bubbles overlapping, one bold and one subtle, illustrating cultural clash.
Cultural clashes

Cultural clashes may arise if such expressions are translated literally into another idiom besides the one where they first originated. The language used is many times figurative and therefore should not be taken at face value.

Group Members

Lotfi Maherzi

Beatriz Serrano Fernandes

Yanis David

Chloé CONFAIS--MORIEUX

This project explores how expressions reflect cultural identity across societies.

“Language is not just words — it is culture in expression.”