The meaning of references. Thanks.

Question

Dear all,
Could you tell me the exact meaning of "reference" in the following sentence? Thank you.

A: How can understanding a foreign culture help us learn that country's language?
B: It helps us understand slang, idioms, references made by native speakers.

Thanks again.

Ivanhr · Accepted Answer

I'm not sure if this is what you want but the "it" in B is a reference to the "understanding a foreign culture" part in A.

Anonymous · Answer

Hello, Adonis:

I think that "references" in B refers (!) to things native speakers refer to. That is, things that they speak about or mention.

For example, if I refer to the Big Apple, I am referring to New York City.

If I refer to Uncle Miltie, I am referring to a super popular TV comedian named Milton Berle way, way back in the 1950's. Even young Americans would have no idea about what I was referring to if I mentioned "Uncle Miltie." They would ask, "Who?"

And when I was young, if a boy asked his father for $10, his father might reply: "$10! Who do you think I am? Rockefeller?"
His father would be referring to John Rockefeller, a super rich American businessman (who died in 1937, the same year in which I was born).

Yes, Adonis, if you want to be fluent (really fluent) in a language, you MUST know its culture. Suppose your country hires you to be an interpreter at the United Nations. What would you do if you heard an American speaker refer to the Big Apple, Uncle Miltie, or Rockefeller?

HAVE A NICE DAY!

The meaning of references. Thanks.

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