Can you determine where someone is from by their looks?
Discussion
davepoth said:
GTIR said:
I don't understand.
You know how when you ride a bicycle loads, the muscles you need to ride a bicycle develop? I think it's the same thing with the face, and making specific sounds. Some languages use certain noises much more often than others, which require certain muscles in the face to work in a certain way, so it would make sense that those muscles would develop differently in someone who was a native Chinese speaker, for example, than a native English speaker.In crayon if you can.
You normally can guess pretty well, as long as there is a bit of familiarity. Chinese and Japanese can often tell instantly. Even within China the different tribes can spot each other. We do often get particular physical characteristics.
I often walk into a room, think "she's pretty", as you do. She'll be French. It's uncanny.
I often walk into a room, think "she's pretty", as you do. She'll be French. It's uncanny.
GilbertGrape said:
No, from which country. For example, a large group of people from different countries, wearing the same clothing. Do you think you could match their faces to their country of origin?
I have wondered this and I do not think you can.You can narrow it down to general areas I think, but could you really pinpoint German, British, Norwegian, Finnish, Dutch, French, Luxembourger, Swiss, Danish. It would be guesswork.
grumbledoak said:
Chinese and Japanese can often tell instantly
Yep, and then even Korean on top of that for example. I guess it takes a while to get used to, but once you notice it, (which is pretty hard to describe) you'll always be able to tell.There are slight other things that help, maybe mannerisms,or dress sense, but I can often get English, Irish and Scottish pretty well too.
It's not perfect, and it some people don't give off a certain nationality, but those that do usually turn out to be correct.
When I'd lived in Kenya for a year I was able to tell which Kenyans belonged to which of the major tribes about 90% of the time. Also, I used to be able to tell people from the major areas of India. An Indian friend of mine identifies other Indians to the region on looks alone, though clothing and jewellry play a part apparently - and as I never go and ask them she might just be making it all up.
TheEnd said:
Yep, and then even Korean on top of that for example. I guess it takes a while to get used to, but once you notice it, (which is pretty hard to describe) you'll always be able to tell.
There are slight other things that help, maybe mannerisms,or dress sense, but I can often get English, Irish and Scottish pretty well too.
It's not perfect, and it some people don't give off a certain nationality, but those that do usually turn out to be correct.
Totally agree with this, work with a number of people of KR, JP and CN descent and, having come to know them and their appearances and mannerisms, can identify nationalities pretty well in public.There are slight other things that help, maybe mannerisms,or dress sense, but I can often get English, Irish and Scottish pretty well too.
It's not perfect, and it some people don't give off a certain nationality, but those that do usually turn out to be correct.
Americans and Canadians, usually pretty good at telling before they speak, and definitely after they have
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