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however much she might, on occation, threaten in anger to do so
best before (end)

Glossary entry

English term or phrase:

Go native

English answer:

Immerse oneself in the local culture, often to the shock of those from whose culture you originally came

Added to glossary by Berni Armstrong
Dec 3, 2004 04:42
20 yrs ago
3 viewers *
English term

Go native

English Art/Literary Linguistics
I understand this is MOSTLY British English, and rather of historical context (that means not used often, especially politically correct, modern times).
It is for this reason I really like to have British colleagues' opinion about this expression. Of course I would also like to solicit any professional's (non-Brithish, that is) opinion just as well. Any insight will be highly appreciated.
Responses
5 +15 Immerse into the local culture
5 +3 to adopt the lifestyle of the local population, especially when it appears less civilized
5 +1 a person who is in a foreign country goes native, they begin to live and/or dress like the people..
3 +1 when in Rome do as the Romans
3 Used frequently in IT

Discussion

Alison Schwitzgebel Dec 4, 2004:
Richard: Thank you for your input, however as Alaa has already pointed out, it is up to the asker to chose the answer they feel to have helped them the most.
Alaa Zeineldine Dec 4, 2004:
Dear Richard. It seems that the English SC moderators are not available right now. This is a reminder that in general it is the asker's perogative to choose a suitable answer.
Non-ProZ.com Dec 4, 2004:
Richard, as I already said, the answer does not have to be "literal". My need has met.
Richard Benham Dec 4, 2004:
Except it's not English.
Non-ProZ.com Dec 4, 2004:
Thank you Richard for your additional comment. However what I need is not necessary a dictionary term. It's a insight either empirical or theoretical. Historically this expression arisen from ethnocentricsm, and there are pretty good thoughts in my part why I throw up this question to this forum. However to avoid a lengthy statement I skip the explanation what they were. For this Kurt's answer met my need.
Richard Benham Dec 4, 2004:
Actually, the answer you picked was the only one that was wrong. "To immerse *oneself* *in* the local culture" makes sense, but even that is not "going native". "Going native" implies also *adopting* the local culture.

Responses

+15
9 mins
Selected

Immerse into the local culture

It is very American too. When I was stationed in the Phillippines back in the late '70s, I attempted to learn the language, make friends, loved the food, and learned as much as I could about the people and culture. My mono-linguistic friends (who were McDonald's kind of guys), jokingly said I'd "gone native." Same thing happened to a lesser extent in Japan in the early "90s. I looked at it as more of an attempt to express admiration for the cultural immersion attempt. I didn't feel any derision.
Peer comment(s):
agree Judith Kerman : Definitely still in use, although it does seem less pejorative than it originally was. In its original time, I think it implied treason against one's own culture.
35 mins
Judith, thank you.
agree Teresa Reinhardt : Still used in the US in the context of International Education; see Kurt's explanation. Can be used with positive _and_ negative overtones
50 mins
Thank you, Teresa. As I stated above, when the term was applied to me, I looked at it as some positive admiration, perhaps tinged with a bit of jealousy. Of course, that could be me just in denial. :)
agree Alexandra Tussing
59 mins
Thank you, Alexandra.
agree zax
1 hr
Thank you, Zax.
agree RHELLER : immersed in
1 hr
Thank you, Rita...
agree Kevin Kelly : Still widely used in the US.
2 hrs
Thank you, Kevin.
agree Derek Gill Franßen : And I thought this was MOSTLY American English... ;-)
3 hrs
Thanks, Derek! To tell you the truth, me too. I'd never really stopped to consider the British roots/connections.
agree tappi_k
4 hrs
Thank you, tappitkarrassk.
agree Asghar Bhatti
6 hrs
Thank you, Asghar.
agree Tony M : Yes, and I agree with Judith et al that although once rather pejorative, these days it may also be regarded as positive; think of holiday brochures! And I can confirm BE historical usage...
7 hrs
Dusty, appreciate the input and thank you!
agree Jörgen Slet
8 hrs
Thank you, Jurgen.
agree vankovak
8 hrs
Thank you, vankovak.
agree Java Cafe
10 hrs
Thank you, Java, Cafe.
agree Eva Olsson : Often mildly derogatory, but not always.
11 hrs
Thank you, Eva.
agree airmailrpl : -
1 day 23 mins
Thank you.
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thank you Kurt for your very empirical insight. Thank you all who gave comments to his answer. I realized it is not a dead expression and yes it is not negative any more. I also found it interesting nobody mentioned "marrying to a local woman". On flipside Alaa's answer is so interesting to see such a twist in super-modern setting. Thank you all."
40 mins

Used frequently in IT

In the context of computers and IT, the phrase is used when switching to the native mode of a product or an operating system. This is native mode vs. virtual, emulation, or compatibility modes.

For example, a site may buy a 64 bit PC, but continue to run the operating system in 32 bit emulation mode, otherwise most of their applications may not run. Whenever the apps are ready (or done away with), the site can then "go native", i.e. change the operating system mode to native 64 bit mode. This is just one example. HTH!
Peer comment(s):
neutral Judith Kerman : Cool. Obviously an adaptation of the idea to a new situation.
4 mins
Something went wrong...
+1
2 hrs

a person who is in a foreign country goes native, they begin to live and/or dress like the people..

go native
If a person who is in a foreign country goes native, they begin to live and/or dress like the people who live there.
http://www.freesearch.co.uk/dictionary/go native
Peer comment(s):
agree trautlady : yes, and some even start to think like the natives
16 hrs
thank you
Something went wrong...
+1
3 hrs

when in Rome do as the Romans

hackneyed but apt
Peer comment(s):
agree Jörgen Slet
4 hrs
Something went wrong...
+3
5 hrs

to adopt the lifestyle of the local population, especially when it appears less civilized

The answers so far give the correct meaning of the expression but I'd like to add that I have always understood it to mean 'becoming (in their ways, dress, lifestyle) like the local population, ESPECIALLY when it appears less civilized'.
(I've just checked the Collins and it says the same)
HTH
Peer comment(s):
agree Jörgen Slet
2 hrs
Thanks Jorgen
agree Mathew Robinson
2 hrs
Thanks
agree Deborah Workman
2 hrs
Thanks Deborah
Something went wrong...
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