Each language possesses a discreet set of sounds which combine in various ways to produce all the words of that language. Speakers are bound by the system of their own language. Their first language will color subsequent language learning with an accent. In order to study a living culture, we look at events of fairly short duration. An obversation of 10 - 15 minutes is common.
Words are meaningless without appropriate delivery.
The pitch of one s voice can change a sentence to a question in a fraction of a second. The fact that communication can be altered so rapidly on the cultural level is often responsible for the confusion which is so pervasive in cross-cultural exchanges. In order to commujnicate personali- ty, much more input is required. Personality comes through rather slowly and is only fully known after years. Nouveau Guide France .