Lost in Translation Analysis- Interpersonal Communication

A reflection on “Lost in Translation” In everyday life, communication is constantly and subconsciously used. The importance of human connection in life is often overlooked. The Film “Lost in Translation” is focused on two main characters: Bob and Charlotte. They are Americans who have come to Tokyo for an extended stay. During each of their trips, the significance of human communication is brought to light. In the first half of the film, the characters do not meet which intensifies the communication concept of Culture Shock. Many forms of intercultural and inter-relational communication are imbedded in the progression of the characters’ experiences with Culture Shock. Beyond simply being in a foreign place, Bob and Charlotte have made the transition from a Low Context culture to a High Context Culture (America to Japan). High context cultures favor collective groups of people who share similar experiences and knowledge of their cultural content. More emphasis is placed on inferences to experience in high context communication. Often when groups communicate within a high context culture, messages are transmitted nonverbally: The culture itself does most of the talking. This poses a problem for an outsider, especially coming from a Low context culture. Low context cultures put emphasis on words which have concrete and absolute meanings; Most words have a specific meaning that is translatable to its listener. In a High Context Culture, words may require an understanding of a wide range of emotions and experiences. This immense transition of cultural context may intensify the effects of a Culture Shock. Kalvero Oberg, a renowned anthropologist, first coined the term ‘Culture Shock’ in 1960. Olberg used this term to express the anxiety that is felt from the exposure to a new culture. He noted that the phenomenon was comparable to a symptom producing ailment. Thus, Olberg developed a Disease Model to analyze the effects of Culture shock. “The disease model (or the

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