The language barrier between foreigners and Chinese is often cited as one of the most frustrating issues expats face when moving to China. While some foreigners speak Mandarin like pros (with the truly ambitious ones even learning the local dialect), the vast majority of us are happy enough to get by with basic "survival Chinese". Instead, English is frequently used between many expats—even non-native speakers—who quickly grow used to the idea that since they cannot understand the Chinese, then the Chinese cannot understand them. Yet, as the number of Chinese learning English continues to increase, this sort of attitude will only lead to more and more awkward situations in which foreigners inadvertently share way too much in public.

Consider our inhibitions officially lowered

Moving to China without knowing the language can feel somewhat liberating at first, as conversations and behaviors that would normally be appropriate only in the privacy of one's home (or not at all) seem to be cloaked in a feeling of anonymity that only a complete lack of language knowledge can provide. Those who have recently relocated here tend to think the occasional obscenity thrown at a cab driver who almost runs them over or an explicit public conversation about their sexual (mis)adventures is completely acceptable—because "no one can understand" them. This idea can lead to embarrassment on both sides, even with the most innocent of conversations. I'll never forget the time years ago when, riding the elevator up to my apartment, I was asked by an elderly Chinese woman, in English, where I was from. I answered her and then proceeded to compliment her on her English, only for her to say "Yes, well, I'm Canadian." Oh.

More recently, in the wake of the anti-foreigner sentiment that has seemingly been aroused by foreigners behaving badly (such as the Russian cellist who, in Chinese, insulted a woman on the bus) and the infamous call by television news anchor Yang Rui to "clean out the foreign trash," some expats are beginning to reconsider the notion that speaking English will ensure that they're not understood and simply disregarded by casual bystanders. In addition, Western gestures—like flipping the middle finger—have spread like wildfire in China. Whereas a few short years ago a raised middle finger would have been met with blank stares by a Chinese person, more recently I've witnessed Chinese using that vanilla of wordless insults on foreigners and Chinese alike around Shanghai. Apparently body language is all you need.

English on the rise

China's rapid development, particularly in recent years, has been a large part of the appeal for foreigners who are looking for new job opportunities or adventures abroad. This can often lead to that beaten-to-death concept of "the bubble," in which expats feel insulated from locals—often due in large part to this perceived language barrier. Yet, as China's economic power continues to grow, so too do the opportunities for learning English. The Economist estimates that over 300 million Chinese people are either currently studying or have studied English. Obviously, these English learners are more heavily concentrated in the big cities, which, not so coincidentally, is where the majority of the approximately one million foreigners living in China tend to flock. This is resulting in plenty of English-speaking expats looking like idiots when caught in public talking about [insert embarrassing personal story here], surrounded by Chinese people who actually understand pretty much every word they're saying.

"Deindividuation"

As previously mentioned, it's quite easy as a fresh-off-the-plane China expat to believe that you're insulated from the rest of the population, often due to the fact that you cannot understand the language and, therefore, believe they can't be understood either. This can lead to the saying hurtful, insulting, or embarrassing things in public without the kind of consideration that one would give if everyone spoke a common language (Side note: this undoubtedly happens in the reverse situation as well. Chinese people speak in Mandarin or a local dialect in front of foreigners with the purpose of insulting or criticizing them, assuming they can only be understood by their immediate party). But what makes people more likely to be mean, even downright cruel, if they believe they are isolated from a situation?

It turns out that this phenomenon is very similar to the one occurring online, where people say (or type) disgustingly horrific things because of the veil of anonymity that usernames allow. One need only scroll through the comments section of any forum to see examples of depraved cowards spewing hateful comments or judgments that they would never have the courage to say to someone's face. As Daniel Martin, a visiting associate professor at Stanford University's Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education, explains, "Psychologists call it deindividuation…When in a mask or uniform or group, you cease to recognize even yourself as an individual and therefore don't see others that way either…you don't see how you're hurting someone." For expats, this "mask" of speaking English in China simply will not last much longer.

Mind Your P's and Q's

Conflicts between expats and locals will surely continue to rise if expats don't come to grips with the fact that their once protective language barrier is quickly deteriorating. Obvious though it may be, it still bares saying: it's always a good idea to assume that everyone around you can understand what you're saying at all times in order to avoid embarrassment or needless confrontation. As Jan Selmer says in Language Ability and Adjustment: Western Expatriates in China, without a common language, "uncertainty within the relationship will be increased, manifesting itself in suspicion, caution, and mistrust." This already tenuous language barrier should encourage everyone to treat each other with respect, even if the words themselves cannot be communicated directly. After all, everyone understands a smile.
 

Related links
Cross Cultural Communication in China – Yes, No, and Maybe
Be Warned! Top 10 Chinese-Westerner Misunderstandings (According to Chinese)
9 Potentially Exasperating/Embarrassing Moments to Avoid in China

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Keywords: Expat China lower inhibitions expat survival Chinese expat China overshare expat China language barrier