Tofugu Comments - Latest Comments in Japanese people aren’t actually impressed with your Japanese

Re: Japanese people aren’t actually impressed with your Japanese

Yu ゆう — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 17:32:02 -0000

はじめまして。
i saw your videa and i was shocked. Japanese don't think like that!
I don't completely your idea. why do you think so??

私は日本人だけど、日本語を話すのは日本人しかいないから
自分たちのことをすごいとか思ったことなんてありません。
というか、そんなこと考える日本人はいるの？
日本人はそんなこと思いませんよ！勘違い！
私が思うに、ただ単に日本人にとって外国人がめずらしいからだと思います。
どのくらいの外国人が日本語を学んでいるかわかりませんが、
日本は島国だし、日本人しかいないし、普通に生活していて外国人と接することは
あまりないのでしょうか？だからただ単に、”うれしい”という気持ちで
すごいっていうんだと思いますよ。
実際、外国人だって同じでしょ？
母国の言葉を学んでると聞いたらうれしいし、そのあらわれとして”すごい”と言ってるんでしょ？
なんでそこまで深く考えるのですか？

日本がそういういやな国だと思われたくないのでコメントしました。

Re: Japanese people aren’t actually impressed with your Japanese

EmmVau — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 15:33:10 -0000

No matter how bad your pronunciation is, no matter who makes fun of you, speaking multiple languages opens up the world to you, with all it's wisdom and knowledge.
I'm german, I grew up in France, I speak english and have studied some italian. Japanese and russian are on the list ;-) ... someday...
It's just so awesome to be able to read so various stuff from all over the world. Especially today with Internet.

But then again, a foreigner speaking YOUR language with an ugly-ass accent can be like a slap in the face. I'm like "Wow. Just STFU, please!".
Of course, I don't say anything ;-) - Don't judge if you don't want to be judged.
I understand how hard it is to talk to someone in a foreign language - It can really drain all your energy.
The most horrible I know are french speaking german, and in reverse. Also, native Englishspeakers sound terrible when speaking french.
The difference between Latin and Germanic languages I guess. But you need to be pretty good to notice those accents.

Now I took first steps in studying Japanese - triple challenge:
* The alphabet changes
* It doesn't even follow the same logic (sounds not letters) oO
* The speaking
But it'll be fun! Learning is awesome!

PS: Interesting content here - I'll snoop around here more often I think...
PPS: As a german I feel that I have no right to criticize on the "No Foreigners!" subject, but I sincerely hope people can get over that kind of stuff.

Bye

Re: Japanese people aren’t actually impressed with your Japanese

ヘレン — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 20:43:10 -0000

I think one of the reasons the Japanese are probably not that impressed with American's Japanese is that they were forced to learn our language, they can throw out handful's of English, what's s great about us screaming COMITIWA!! (That's how my mom says it ><)
My Japanese relatives are pretty impressed (to the point of looking around to see who was ACTUALLY speaking) that I can make complete sentences now, because the last time they saw me I didn't even know what こんいちわ　was.

Re: Japanese people aren’t actually impressed with your Japanese

Anna — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 23:22:04 -0000

Is this just americans, or does it apply to other cultures as well--even other asian cultures? (ex. chinese, koreans, even indians... 0___0?)

Re: Japanese people aren’t actually impressed with your Japanese

Ana_chan — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 17:40:54 -0000

Thanks for the article and video! It created such an interesting debate! Between the people who don't read the other posts and say "bleah, it sucks" and the discussions about languages and assimilation to a culture, I feel like I haven't been this interested in forum discussion in-- well, ever.
As many people pointed out, it's a bit sad to think that some native speakers won't be honest and tell us that we suck at Japanese, but actually hearing it might be a heavy blow to one's pride too. I'm learning Japanese knowing that it's practically impossible not to have an accent and all, but why not see it as a challenge? C'mon, people, spirit's the key! x)

Re: Japanese people aren’t actually impressed with your Japanese

Ana_chan — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 17:13:52 -0000

Le "Doucheosaurus-rex" est une espèce de primate agressif dont l'origine remonte à plusieurs millions d'années et dont le discours réactionnaire et particulièrement naze nous autorise à penser qu'elle aurait dû disparaître *avec* les autres gros lézards au cerveau format "pois-chiche."
The "Doucheosaurus-rex" is an aggressive primate species which goes back several millions of years and whose reactionary and rather lame speech allows us to surmise that it should have disappeared *with* all the other pea-brained, fat lizards.
Another explanation for non-native English speakers by a non-native English speaker. Hope I got it right. =)

Re: Japanese people aren’t actually impressed with your Japanese

RMilner — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 05:04:17 -0000

I read a long time ago you will know your Japanese is getting good because Japanese listeners will stop complimenting you and start criticising you.

Anyway it is the writing that is the big problem.

Re: Japanese people aren’t actually impressed with your Japanese

alexis olson — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 02:17:54 -0000

awh, i am staying with a host family this summer for 14 days in Japan, and I think my Japanese has gotten pretty good. If I speak Japanese while there, will the people there give me more respect for actually being able to speak a little, or just look at me like I am retarded? But will they also look at me like I am retarded as well if I just speak english? Awh, I guess they will find me retarded either way :( but which way makes me look less retarded?

Re: Japanese people aren’t actually impressed with your Japanese

Pachi_PMT — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 17:27:05 -0000

Um... Who the heck is 'adverb police'? LOL

Re: Japanese people aren’t actually impressed with your Japanese

Kurohana — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 11:45:55 -0000

This is pretty mean, lol, but necessary. The only thing bothersome is the big caucasians with the special brains thing, lol.

Re: Japanese people aren’t actually impressed with your Japanese

duseldorf — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 03:35:31 -0000

this is depressing

Re: Japanese people aren’t actually impressed with your Japanese

kakapoopy — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 07:14:23 -0000

Well that sucks.

Re: Japanese people aren’t actually impressed with your Japanese

ergu — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:16:51 -0000

I just got back from Japan. It was a short visit, but I can see where this applies. It was hard to get Japanese people to talk to me in Japanese. It felt like they only expected me to know the one phrase I said to them initially, and then be clueless about the rest of the language.

Re: Japanese people aren’t actually impressed with your Japanese

ilenia — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 18:05:38 -0000

Konnichi wa. I' m an Italian student and I' m studying Japanese now. This is my first year at university and some nihonjin sensei are trying to discouraged me. So I started to think ...what the hell! What isn' t working? Why I' m not able to learn Japanese?........But when I read this article I feld better because this is my thought too.
Your videos are very interesting. Thank you very much.
Ilenia.

Re: Japanese people aren’t actually impressed with your Japanese

zattsu-ooru — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 06:05:26 -0000

I found a new one.... There is the popular belief that they lack an enzyme in their stomachs that makes them get drunk too easily.... that one might be true.... have you ever seen a Japanese sober after drinking?

Re: Japanese people aren’t actually impressed with your Japanese

mmnessa — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 17:52:46 -0000

I dunn really know how Japanese people feel when a foreigner speaks Japanese, and I guess it depends on the person they talk to, but I do know that when an American speaks in Spanish, native speakers are very impressed- not with how good they're at it, but for trying. We don't show emotions like Japanese people do, but it doesn't mean we don't think like them.

I remember my English teacher had a perfect Venezuelan accent and could spell better than any native speaker, but his looks gave him away. It was kinda funny though how he would start a conversation in perfect Spanish but the person he was talking to would INSIST in using their broken English skills instead.

I wonder if it's the same in Japan; no matter how well you handle the language, they think you're still a foreigner and automatically you're not as good at it as the next native speaker.

Re: Japanese people aren’t actually impressed with your Japanese

soturin — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 17:34:37 -0000

even if they are not immpressed, they are pleasently surprised or a bit proud that you at least try to speak their language

Re: Japanese people aren’t actually impressed with your Japanese

paranoid — Sat, 31 May 2008 21:10:43 -0000

Seesmic video reply from Disqus.

Re: Japanese people aren’t actually impressed with your Japanese

oo0speed0oo — Thu, 29 May 2008 13:44:52 -0000

Its sad to know thats what Japanese people think.... but that doesn't deter me from still wanting to learn the language.

Re: Japanese people aren’t actually impressed with your Japanese

koichi — Sat, 24 May 2008 14:51:53 -0000

fish fish fish fish.
yeah, i'm a native english speaker. I bet now you think my english is pretty luke warm :)

Re: Japanese people aren’t actually impressed with your Japanese

Tofugu_Erin — Sat, 24 May 2008 12:43:58 -0000

Koichi is also a native English speaker :D

Re: Japanese people aren’t actually impressed with your Japanese

Steven — Sat, 24 May 2008 10:40:51 -0000

As a native English speaker, I think your English is perfect! Did you grow up/live in the US? It almost makes me wonder if you are fishing for compliments...XD

Thank you for the article

Re: Japanese people aren’t actually impressed with your Japanese

DeeLeigh — Thu, 22 May 2008 23:32:03 -0000

This explains so much!! Now I know what my former co-workers REALLY thought every time I opened my mouth. ...I have a new sense of enlightenment and a profound sadness! I agree with Chimiko! I have gotten a few responses where some Japanese people think I'm a big freak...

Re: Japanese people aren’t actually impressed with your Japanese

insomniacgamer — Thu, 22 May 2008 18:59:10 -0000

that's why i shop at しまむら。

Re: Japanese people aren’t actually impressed with your Japanese

Chimiko — Thu, 22 May 2008 16:30:56 -0000

I get the feeling that some Japanese people hates it when you want to try your Japanese on them, no matter how good you think and say it is... ><;;.