CPT Ketterlinus Presents Tarof to Cadets

CPT Leila Ketterlinus, an Iranian-born native Persian speaker and German Instructor, delivered a presentation to cadets enrolled in third semester German. CPT Ketterlinus presented on the similarities between the German and Persian languages and discussed Tarof, a Middle Eastern form of civility and a cultural behavior that dictates how people should treat each other in every social interaction. Tarof affects all aspects of life, from buying groceries to negotiating a nuclear deal. Cadets learned that Tarof is far more prevalent and complicated than many other decorous manners practiced throughout the world. Cadets practiced some basic Persian phrases and customs as well. This talk was part of a collaborative research project initiated by Dr. Richardson (German Section) on "Enhancing Multilingual and Multicultural Awareness.” CPT Ketterlinus has previously noted that prior exposure to German seems to be beneficial for the pronunciation of Persian. CPT Ketterlinus and Dr. Richardson are planning to present a more detailed report next semester at two conferences.