cover of episode Ep. 16: Kunming-native American cowboy Bruce Wang speaks English with perfect Southern accent

Ep. 16: Kunming-native American cowboy Bruce Wang speaks English with perfect Southern accent

2021/9/30
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布鲁斯·王，一位出生在中国云南昆明的年轻人，在美期间，他不仅学习了纯正的美国南方口音，还成为了一个牛仔，并通过制作视频分享牛仔生活。这一转变源于他希望增强身份认同感，以及对南方文化的认同。他认为南方文化质朴、谦逊的特性与他家乡的农村地区相似，这让他感到安心和归属感。在学习口音的过程中，他逐渐改变了对美国的看法，并最终决定攻读博士学位，研究语言和跨文化理解。 布鲁斯·王分享了他在美国的经历，包括他如何克服文化冲突，以及如何与美国牛仔群体建立联系。他认为，超越刻板印象，从个人层面了解他人，才能建立真正的友谊。他还谈到了美国社会对种族和身份认同的关注，以及媒体对社会分裂的影响。他认为，在现实生活中，人们往往比媒体描绘的更加包容和友善。 布鲁斯·王认为，他的牛仔身份和语言能力，特别是南方口音，帮助他更好地进行学术研究，并让他对语言和身份认同之间的关系有了更深刻的理解。他计划在博士论文中探讨不同社会发展模式的相似性，以及语言和身份认同之间的复杂关系。他认为，语言不仅是沟通的工具，也是文化和社会规范的载体，它会影响人们的认知和行为。 理查德·严作为主持人，引导布鲁斯·王分享了他的经历和观点，并就跨文化认同、语言、种族等话题与他进行了深入的探讨。他帮助布鲁斯·王理清思路，并引导他深入思考自身经历背后的原因和意义。

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Chapters
Bruce Wang, born in Kunming, China, moved to the US and unexpectedly embraced cowboy culture. This chapter explores his journey, including his adoption of a Southern accent and his integration into the cattle industry, initially intending to export beef to China. He discusses the challenges he faced and his unique experience as a Chinese cowboy.
  • Bruce Wang's background in Kunming, Yunnan, China
  • His move to the US and adoption of a Southern accent
  • His initial goal of exporting US beef to China
  • His transition into working with cattle and becoming a cowboy
  • His unique identity as a Chinese cowboy

Shownotes Transcript

Bruce Wang is a Chinese cowboy. Not an ethnically Chinese person that was born in Texas, but someone born and bred in Yunnan, China.

He came to the US as a college student. He adopted a Southern accent, started dressing like a cowboy, and started making videos about how cowboys spend their time.

We talked about why he decided to become a cowboy, why he felt the cowboy culture reminded him of his hometown of Kunming, how he felt different when speaking a different language, and how he dealt with an identity crisis.

We also talked about whether he has encountered acts of racism and racial ignorance, his plans to dedicate his Ph.D. to the intersection of languages and cross-cultural understanding, and more.