tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64363213591467656032024-02-08T11:19:58.636-08:00Fresh Leaves, Pale FruitYou're gonna earn those colorsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00777052796992673020noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436321359146765603.post-21486436231515979762013-04-03T16:56:00.001-07:002013-06-02T15:46:59.788-07:00Managing the Legalities: Okinawa: the Champloo Islands<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; line-height: 200%;">Mixing things together, known by some as </span><i style="font-family: 'Courier New'; line-height: 200%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chanpuru" target="_blank">Champloo</a>,</i><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; line-height: 200%;">
is a trait signature to its daily life. Why? Well, consider how the cultures of
mainland Japan, America, China, those native to the islands, and others have
mixed together throughout its history to create the whole its denizens know
today, both for worse and for better. Why for worse?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;"> The
short version is that Okinawa, in it's history, was once an independent nation
with its own kingdom (complete with an oppressive ruler!). This kingdom was
soon brought down by invaders from mainland Japan, who, after establishing a
presence, tried to essentially rewrite its past through the suppression of it's
native culture and language. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;"> Some
time after that, the US Army came and set up base on Okinawa during WWII,
bringing with it a great influence on the music, cuisine(see Spam Musubi, Taco
Rice, Tofu chanpuru and others) and the way locals view the Army presence; this
view, thanks to the vast consumption of resources,<a href="http://closethebase.org/us-military-bases/incidents-involving-us-military-in-okinawa/" target="_blank"> a history of vile acts by military folks</a>, and numerous other factors, has been less than positive, as of
this writing, and continues to drive the politics and other developments within
the community. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;"> China,
in contrast, has had a long standing and intricate connection to Okinawa's
development, from its architecture, its cuisine, the culture built through
centuries of international trading, and much more. Why, if you wanna see that
influence in person, just check out <a href="http://www.jcastle.info/castle/profile/69-Shuri-Castle" target="_blank">Shuri Castle</a> and its bountiful Shisa lions!
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;"> Complimenting
that relationship is the native beauty and wonder found throughout the islands;
for example, consider the pristine beaches of <a href="http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e7300.html" target="_blank">Miyako Island</a>, the elephant-like
cliffs of <a href="http://okinawahai.com/2009/07/manzamo-point-and-toilet-bowl.html" target="_blank">Manzamo</a> in northern Okinawa, and the lush forests and waterfalls on
<a href="http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e7225.html" target="_blank">Iriomote Island</a>, plus more just waiting to be discovered. Perhaps, though,
tropical climates and tropical environments aren't your thing; perhaps you want
something a bit closer to the stark wonders of the mountains; perhaps you want
to make your way to Hokkaido. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00777052796992673020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436321359146765603.post-23978909129319822342013-03-06T14:56:00.001-08:002013-06-02T15:43:10.142-07:00Managing the Legalities: Osaka, the Land of Merchants and Wheeling 'n' Dealing<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; line-height: 200%;">Have you heard the thing about people from Japan being quiet and sheepish, and all that jazz? That's not what folks in Japan think when they hear someone is from the area around Osaka (and those qualities are often what locals criticize those of Tokyo for, through mock imitations of them). The culture around Osaka is known to be lively, patriotic, tough minded, up front, and highly deal driven, as evidenced by the phrase most associated with it, </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun; line-height: 200%;">「<ruby><rb>儲</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>もう</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>かりまっか?」</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; line-height: 200%;">(You makin' any money?).</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;"> If you happen to pop in on Osaka, you can take a peek at the totally real <a href="http://www.instantramen-museum.jp/english.htm" target="_blank" title="You can even make your own Ramen there!">Instant Ramen museum</a>, the <a href="http://www.kuchu-teien.com/english/" target="_blank" title="You can see Awaji island from there!">Floating Garden Observatory</a> in the Umeda Sky Building, Osaka Castle, Tsutenkaku Tower, and the <a href="http://www.gojapango.com/travel/osaka_dotonbori.htm" target="_blank" title="Bountiful crab-based meals abound!">Dotonbori</a> area, a shopping district lit by all sorts of neon and flashing signs. All its gaudy goodness beckons you to visit the many restaurants in it and partake of one of the richest traditions of the Osaka area: stuffing yourself silly(known in the language as </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun; mso-ascii-font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-hansi-font-family: 'Courier New';"><ruby><rb>食</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>く</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby></span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun; mso-ascii-font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-hansi-font-family: 'Courier New';">い<ruby><rb>倒</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>だお</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun; mso-ascii-font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-hansi-font-family: 'Courier New';">れ</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;">.)</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;"> For a more laid back, classical touch, hop on the next train heading to Kyoto, a city with historical charm and bountiful temples, such as the gold covered <a href="http://www.pref.kyoto.jp/visitkyoto/en/theme/sites/shrines/w_heritage/13/" target="_blank" title="Also known as the Golden Pavillion">Kinkakuji</a> in the north and the <a href="http://www.sacred-destinations.com/japan/kyoto-ginkakuji" target="_blank" title="Also known as the Silver Pavilion Temple">Ginkakuji</a> in the east. With a stroll along the <a href="http://letsjapan.wordpress.com/2012/06/22/philosophers-path-kyoto/" target="_blank" title="Where many have contemplated life, including Philosophy Prof. Kitaro Nishida">Philosopher's Path</a>, you can also take in an extraordinary view of the cherry blossoms that line it and the shallow river just down below, a trip northward leading to <a href="http://www.oxalis-adventures.com/blog/2012/06/the-tango-peninsula/" target="_blank" title="Known as one of the most beautiful places in Japan">Tango Peninsula</a> and <a href="http://nihonsankei.sakura.ne.jp/eng/hashidate.html" target="_blank" title="Note: When you get there, you gotta bend over and look at it b/t your legs to see it as it's meant to be">Amanohashidate</a>, also known as the bridge of heaven. You may find it strange to bend over and look at the pine covered sand bar between your legs to see it as such, but you can't beat seeing one the 3 great sights of Japan the way it was meant to be seen, and for more of those, let's direct our attention to the many islands that make up the Ryukyu Isles, including Okinawa. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00777052796992673020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436321359146765603.post-91679507209636325792013-02-05T18:51:00.001-08:002013-02-05T19:05:43.682-08:00Managing the Legalities: Maximizing Your Sightseeing<br />
<div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, monospace;">Maximizing Your Sightseeing</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, monospace;">Every country in the world has a major city that defines it's experience and tells the world what those in charge feel represents its essence; the US has NYC, Italy has Rome, and France has Paris. If you ask anyone of the country, though, they'll be quick to tell you that that city isn't the only awesome city there, as I would tell you about the open air sprawl of LA, the charming eccentricity of Portland, and the delightful beaches and culture clash to be found in Miami, among endless others within the country I call home. </span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, monospace;"> Japan is no different and has the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, the brazen street cultures of Osaka, the peaceful beach sides of Okinawa, and the expansive mountainside scenery of Hokkaido. Each of them also contain several different cities and hidden pockets of humanity that paint a diverse, rich and ever growing network of cultures that drive the things they do every day. Naturally, though, unless you have boatloads of money and free time, you can't see all of that in one trip, so to get the gears turning on planning your most excellent vacation, let's take a quick peek at these potential destinations, starting with Tokyo. </span>
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, monospace;"><i>Tokyo:
The Crown Jewel of Japan</i></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, monospace;">The
city of Tokyo is the political center of the country, but over it's
history, it and surrounding area has also grown into it's historical
and modern cultural center, housing countless things flock to see
from all over the world to see. Like what? Well, there's the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLwW9sZcMjs" target="_blank">TsujikiFish Market</a>, the geek mecca of <a href="http://www.dannychoo.com/post/en/25744/History+of+Akihabara.html" target="_blank">Akihabara</a>, the <a href="http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/regional/tokyo/asakusa.html" target="_blank">Asakusa</a> Shinto temple,
the land of fashionable kids known as <a href="http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3006.html" target="_blank">Harajuku</a>, and more multi-level
specialty stores than you can shake a stick at. In fact, it houses so
many of these aspects that there have been multiple volumes dedicated
to helping people navigate just this area of the country (</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, monospace;">If
that isn't enough proof, consider this: on the trains there, the
terms used to describe leaving Tokyo translate as ascending, for
going north, and descending, for going south). </span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, monospace;"> On top of that, the
international profile it's built up drive tourists in from across the
world, meaning that it's been made more and more easier for them to
travel, and that will mean there's a higher chance someone will be
able to help you out in case things go south and you need to speak
with someone; for getting a taste of a brand new culture, this is
surely a safe bet for your travel destination(if you're intrigued,
might I recommend <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Frommers-Tokyo-Complete-Guides/dp/0470181559" target="_blank">Frommer's Tokyo</a> as your guidebook?). </span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, monospace;"> With all that said, though, isn't the whole point of traveling to go outside your comfort zone and see things you haven't before? What, about eating burgers at a McDonald's in Tokyo is adventurous? What, about eating at a sushi place everyone goes to, screams “I'm a traveler!”? What, about spending your hard earned cash to be among familiar foods, people and so on on the other side of world, says “This was a good use of my money and vacation days”? Tokyo is a perfectly wonderful area to sight-see in, but c'mon now! If you really wanna expand your world view, think beyond the familiar; perhaps consider looking into visiting Osaka and its surrounding area. </span>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00777052796992673020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436321359146765603.post-79815147500676510372013-01-30T17:06:00.002-08:002013-01-30T17:06:54.441-08:00Managing the Legalities: Do You Need a Visa?<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;">Visa-Free
Traveling<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;">For folks from the US, you can stay in the country
without a visa a maximum of 90 days(as in 90 calendar days, not 3 months),
which is more than enough time for most folks to get their kicks before they
return to the reality waiting for them back home. As for the rest of the
world...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;">You need a
passport if you're from...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;">Brazil, China,
India, Russia, South Africa or South Korea*(plus others not mentioned)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;">*if part of a
school group, you can stay up to a month<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;">You can stay 14
days if you're from...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;">Brunei<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;">You can stay 90
days if you're from...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;">Andorra,
Australia, Barbados, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hong Kong, Hungary,
Latvia, Lithuania, Monaco, New Zealand, Poland or Slovakia<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;">You can stay 3
months if you're from...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;">Argentina, the
Bahamas, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus(the country),
Denmark, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Finland, France, Greece,
Guatemala, Honduras, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Lesotho, Luxumbourg, Macedonia,
Malta, Maritius, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal*, San Marino, Singapore,
Slovenia, Spain, Surinam, Sweden, Tunisia, Turkey or Uruguay <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;">*exception if
originally attained in either former or current colonies of the country<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;">You can stay 6
months if you're from...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;">Austria, Germany,
Ireland, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Switzerland or the UK*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;">*only for UK
citizens<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;">Why Would I Need
a Visa?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;">Short answer: the authorities can kick you out
immediately, if they catch you after your visa-free time is up, and you don't
have one. Long Answer: If you're going as an exchange student, worker, teacher,
are visiting a relative long term(e.g. A year, or so) or otherwise need to be
there for something other then tourism, you'll need to visit the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of Japan's <a href="http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/long/index.html">long term visa section</a> of the site and look up the one
you need. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;"> Afterward,
look up a local <a href="http://www.la.us.emb-japan.go.jp/" target="_blank">Consulate-General of Japan</a> and call them up for
anything you may need to do concerning getting the needed visa. Should the
country's charm stay with you after you visit, definitely give this stuff a
moment of serious thought if you ever want to do something long term over
there. While we're on the subject, let's take a look at the next phase of going
to Japan: Where you want to visit for your vacation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div>
<!--[if !supportAnnotations]-->
<br /><div>
<div class="msocomtxt" id="_com_2" language="JavaScript">
<!--[if !supportAnnotations]--></div>
<!--[endif]--></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00777052796992673020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436321359146765603.post-65325302772284777972013-01-06T19:26:00.000-08:002013-01-06T19:26:25.090-08:00Managing the Legalities: What to Watch for Before and During a Trip to Japan<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', monospace; line-height: 200%;">An
experience often thought of as a milestone is when someone travels to
a country highly unlike their own, like someone raised in Italy
traveling to Brazil, a South African denizen exploring the Irish
countryside and a kid raised in America taking a journey to Japan.
Through that trip, they begin to see beyond the things that make them
different from others and look for the things they have in common,
thus helping them see deeper into the way we all speak to each other
and crafting a more meaningful understanding-or at least, that's
supposed to happen. </span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, monospace;"> That
kind of growth often isn't achieved in one trip, and if the things
they held true are reinforced on their travels, they might even grow
more narrow minded about the culture they experience. For example,
say someone coming to NYC for a vacation thought that Americans were
all arrogant, fat gunslingers who care only about themselves; if the
only people they ran into there fell met those
expectations, then they'd grow even harder to break, because now
they have anecdotal evidence to back their claims(for those curious,
the term for this is Confirmation Bias, and it's even worse when
they meet those same people as completely blank slates to be shaped
by whatever happens). </span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, monospace;"> Before
any of that stuff can take place, though, one has to handle things at
home, so they can set foot in the country without getting turned away
at the door, and 2 crucial aspects of world travel are the passport
and the visa(which you'll see more of later on). If you haven't been outside your homeland, then you haven't
had much of a need for either, but for traveling to Japan, they will
become a necessity, especially the passport. </span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, monospace;">Getting
a Passport</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, monospace;">The
general things you'll want to do are to...</span></div>
<ul>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, monospace;">Hit
up your gov't's travel site</span></div>
</li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, monospace;">Visit
the section dealing with passports</span></div>
</li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, monospace;">Fill
out all the needed paperwork</span></div>
</li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, monospace;">Seek
out the needed fee money and documentation for your passport(e.g.
Birth certificate, Driver ID, etc.)</span></div>
</li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, monospace;">Head
off to get your picture taken for it</span></div>
</li>
<li><div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, monospace;">Then
turn everything in to the proper channels and wait for it to arrive.
</span>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, monospace;">The
exact procedures will depend on how your govt does things, your
current situation and many other variables, so be sure to look that
stuff up and find out what you need. If you happen to be a US-citizen
reading this, however, I can give you a few pointers on what you need
to do. </span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, monospace;"><i>Tips
for US 1</i></span><sup><span style="font-family: Courier New, monospace;"><i>st</i></span></sup><span style="font-family: Courier New, monospace;"><i>
Timers to the Passport Process</i></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, monospace;">To keep it simple, for getting
your first passport, the Post Office is your friend and will stay so
throughout the whole process. When you're there, you can find out
what you need, how you need to dress, how long you'll be
waiting(which can be somewhere between 2 weeks and 2 months if you
don't have the $60 to speed things up) and many other things.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, monospace;"> Before
going there, though, be sure to hit up Travel.State.gov and check out
the Passport and Visa sections for the specifics on what you need in
your situation, what paperwork you'll need to do, and documentation
you'll need on hand-Fair warning, though: this process won't be
cheap(as of this writing, the whole package is about $160, minimum).
As long as you head to your local Post Office,</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, monospace;">
though,</span><span style="font-family: Courier New, monospace;">
they'll be able to help you through the nitty-gritty red tape, and
move on the next part of traveling to Japan: whether or not that
passport needs further approval by the proper authorities for further
travels, whether or not you need to get a Visa.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00777052796992673020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436321359146765603.post-77761716259545520012013-01-04T17:51:00.000-08:002013-06-03T02:36:41.011-07:00Essential Phrases and Body Language #10<br />
<div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Gesture
#10: Culturally Flipping The Bird</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Actual
Gesture: Using the pointer finger, pulling down the lower eyelid and
sticking out your tongue</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
It's
Function?: Like flipping the bird, it's meant to show the ultimate,
most childish disrespect towards its recipient
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Any
Associated Phrase?: With this one, the phrase is <span style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS;">「<span lang="ja-JP">あかんべー!</span></span>(Get
bent!)<span style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS;"><span lang="ja-JP">」</span></span>,
which comes from <span style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS;"><span lang="ja-JP"><ruby><rb>赤</rb><rp>《</rp><rt><span style="font-size: x-small;">あか</span></rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>の<ruby><rb>目</rb><rp>《</rp><rt><span style="font-size: x-small;">め</span></rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>(Red
of the Eye, which is what you're displaying in the gesture), and can
be said in two parts, <span style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS;"><span lang="ja-JP">あかん</span></span>,
as you're bringing the finger to the eyelid, and <span style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS;"><span lang="ja-JP">べー!
</span></span>as you're pulling it down.
<br />
</span></span><br />
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS;"><span lang="ja-JP">Anything
else?: As the most disrespectful-and highly childish gesture, this won't produce anything
good if you do it in front of the person, so most people want 'til
their back is turned to show their disdain, possibly in the more
emphatic form of <span style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS;"><span lang="ja-JP">あっかんべー</span></span>!
Sticking out the tongue, by itself, is a more feminine gesture used
to show that they made a slight slip up in something, much like when
someone says '”Whoops!” after drop their wallet when they pay for
something.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS;"><span lang="ja-JP">
</span></span>
<br />
<div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS;"><span lang="ja-JP">Phrase
#10: <span style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS;"><span lang="ja-JP"><ruby><rb>只</rb><rp>《</rp><rt><span style="font-size: xx-small;">ただ</span></rt><rp>》</rp></ruby><ruby><rb>今</rb><rp>《</rp><rt><span style="font-size: xx-small;">いま</span></rt><rp>》</rp></ruby></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS;"><span lang="ja-JP">
</span></span>
<br />
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS;"><span lang="ja-JP">Literal
Meaning: Just now</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS;"><span lang="ja-JP">
</span></span>
<br />
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS;"><span lang="ja-JP">Intent:
"I'm home!(and similar meanings in translation)"</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS;"><span lang="ja-JP">
</span></span>
<br />
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS;"><span lang="ja-JP">Usage: To
let someone know you've come back to some place, home or otherwise,
much like the phrase "I'm back!"</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS;"><span lang="ja-JP">
</span></span>
<br />
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS;"><span lang="ja-JP">Notes:
<span style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS;"><span lang="ja-JP">只今<ruby><rb>帰</rb><rp>《</rp><rt><span style="font-size: x-small;">かえ</span></rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>りました
</span></span>is the full, formal version of the phrase, both
recognized by the other person/people there with the phrase <span style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS;"><span lang="ja-JP">「お帰りなさい」</span></span>,
<span style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS;"><span lang="ja-JP">「お帰り」
</span></span>being the informal version of that.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS;"><span lang="ja-JP">
</span></span>
<br />
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS;"><span lang="ja-JP">Example:
<span style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS;"><span lang="ja-JP">只今帰りました</span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS;"><span lang="ja-JP">
</span></span>
<br />
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS;"><span lang="ja-JP">(I've
come back home, ma'am)</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS;"><span lang="ja-JP">
</span></span>
<br />
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS;"><span lang="ja-JP"><span style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS;"><span lang="ja-JP">お帰りなさい、お<ruby><rb>客</rb><rp>《</rp><rt><span style="font-size: xx-small;">きゃく</span></rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>さん。(笑) まったく、アントニ、タメ<ruby><rb>語</rb><rp>《</rp><rt><span style="font-size: x-small;">ご</span></rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>でもいいね。<ruby><rb>仲間</rb><rp>《</rp><rt><span style="font-size: x-small;">なかま</span></rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>なんでいいじゃないじゃない?
ユックリしてね!</span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS;"><span lang="ja-JP">
</span></span>
<br />
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS;"><span lang="ja-JP">(Welcome
back home, valued customer. *laughs* Honestly, Anthony, it's okay to
talk casual. We are pal-y-pals, so it's all good, ain't it? EASE it
up, there.) </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS;"><span lang="ja-JP">
</span></span>
<br />
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS;"><span lang="ja-JP"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS;"><span lang="ja-JP">
</span></span>
<br />
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS;"><span lang="ja-JP">And now that we're through the 10, it's time to move to the next phase: learning how to plan a trip to Japan and what to do once you get there!</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS;"><span lang="ja-JP">
</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00777052796992673020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436321359146765603.post-35399259305954958502012-12-24T03:26:00.000-08:002013-06-03T02:38:08.548-07:00Essential Phrases and Body Language #9<br />
<div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Gesture
#9: Showing Agreement with a Statement</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Actual
Gesture: Slamming the pinky side of a closed fist into an open palm</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
It's
Function?: To express that the person just said something that agrees
with your values/logic/etc or makes the point you've been working
towards, but perhaps couldn't put it the way the speaker did</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Any
Associated Phrase?: Yes, and the one most often use with this one is
<span style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS;">「<span lang="ja-JP"><ruby><rb>納得</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>なっとく</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>!</span></span>(Exactly!)<span style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS;"><span lang="ja-JP">」</span></span>,
which you can also use to discuss the concept of consent</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6436321359146765603" name="000100"></a>
Anything else?: If you rotate your closed hand while it's in the
palm, you imitate the gesture of grinding sesame seeds in a mortar
and pestle(known in Japan as <span style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS;"><ruby><rb>胡麻</rb><rp>《</rp><rt><span style="font-size: xx-small;">ごま</span></rt><rp>》</rp></ruby></span><ruby><rb>擂<span lang="ja-JP"></span></rb><rp>《</rp><rt><span style="font-size: x-small;">す</span></rt></ruby>り),<span style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS;"><span lang="ja-JP"> </span></span>which
implys that someone is buttering someone up in anticipation of
getting something in return, or what some folks would call
brown-nosing</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Phrase
#9: <span style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS;"><span lang="ja-JP">よくできました</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Literal
Meaning: "You were well up to the task at hand"</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Intent:
"Good Job!(and similar meanings in translation)"</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Usage: To
tell someone they did good after they finish a task, in order to let
them know how well they did and encouraging them to keep up the good
work(which can change in tone, if sarcasm is in the air).
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Notes:
This also applies when you see the different variations in this
phrase, such as <span style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS;"><span lang="ja-JP"><ruby><rb>大変</rb><rp>《</rp><rt><span style="font-size: x-small;">たいへん</span></rt><rp>》</rp></ruby><span style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS;"><span lang="ja-JP">よくできました</span></span>,
which tells then they did very well at something, and the more
informal version of this phrase, <span style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS;"><span lang="ja-JP">よくできた</span></span>(which
can also be used as an adverb to show something is solidly
built/written/etc).
</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Example:
<span style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS;"><span lang="ja-JP">このスパ<ruby><rb>作</rb><rp>《</rp><rt><span style="font-size: xx-small;">つ</span></rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>る</span></span>?
<span style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS;"><span lang="ja-JP">大変よくできたね</span></span>!
<span style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS;"><span lang="ja-JP">よくできたスパんだ</span></span>!</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
(you
cooked this spaghetti? You did super awesome at it, man. Really well
made Spaghetti!)</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00777052796992673020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436321359146765603.post-2287332956844011962012-09-20T17:32:00.000-07:002013-06-03T02:32:31.679-07:00Essential Phrases and Body Language #8Gesture #8: Minimizing a Compliment<br />
Actual Gesture: With palms facing the person, shaking the hand from side to side<br />
<br />
It's Function?: It's meant to increase the politeness by showing that the thing you did for them isn't as great as they're making it out to be, much like a “It was nothing”<br />
<br />
Any Associated Phrase?: Yes, and a couple of them are 「いいえ(No, but here, intending something like “It was nothing”)」and 「そんなことないです (Oh, it's not like that at all)」<br />
<br />
Anything else?: You can also do this with two hands for emphasis, either one showing modesty and letting the other person you really do appreciate what they did for you or what they said<br />
<br />
Phrase #8: ご<ruby><rb>機嫌</rb><rp>《</rp><rt><span style="font-size: x-small;">きげん</span></rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>よう<br />
Literal Meaning: "Your condition is well"<br />
<br />
Intent: Take care, now<br />
<br />
Usage: It's much like the phrase 'Aloha', in that in can be as both a greeting and a parting phrase, communicating good and <br />
very formal vibes to the listener in either usage<br />
<br />
Notes: <br />
1. This likely comes from the archaic way to say this phrase 「ご機嫌ようございます」.<br />
2. 機嫌, itself, is a noun discussing someone's mood, with a phrase to express someone is either in a good or bad mood(good mood being 機嫌がいい and bad mood being 機嫌が<ruby><rb>悪</rb><rp>《</rp><rt><span style="font-size: x-small;">わる</span></rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>い)<br />
<br />
Example: あら、リナさん。ごきげんよう。<br />
(Oh hey, there, Lina. Aloha, to you.)<br />
ごきげんよう。<ruby><rb>仕事</rb><rp>《</rp><rt><span style="font-size: x-small;">しごと</span></rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>はどう?<br />
(Mm, Aloha, there. How's the job treating you?)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00777052796992673020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436321359146765603.post-85470043883126130972012-09-07T18:02:00.001-07:002014-05-16T10:11:37.048-07:00Essential Phrases and Body Language #7Gesture #7: Humbling Up for a Favor<br />
<br />
Actual Gesture: Bowing the head (and possibly doing a bow along with that) while clapping the hands together<br />
<br />
It's Function?: To show remorse for taking up the person's time/something you did while asking for whatever it is you're asking for<br />
<br />
Any Associated Phrase?: ごめんくださいですが(insert favor here)<br />
Anything else?: It's rather formal-and perhaps feminine?-, and short of actually groveling, is one of the most humble and polite ways you can ask someone to help you out in a pinch. If you're feeling desperate, a more pressing alternative to the Associated Phrase presented is 「お<ruby><rb>願</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>ねが</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>い(I beg of you!)!(insert favor here)」, e.g. when you're lost somewhere, you need help finding your way to the nearest subway station and the other person might be shaky on helping you because they feel their English sucks. When you need to cut through the nonsense, you'd wanna use the gesture and say something like 「お願い!<ruby><rb>近</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>ちか</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>いの<ruby><rb>駅</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>えき</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>はどこにありますか?(Please, sir! Where is the nearest train station?)」<br />
<br />
Phrase #7: <ruby><rb>宜</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>よろ</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>しくお願いします<br />
<br />
Literal Meaning: "I request that you make it so"<br />
<br />
Intent: "It's a pleasure to meet you(and similar meanings in translation)"<br />
<br />
Usage(s): 1. To show you wish to create good relations between yourself and those you're speaking with<br />
2. At the end of an introduction when 1st meeting someone <br />
3. As a parting phrase in a formal setting(both this and the 2nd usage implying you want to establish long lasting relations, much like the phrases 'Nice to meet you' and 'It was a pleasure to meet you')<br />
4. In asking favors<br />
<br />
Notes: 1. 宜しく, by itself, is a casual way to say the phrase (some even say it's the preferred way in casual settings)<br />
2. It can be used to show appreciation for an action, most often in the phrases 「(thing you want someone to do for you)を宜しく<ruby><rb>頼</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>たの</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>みます(I'd appreciate your help with X)」& ○に宜しくお<ruby><rb>伝</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>つた</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>えて<ruby><rb>下</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>くだ</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>さい(My compliments to X/Please give my regards to X/Say Hi to X for me) [○に宜しくお<ruby><rb>伝</rb><rt>つた</rt></ruby>えて<ruby><rb>下</rb><rt>くだ</rt></ruby>さい also has a shorthand form, ○に宜しく, which implies the verb from either one]). <br />
3. To increase the politeness factor, add どうぞ before 宜しく(also applies to its more casual forms!)<br />
4. It's also used in the phrases <ruby><rb>一</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>ひと</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>つよろしく-which is the parting phrase used in business calls and translates into something like "Handle it, man"-and <ruby><rb>後</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>あと</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>はよろしくする-which is used after someone (most likely someone higher up the ladder than you) asks you to cover for them and they explain what you're doing for them, translating into something like "Handle the rest the way you think's best"<br />
<br />
Example: (1) ねぇ、むっちゃん! <ruby><rb>友</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>とも</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>が<ruby><rb>話</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>はな</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>したいんだよ。 こっちだね。 Hey Doug, おいで!<br />
(Hey, Muchichi. My friend wants to talk to you! *English*, c'mere!)<br />
<br />
あのう。。。えっと。。。はじめまして。 わたくしはダッグジョンサンでございます。宜しくお願いいたします。<br />
(Umm...uhh...salutations. I be Doug of the Johnson clan. I do humbly beg your indulgence)<br />
<br />
...Okay, this is some bullshit. First off, you are an asshole for getting this poor guy to think we all talk like that, <ruby><rb>中島</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>なかじま</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>くん。 Second of all...ダッグ, was it? You obviously learned the formal style of our language my friends say they drill in you over there. If you are talking to a politician or whatever, fine, but when you talk like that in a casual setting, you come off as seriously uptight. You would not talk to your president and your friend the same way, would you? Did not think so. Please learn the other ways to speak our language so you are not lead to make yourself look like a fool, as 中島くん seems to enjoy doing, and can chat with people with the proper level of politeness. All that said...こちらこそ、よろしくおねがいします。 ダッグさん。 あたし、<ruby><rb>上川</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>かみかわ</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>むちこです! I am not a pen.<br />
(*speech*I am also pleased to be meeting with you, Doug. My name's Muchiko Kamikawa! *English school English*)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00777052796992673020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436321359146765603.post-52348709184012780972012-08-01T14:04:00.000-07:002014-05-16T10:13:57.891-07:00Essential Phrases and Body Language #6Gesture #6: Covering the Mouth<br />
<br />
Actual Gesture: Covering the mouth with the tips the fingers, whether it's the front, back in a cup shape<br />
<br />
It's Function?: To hide your teeth and cover up while you hold back the chuckles<br />
<br />
Any Associated Phrase?: No, but the implied one is “Sorry I find your current state hilarious”<br />
<br />
Anything else?: It's a rather formal-and perhaps feminine?-gesture, and back in the day, flashing the choppers meant either showing the person in front of you a crack in your armor or that you weren't that serious of a person, either implying poor form on your part; in addition to that, women had to deal with the fact that pearly whites meant you weren't hitched yet-and possibly never would be, since married women had theirs painted black, the practice known as 御歯黒「おはぐろ」. These days, though, it's more likely they think they got a bad case of the yuck-mouth, and would prefer you not see them on display. <br />
<br />
Phrase #6: <ruby><rb>用</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>よう</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>がある<br />
<br />
Literal Meaning: There is business<br />
<br />
Intent: I got a thing do to<br />
<br />
Usage: Much like the phrase "I got a thing to do", it tells that there's something else that needs our attention without specifying what it is, thus insuring that your private and public lives stay separate. <br />
<br />
Notes: This phrase also has few interesting variants to it, like 用がない(it and any variant of it saying you either don't have anything to do or that you have no need/use for something) and 用を<ruby><rb>足</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>た</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>す, which is a polite way to say you gotta do what you do in the bathroom (e.g. I'm gonna take care of some business)<br />
<br />
Example: (用がある)「用がある」って?<ruby><rb>分</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>わ</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>かったね。それじゃ。<br />
(So you 'got something to do,' eh? I get you, man. See you 'round)<br />
<br />
(用がない) 用がなかったら、<ruby><rb>廃棄</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>はいき</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>してはどう?<br />
(If it's not useful to you, why not just throw it out?)<br />
<br />
(用を足す) <ruby><rb>失礼</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>しつれい</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>しますが。用を足しますので。<br />
(Pardon the interruption. Off to go take care of business)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00777052796992673020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436321359146765603.post-26366610356945638442012-07-13T22:39:00.001-07:002014-05-16T10:14:53.830-07:00Essential Phrases and Body Language #5Gesture #5: Catching someone's attention/<ruby><rb>肩</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>かた</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby><ruby><rb>叩</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>たた</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>き<br />
<br />
Actual Gesture: Tapping someone 2-3 times on the shoulder while you're behind them<br />
<br />
It's Function?: To get a moment of their time and tell/show them something, whether it's letting them they dropped something, pointing something out to them that might be interest or even just to start a conversation<br />
<br />
Any Associated Phrase?: No, but one I recommend is 「<ruby><rb>失礼</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>しつれい</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>しますが」, or something similar in intent<br />
<br />
Anything else?: If you're feeling joke-y, you can bust out the old gag of sticking out your pointer finger while they turn to you; if they get/are in on it, you might get a 「いたっ!(Ouch!)」 out of it, but it's more likely something worse will come of it, so bust it out with caution. Another thing to take note of is an association it carries in professional climates, where it's followed up by getting canned<br />
<br />
Phrase #5: <ruby><rb>大変</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>たいへん</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>です<br />
Literal Meaning: It's awful<br />
Intent: This is horrible<br />
Usage(s): <br />
1. To point out that something is an emergency/the stuff has hit the fan(like the phrase 'This is serious!'), <br />
2. To show that something is a shocking situation(like when you hear your best friend is about to try mountain road drifting just after learning how to drive, and the first thought that crosses your mind is 'This is serious'), <br />
3. When people are in tight spots(like when your friend says they had to write up and get an A on a 10 page paper by the next day, or they wouldn't be passing the class, and you tell 'em "That's tough")<br />
4. To show sympathy for people going through rough patches(like when that same friend missed the passing mark by 1 point because of 1 typo, and you tell them "That's rough")<br />
Notes: 大変, itself, is a な adjective carrying the connotations and usage in the contexts seen above(plus one more: pointing out there's a lot of whatever it's in front of)<br />
Example: (expressing something's an emergency) 大変じゃねぇさ。デートだけで、ゆっくりしてね。<ruby><rb>心臓発作</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>しんぞうほっさ</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>、<ruby><rb>起</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>お</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>こってねぇ。<br />
(This thing ain't serious, man. You're just going on a date, so slow your role and breathe. You're not exactly having a heart attack, now)<br />
(a shocking situation) 大変だ!<ruby><rb>熊</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>くま</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>が<ruby><rb>通</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>とお</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>りを<ruby><rb>通</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>とお</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>ってますよ!<br />
Oh my word, there's a bear walking down the street right now!<br />
(when something gets serious) ’「<ruby><rb>結婚</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>けっこん</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>しましょうか?」って!?大変でしょう。<br />
Did he really say “Will you marry me”!? This just got real.<br />
(showing sympathy)「<ruby><rb>赤点</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>あかてん</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>」って? しまったね。 大変だよ。 おい、MOS Burgerに<ruby><rb>会</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>あ</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>おうぞ。 持て成してくれ。<br />
(You got failing marks? Oh crap, man. Sucks for you. Yo, let's meet up over at the MOS Burger, my treat)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00777052796992673020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436321359146765603.post-76030126464318572752012-06-29T15:42:00.001-07:002013-06-02T17:10:36.712-07:00Essential Phrases and Body Language #4Gesture #4: Showing appreciation for the meal <br />
Actual Gesture: Holding both hands together and lightly bowing your head<br />
It's Function?: It's as the name says, specifically, for all the things that had to happen just for the meal to appear on the plate (which, when you think about the farming, packing, cooking and so on, is quite a lot); for a frame of reference, think about the folks who say grace before a meal(and like saying grace, this is mostly done in the home, and among company)<br />
Any Associated Phrase?: Yes, and this one has two; 「いただきます(Thank you for the meal)」for before the meal begins and 「<ruby><rb>ご馳走様</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>ちそうさま</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>でした(Thanks for the hospitality)」after it's done<br />
Anything else?: The bow and each phrase are done at the appropriate points they ask for in order to show your gratefulness for the grub, whether each is done at all is up to what the context and the mood call for. <br />
<br />
Phrase #4: <ruby><rb>済</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>す</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>みません<br />
Literal Meaning: I didn't finish the task at hand<br />
Intent: I'm sorry<br />
Usage: This actually has 2 uses: as both as apology for something and a humble way to thank someone for doing something, like telling you co-worker, "Thanks for picking the slack" when you forget to do the dishes before you jet, and they cover your six by doing it before they head home for the day. <br />
Notes: This comes from the verb to express you did finish doing something, 済む, and all the stuff you just learned also applies when it's used in it's more casual negative form, 済まない(this also includes variations of this, naturally). To specifically say you're sorry for something, you'd use ごめんなさい(the others, you'll pick up as you go) <br />
Example: (saying sorry) パーティーに<ruby><rb>酔</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>よ</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>い<ruby><rb>過</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>す</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>ぎて、済まないな。ひさしぶりので<ruby><rb>酒</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>さけ</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>が<ruby><rb>弱</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>よわ</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>いこと <ruby><rb>忘</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>わす</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>れたんだ。<br />
(Sorry about getting too blitzed at your party, man. It's been a while, so I forgot I'm a lightweight with the booze)<br />
(saying thank you) <ruby><rb>助</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>たす</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>けて済みません。<ruby><rb>本当</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>ほんとう</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>に<ruby><rb>有</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>あり</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby><ruby><rb>難</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>がた</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>い。<br />
(Thank you for the help back there. I really appreciate it)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00777052796992673020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436321359146765603.post-69586628783181594702012-06-20T13:55:00.001-07:002013-06-02T17:17:33.189-07:00Essential Phrases and Body Language #3Gesture #3: Showing something is wrong/you don't know something<br />
Actual Gesture: with the thumb-side of the hand held near the mouth, waving it back and forth<br />
It's Function?: It does as the name says, specifically when there's nothing the person doing it can do to help you out<br />
Any Associated Phrase?: 2 main ones, the one for something being wrong, 「<ruby><rb>違</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>ちが</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>います」and the one showing they don't know something/can't help you out, 「<ruby><rb>知</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>し</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>っていません」<br />
Anything else?: You might see this paired with a shake of the head, just so you understand how little they can do for you. In addition, this can also used, as it is by folks in the West, to demonstrate the presence of disagreeable scents in the air-or in other words, that something stinks to high heaven(though it's not exactly in good taste to do it so blatantly). The context will tell you which is which, so be sure to check your scent, so you can start crossing off reasons the person might be making that gesture<br />
Phrase #3: <ruby><rb>失礼</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>しつれい</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>しますが<br />
Literal Meaning: What I'm doing is in bad form, but...<br />
Intent: "Excuse me(and similar meanings in translation)"<br />
Usage(s): <br />
1. To pardon yourself when you're something that interrupt what someone's doing(I.E. not being home when someone calls or leaving during the middle of meeting)<br />
2. To excuse your when you have to go somewhere<br />
3. To politely get someone's attention<br />
Notes: 失礼, itself, is a な adjective that describes someone as being rude or impolite<br />
Example: お<ruby><rb>客</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>きゃく</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>さまがいるので、失礼しますが<br />
(There's a guest waiting for me, so pardon the interruption)<br />
「お客さま」って?<br />
(What does she mean by 'guest'?[note: in Japan, “Guest” can also carry the same connotations as 'Aunt Flo,' make of that what you will])Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00777052796992673020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436321359146765603.post-70157451675372871802012-06-12T19:05:00.001-07:002013-10-17T13:16:10.061-07:00Essential Phrases and Body Language #2Gesture #2: Pointing to yourself<br />
Actual Gesture: Pointing to the tip of your nose<br />
It's Function?: It's meant to clarify if the subject of conversation is, indeed, you<br />
Any Associated Phrase?: More like word, that word being 「わたし?(Me?[this also includes any variant of the word you happen to pick up on your travels])」<br />
Anything else?: In contemporary usage, you're more likely to see the version folks in the West use(where someone points to the chest to achieve the same end), and the version first discussed is the more old fashioned iteration; inversely, when the speaker wants to point out who they're speaking with, they point to them, context showing whether or not they mean to be jerks when they do it.<br />
<br />
Phrase #2: <ruby><rb>大丈夫</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>だいじょうぶ</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>ですか? <br />
Literal Meaning: "Is your health great?"<br />
Intent: "You alright?(and similar meanings in translation)"<br />
Usage: To ask someone how they're doing, particularly if it doesn't look like they're in good shape, much like the phrase, "Are you OK?"<br />
Notes: It-and other variations of this phrase-can be used to ask both if someone is OK(i.e. If you see someone trip and fall flat on their face in front you, you can ask 「大丈夫ですか?」 to ensure they haven't kicked the bucket), as well as ask permission to do something; it's like when you wanna grab the last donut, but aren't quite sure if everyone else has had one yet, so you ask "Can I grab it?" (いい, in a question, can function the same way)<br />
Example: クリスさん、大丈夫?<ruby><rb>大山</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>おおやま</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>さん葉「<ruby><rb>じ自転車</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>てんしゃ</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>から<ruby><rb>落</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>お</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>ちた」といいましたのでっ。<br />
(Are you doing alright, Chris? Oyama told me you fell off of your bicycle, so-)<br />
はい、大丈夫ですね。<ruby><rb>若山</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>わかやま</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>さん。<ruby><rb>足</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>あし</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>、ちょっと<ruby><rb>痛</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>いた</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>いんですけれど、それ<ruby><rb>以外</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>いがい</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>にOKですよ!<br />
(Yeah, I'm doing alright, Ms. Wakayama. I mean my leg kind of aches, but other than that I'll be muy bueno, for sure.)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00777052796992673020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436321359146765603.post-33136297755251291052012-06-05T17:41:00.001-07:002013-06-02T17:36:32.274-07:00Essential Phrases and Body LanguageIn learning a language, we're often blitzed with grammar and vocabulary and expected to use only that to get our point across; obviously, this approach glosses over much of the other elements that decide how what we want to get across gets across, the most neglected being unspoken communication. The nod of the head, the thumbs down, the middle or pointer finger used to make a point are all among the gestures we use in communication, and without them, we find it much harder to complete the message the way we want to. Japan's society is no different, with not only its own interpretation of those gestures, but also those unique to the culture and their day to day interactions, of which you'll be treated to a sampling of, along with phrases to help you get by and dip your toes into the language. <br />
<br />
Each entry aims to break down the gesture/phrase and give you the background info needed to use it well and in the right context-including video examples, where available. By the end of the 20 entry series(10 phrases/10 gestures), you'll have a solid base to work from and that much more ability to interact how you want to and make sure your message rings loud and clear. With all that established, we'll jump right into the first of each, starting with a gesture made famous by a random cat who helped a traveler avoid a bad end with a simple wave of their palm. <br />
<br />
Gesture #1: The Beckoning Wave<br />
Actual Gesture: the palm of the person's hand faces the ground and the hand waves inward towards the body<br />
<br />
It's Function?: It's meant to signal the person on the receiving end to come closer, similar to the palm-up version used in many Western countries, but much less of a tough guy vibe<br />
<br />
Any Associated Phrase?: Yes, and with this one, one of them is 「こっちにおいで!(Over here, please!)」<br />
<br />
Anything else?: If you've seeing the waving motion go outwards from the body, it means they're pissed off at the recipient and are telling them to piss off. <br />
<br />
What's this about a cat and a traveler?: One possible origin of this gesture and the cat itself, known in Japan as <ruby><rb>招</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>まね</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>き<ruby><rb>猫</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>ねこ</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>, is that a loaded feudal lord, seeking shelter from a thunderstorm, ducked under a tree; that tree happened to be near Gotoku Temple in western Tokyo, home of a broke priest and his cat. The cat made the gesture at him and he, probably curious about what the cat wanted, approached it; not a moment later the tree was struck by lightning, which might've made him a think twice about what do to with his riches after speaking to the priest and learning of his situation. In time, the priest and he became buddies, and the temple prospered as their friendship prospered, perhaps prompting the feudal lord to have a sculpture of the cat made in its beckoning pose when it passed on. <br />
<br />
Phrase #1: ありがとう<br />
<br />
Literal Meaning: It's tough for this to exist<br />
<br />
Intent: Thank you<br />
<br />
Usage: Like 'Thank You', it's used when someone does something for you and you want to express appreciation for it, like when you find you don't have money for the last train home, and someone pays your fare<br />
<br />
Notes: One possible origin for this phrase is from the full, formal version of this phrase, <ruby><rb>有</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>あり</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby><ruby><rb>難</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>がと</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>うございます, itself derived from the adjective describing being grateful for something, <ruby><rb>有</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>あり</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby><ruby><rb>難</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>がた</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>い<br />
<br />
Example: <ruby><rb>色々</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>いろいろ</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>ありがとうございます。ご<ruby><rb>恩</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>おん</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>は<ruby><rb>決</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>けっ</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>して<ruby><rb>忘</rb><rp>《</rp><rt>わす</rt><rp>》</rp></ruby>れません。<rp>《</rp><rt>
(Thank you for everything you've done. I certainly won't forget the kindness you've shown me)</rt>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00777052796992673020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436321359146765603.post-8639561716929026342012-05-07T18:11:00.001-07:002013-06-03T21:57:40.990-07:00How to Teach Yourself a Language [part 7]<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
Constructing
the Method Made for You<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
It's no secret that when something
appeals to the way we do things, we're more likely to give it the time of day,
and when it comes to learning something new, this aspect is crucial to getting
it down solid. Unfortunately, many teachers don't allow the flexibility needed
to apply what what's taught outside the classroom and often insist on injecting
themselves into the whole learning experience, turning it into a static,
unchanging object. In my view, the difference between whether that knowledge
becomes a part of a student's day to day grind or goes right in their mental
shoebox is in how much the teacher steps out of the way and allows them to
apply it in a way that not only get them to identify with it, but also to think
about what they're doing. When you're young and still building your conception
of how the world works, lack of that creates what some like to call the Ophelia
Syndrome.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
The
Ophelia Syndrome and You<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Named after Ophelia, the young lady
from William Shakespeare's Hamlet, it encapsulates the concept of basing your
thoughts, feelings and acts purely upon what you think people higher up than
you want, as Ophelia did, when she was conflicted on how to feel about Hamlet
and her dad, Polonius, told her “I'll teach you. Think yourself a baby...(and
yes, that is exactly what you might be thinking)”. Of course people have to do
this to some extent when they're still building the box they need think outside
of, but there comes a point where people can't just let older folks determine
the best course of action. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Given
enough years, they soon become those older folks the next generation looks to
for guidance, and if they just do that for the rest of their lives, it'll just
be everybody asking everybody else what they should do next, creating a never
ending cycle of the blind leading the blind until someone- regardless of they
can weigh the needs of the many of not-guts up and says “This is the way things
are gonna be” Whether it's in the entertainment, sports or political arenas,
the Ophelia Syndrome is what allows one to control to the lives of those around
them, even if they're as stable as a guy running on a six pack of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absinthe">Absinthe</a>, so
to help you break the cycle, I'll give you a few pointers in how to ease off of
relying on the higher ups (myself, included, admittedly) for what you want to
know.</div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
No
Matter the Subject, Search for Great Teachers<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
While 'great' and similar words
will always be subjective, many referred to as great teachers are people
that get students talking about what they're learning, talk not at, but with
them, get them excited about the subject at hand and push them to use their
noggin to apply what's taught, rarely, if ever telling what you should and
shouldn't do. In my experiences as a student, many Math teachers don't fit this
bill, which could be why most math skills go into eternal storage once the
degree is had and it's time to earn some cash money. If you find students
saying this stuff about their teachers, this is someone you'll want to set some
time to chat with. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
Know,
Be and Trust Yourself and What You Know<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
As someone still getting the
practical aspects sorted out, I know well the value of being able to look back
on where you've come from and how much you've picked up over the years. Even something as silly seeming as keeping a
journal or taking some of those online personality tests can make milestones
for you to look back on and consider where you were at that point in time-and
trust me, in 5-10 years from now, who you become then might even be a mirror
image of who you are now(I know I'd like to hop back 7 years and slap my past
self in the craw). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
The
same goes for testing what you've learned over the years in current day
situations, colored by your experiences and any further knowledge you've picked
up since those days. The more awake you are to the you from then and now, the
more things can come full circle, and you can find the needed spark to push
ahead, grow even further and rely on the instincts and hunches you've honed
throughout all that time. Might not be easy, but rarely is that the case for
anything worth it. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
Ride
the Ever-shifting Winds<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Despite how boring it might be,
it's a heck of lot easier to teach things as absolute and unchanging, but ask
anyone how life is, and they'll tell you that things are rarely as cut and dry
as 1+1=2; shoot, they were probably even debating that, when Math was in it's
inception. This is part of why it's key to accept that the way things are often
aren't the way we expect them to be, as even people with years of experience in
the finest of educational establishments clash academic swords over how something should be presented. Consider,
if you will, when art experts were debating what message the Sistine Chapel in
all it's griminess was trying to send, and then, a few folks heading up to
clean it up later, they found the thing was as bright and vivid as any modern
day painting, launching a new set of debates over it's intended message. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
You
might be thinking, “Well if the experts aren't sure about how something is,
then how I can be sure anyone is?” Exactly. Don't be content with just the word
of someone more knowledgeable than you-including me! In my younger days, I've
taught my fair share of folks erroneous info, and didn't even know it until
years later, when further studies showed me that what I taught was completely
and un-objectively wrong, so I know that people in authority need that
authority challenged. It's bound to lead you to new, interesting and enriching
info as time passes, so go ahead, embrace that nothing is certain, assume that the
person teaching you can back up what they're teaching with something other than
“That's just the way it is”, question everything you've ever known(be careful,
though. Some people might not be happy to have their authority questioned). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
When
You Find One Solution, Start Looking for Another<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
When you can look for other ways of
approaching a given problem or issue, you'll find that not only does your own
view become that much more complete, you also start to see that even things
like grammar and math can have completely different and equally valid ways of
tackling the same problem. The more you surround yourself with info and people
willing to challenge what you know, the more you'll be able to break out of an
given flow and start building a new one, even if it's on the spot. Naturally,
this gives you a chance to see how what you know stacks up, lets you see a
little more about what you're learning and, quite frankly, is much more
engaging and fun than just drilling one way of doing things, and I can name few
occasions where fun is a bad thing. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
Question
If It Should Even be a Box<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Everyone loves to say you should
think outside the box, but that hinges on the premise that your thinking will
back in that box when it's all said and done and it's time to get back to
life's daily grind. Why can't it be rectangular, a Pentagon or even have any
corners at all? In other words, why should you have to go back to what you knew
before thinking outside the box, when you found so much more after you thought outside of it? That willingness
to change what people see as the norm is what let things like the
airplane, internet and global communication even be a glimmer in the eye of
those who invented and refined them over the years. For you and how you do
things, chucking out everything you thought you knew can be one of the scariest
things you'll ever do, but with great risks come great rewards, and while your
greatest punishment may be falling flat on your face, your greatest reward will
be the most understanding, enriching and interesting learning experience you'll
ever have. As someone who's been on both sides of the coin, I know well what's
at stake in both scenarios, so be sure that the price is more than worth you'll
get in return, especially when you can finally use what you're learning the way
that fits you, instead of the way someone else says is best. <o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00777052796992673020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436321359146765603.post-50315465600131987022012-04-12T19:48:00.001-07:002013-06-03T22:00:14.018-07:00How to Teach Yourself a Language [part 6]<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
Tempering
the Knowledge by Letting Yourself Cool Off<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Everyone has the moment of
frustration, the one where it feels like no matter what we do to make something
work, we just can’t make it work, and everyone responds to it in their own
unique way (mine? Lots of raging and possible throwing of things like some sort
of petulant child *laughs*). Quickly, can it cause you to do things you’ll regret
later, so the three best things you can do for yourself in such tense moments
are to just put it down, do something else for a while and sleep it off. Why
those things? <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
When
you don’t let yourself get caught up in the moment, you can see a situation for
what it is and approach it from a more objective perspective, thus giving you a
better chance at finding the roots and changing what needs to be changed. In
addition, once you come back, you can zero in on where you went haywire and get
through the obstacle in front of you, however long or short that process may
be. They may not be the easiest thing in the world to do, more so if it seems like
something needs to be done right away, but as someone who has a short fuse
for lots of little things, I know how much it means to not let those emotions
sway the next things we do(which are often the things we later regret the rest
of our lives). <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Similarly,
when you do something else, your mind has a chance to piece things together in
the background and make connections the heat of the moment didn’t let you do
before, which is often the source of many ideas we get while we’re out and
about and getting things done; this same process goes for when you hit the sack
after your studies and get into a deep parts of your sleep, this portion referred
to as Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep. That principle is what drives the “learn
while you sleep” tapes they peddled back in the day (which don’t work that well
unless you were learning that stuff while you were awake).<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
In
addition, when you have some form of white noise in the background while you
study (e.g. a show you like but already saw, songs you’re into and have heard
many times before), your brain works double time to hold on to what you’re
currently learning and makes it stick that much stronger once all is said and
done, the same applying for when you change up your learning environment and
apply the same info to different circumstances. If you’ve ever had to retell
someone something else told you, you know you won’t often remember the whole of
what they said and instead give them the essence of what was said; the same
applies for when you keep changing up where you learn, in turn letting you
develop the ability to apply it in any number of situations under any amount of
pressure (and as you put this stuff to the real world test, this will become
crucial to hitting the nail on the head). <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Naturally,
this is becomes much more meaningful when it means to us and how we live our
lives, but how can we make a method our method? (coming up next post!)<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00777052796992673020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436321359146765603.post-57620227576582652172012-03-26T19:18:00.000-07:002013-06-03T22:03:54.581-07:00How to Teach Yourself a Language [part 5]<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
When you're developing a feel for
riding a bike, it's not often you can just hop on, peddle forward and get going
without falling over. For most, it starts with the training wheels, then having
someone hold you steady while you build up your sense of balance, and work to
point where they stop holding on and you're using your own balance to keep you
up as the bike moves and you're in full control of where it's going. This
process is called Scaffolding, and it helps people do things they couldn't
before, which is what many, less charitable folks call coddling, especially
when it's done in the classroom and there's no apparent progress in what the
students can do. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
In
your own studies, this can give you the legs you need to push onwards the more
you learn about a language, but to do this well, you gotta be willing to set
goals outside your comfort level, even if it's only a little; you learned how
to walk, talk and much more from it, so why not use the process to help you
learn? If you can find someone of equal or higher skill than you to help you
practice, than Scaffolding can let everyone involved learn from each other and
build up your experience and knowledge, perhaps even building more than that as
you spend time with them. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
You
may not notice it now, but the more you use Scaffolding, the more your
capabilities will be pushed further and further out, like the woman who never
noticed how much weight the incremental changes to her lifting regiment let her
lift until she was able to sweep her lover off of their feet in a moment of
spontaneous joy. Like her, the little ways you push your limits in what can do
in a language will lead to big results down the road as you go from words to
sentences or paragraphs to even speeches in the language you're studying. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Get
all that? What, not sure it's all sunk in, yet? No need to stress, that's where
the next step in the learning process comes in: Comprehension. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
Getting
Familiar with the Hows and Whys<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
When you're picking up a book
teaching a foreign language, you're probably expecting it to show you how to
use it in different spots and why you'd say it the way the book teaches, and
you might find that they go into it with the same of understanding as a student
who just spent 4 days neither reading the material nor doing anything besides a
young party animal(however you define <i>that</i> to be). To prevent that from
influencing your way of studying the language, let's take a look what needs to
be understood, first, in order to build a more human way of communicating,
starting with the culture the language lives and breathes in. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
Actor-style
v. Normal-style<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
When we first learn a language, we
often start by learning it the way an actor learns a script: line by line, matching the
desired intonation and intent to the letter; for people who want to get around
without getting too in over their heads, this is probably all they feel they
need to learn (and in reality, you won't investing too time in going beyond
this stage if all you're doing is traveling there once or twice for a few days
or weeks). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
When
it comes to long term communication, though, you'll quickly discover that your
scripts are not one size fits all, and will leave you looking stupid in a hurry
if you don't know what effects your words create or how they function in the
environment you use them in. This is one of the key aspects to becoming fluid
in how you use a language, you must develop a desire to understand both the
person you're speaking with and the culture they do their 9-5 in, for those are
what continue to shape how they interact with their world and with you. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
As
you delve into different news sources, read different literature on the subject
and speak with people from the country, you'll build a lens both to view the
culture and it's people through and to continually refine with books, news and
chats, so while you do that, examine and apply the upcoming techniques to help
you better grasp what people are saying and give you a firmer base to work from
when it's time to put that understanding to work. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
Mirroring
and Developing a More Listening-centered Approach<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
As you know from the way you and
those close to you use language, it's far more than just a string of words and
grammar used to convey a certain message, it's also in the words you use, the
tone you use them in and what overarching message each statement us building
towards. To better grasp that
overarching message, one vital technique is Mirroring, which is
repeating the perceived message back to the listener in simpler terms to make
sure you're both on the same page. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Doing
this well often means letting them speak their piece and not trying to insert
yourself into it before they finish, using different sounds cues to show you're
listening and, of course, listening and giving them your undivided
attention-e.g. No txting while you talk to them, taking calls or otherwise
doing something that takes away from you paying attention to their words;
someone I know once did this while we were playing Street Fighter, and this
made me quite unhappy, prompting me to beast on him hard while his eyes were
otherwise occupied.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
This
all may seem daunting if you don't know the nuts and bolts of a language yet,
but the reward for your effort will be a deeper knowledge of what makes them
and the things around them work, as well as a willingness for them to hear you
out and be more curious about what you want to share; curiosity killed the cat,
yes, and if you develop that with the people you speak with, you might learn
something that might not feel comfy telling folks less willing to give them the
time of day. Like what? Well, most time, to dig up the right answers, you'll
need to ask the right questions, which can be a frustrating process. To keep
that from minimizing the quality of your studies and chats, we'll take on the
ways to take those moments and turn into something positive, or in other words,
Frustration Management. <o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00777052796992673020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436321359146765603.post-23119950973855064312012-03-19T15:32:00.000-07:002012-03-19T15:32:26.279-07:00How to Teach Yourself a Language [part 4]<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
Sow
a Habit, Reap a Destiny<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Do you remember the quote that
basically said “Sow X; Reap Y” by Ralph Waldo Emerson? If you don't, it
preaches that you're made by what you do, and this holds especially true for
when you're learning a language and establish the way you absorb and use what
you pick up; it's much like the feel you developed from learning to ride a
bike, the feel that comes through when you hop back on it for the first time in
however many weeks or months it's been since you swapped it out with a car for
your primary means of getting around. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
To
develop that feel, however, you can't just do something right once, you gotta
do it right several consecutive times and then do it until it feels breathing,
then it'll be able to come back to you no matter how much time passes. (If you
need a guiding principle in how many times,
try repeating the key info or skills in 3s/an odd number; for some
reason this makes the info stand out when it comes time to use it.) After you
get that down, the natural thing is to move on the next skill you'll need to
nail on your way to the big end goal, which raises the question of which skill
should be the next skill. To decide that, ask yourself if the next has any
elements of the one just got down, and if does, that should be the next one you
take on. Why? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Let's
say you just learned how to cook a piece of meat and wanted to keep the flow
going. Would you rather go learn how to change a tire or how to cook a piece of
fish? Because you have a good grip on the art of making dead animal tasty, you
have more of the tools in your mind at the ready to deal with the fish and its
unique challenges versus going right to the garage and trying to figure out how
to use a wrench and looking for where the trouble spot is. You can certain
learn how to change a tire if you stick to it, but if go with the stuff using
your already learned skills, you'll learn something new a lot faster and a lot
easier; if you want to, you can make each new thing you wanna learn even easier
by applying Chunking, or breaking one big block of many bits of info into more manageable
bits. Why Chunking? Let's find out! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
Working
Within the Brain's Memory Limits<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
The human mind can manage only
manage 7 pieces of info at a time before things start getting fuzzy, so Chuking makes something easier to both absorb
and recall. For example, could you remember a phone number if it looked like
this(13455764325) or like this(1-345-576-4325)?
If you get the first one down, great, but the second, broken down one
lets the brain do more with it to try and make it stick stronger, like using it
in a mnemonic(memory device used to strengthen how we remember things, like
setting someone's phone number to a rhyme or song you know). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
In
using a language, this is crucial to helping you speak the way you want to and
weening you off of set phrases and scripts to express your thoughts and
feelings, which means you can be more creative with your words and focus more
the subtleties of what you want to convey instead of scrambling around in your
brain for that one phrase you learned from that book that's right on the tip of
your tongue, but just won't come out. When it gets tense and the next words out
of your mouth could change the way things come to be, getting tongue tied is
the last thing anyone would want, and chunking that info will make it that much
less work to find, cutting down the chance you stick your foot in your mouth. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
For
big info with lots of little things to remember, Chunking can be used to condense related info together and make it
easier to manage and pull from your Working Memory, which is the stuff that's
immediately on hand and ready to go when you are. If you're getting a call from
one of your buddies and they say “Hey, that guy from the Harvard lecture is
coming at about 7:15-ish, be sure to have some grub ready. He really likes
Chocolate bacon, so if you can, have some on hand for him-and maybe the rest of
us to snack on,” Chunking can prevent
all that from overwhelming you. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
When
you're on your way home from work and thinking about the stuff your friend
said, your brain is working double time to get the details right, and with
Chunking, each bit of info starts to come together and eventually gets
connected like so: Hey, <u>that guy from
the Harvard lecture</u> is <u>coming at about 7:15</u>-ish, be sure to <u>have
some grub ready</u>. <u>He really likes Chocolate bacon</u>, so if you can, <u>have
some on hand</u> for him-and maybe the rest of us to snack on. While you may
have a bit of a time getting Chocolate Bacon prepped, at least now you can have
a little less stress on your mind while you get your place presentable for the
impending company. As you get better at this, you'll feel more ready to take on
the next big challenge, which, as a whole, can be very intimidating, but can be
made less so with Scaffolding. <o:p></o:p></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00777052796992673020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436321359146765603.post-65148817404007982472012-03-12T17:41:00.000-07:002014-05-25T20:46:48.050-07:00How to Teach Yourself a Language [part 3]The Generalized Others Stage<o:p></o:p>As your Significant Other is the one who means a lot to you and is the closest, emotionally, Generalized Others are just the opposite, and are the basis on which you figure out how things work and what you need to do in certain spots and under certain circumstances based on previous interactions. Since this happens in a natural way, it doesn't often go noticed as you grow up and build your inner and outer circles, but when it comes time to interact with a new kind of culture, it comes time to start refining your conception of Generalized Others and allowing for multiple types of personalities, foibles and other little things that make people who they are. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
If you were, say, planning a trip to London, the knowledge you built on how people act in wherever you're from becomes the basis on how you judge the way people in London act, which is what leads to that oh -so-common state of surprise and wonderment known as 'Culture Shock', e.g. 'Oh no, they're driving on the wrong side of the road!'. This decreases as you build up your knowledge of the ways locals do it, what their basic history is and get more familiar of the pace of life they set, which leads to a more solid foundation and lets you dip into the more probing questions revealing the depth it has to offer, including why Soccer violence is linked to the sport and how its fans carry themselves. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
Got all that? Excellent. Now, with how you develop your learning established, it's time to get into some of the good stuff, particularly the 6 things you'll want to take with you as you work on your learning approach, starting with Motivation.<o:p></o:p><br />
Getting Stimulated into being Motivated<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
The key to sticking to something is stimulation, and when the brain isn't stimulated, it's more susceptible to drifting off to things damn near completely unrelated to what you're learning, like when you get bored of learning how to play guitar and look up how to make the perfect French Fry, instead (the secret, by the way, is boiling the cut potatoes in a 1 quart (4 cups of) water for every 1 tablespoon vinegar mix, frying once for a minute in 350 degree oil, allowing a ½ hour for cooling and freezing over night before you cook it for consumption in 400 degree oil. <a href="http://aht.seriouseats.com/archives/2010/05/the-burger-lab-how-to-make-perfect-mcdonalds-style-french-fries.html">Check it out</a>, if you don't believe me)<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
As for how you can motivate yourself, the key lies in concrete goals that are hard enough that we have to put in some work, but easy enough for us to reach in a reasonable time frame. For example, say you want to learn a language and decide to set the goal of fluency and pour your energy into achieving it, only to find you haven't come close to this in the months of study, practice and gaining experience that ensued. If you keep on this way of doing it, you might achieve it, but it could be months or even years before you see this come to fruition, so instead of trying and failing to make the one big leap, why not break that up into several hops(known in psychological circles as Scaffolding or Shaping)? Low hanging fruit gives you the fuel to go the high hanging stuff, so unless you like repeatedly plummeting, I no see no reason not to.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
Keep the big goal as the end goal, but alongside that, set little goals along the way that you can work towards achieving in fairly rapid succession, like learning a certain amount of words, then how to put them together in a sentence, then learning one sentence structure, then another, then another and so on until you can string 'em together to create a solid paragraph of coherent thought. Not only does this make the rewards more immediate, but also instills the needed foundation for going for the big leaps you'll need to make in your goal to the big end goal, like using all that stuff in a live, no reference conversation with someone you're meeting for the first time. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
If you're looking to add some fun to this, try making a game of it. There are lots of Japanese language games out there, such as Shiritori(where you try to make a word from last Mora of the previously mentioned word), crosswords, tongue twisters and others, even if you make it up yourself(e.g. A Japanese-language game of HORSE, where you use Shiritori's rules to create an entire sentence from the word, and failing 5 times equals a loss). Why would a game motivate you? <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
Well when you're on the edge of losing, your brain enters clutch time and leads you think of the best, quickest way to get out of your current fix and get to the end reward, which will prep you for the real world test these skills will be put to and get you used to thinking on the fly (an actual reward for achieving victory increasing the quality of your brain's clutch time and making you that much better); that, paired with the natural incentive when you find something you like that uses what you want to learn, will make you willing and ready to endure the grind learning something new comes with, which leads to the next part of better learning: repetition<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p><br />
Something to chew on while you wait: What's one of your big goals you want to work towards?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00777052796992673020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436321359146765603.post-77222160294572059122012-03-05T18:21:00.001-08:002012-03-05T18:21:57.757-08:00How to Teach Yourself a Language [part 2]<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 200%;">Simple enough concept, right? Do
something, learn how it's done by both where you excelled and where you didn't.
It's the way people have done it for generations, even before history was ever
recorded. For some, it's the peak of their enjoyment with it and may be the way
they stick with all their lives; for others, it may be the bane of their
existence, based on how often they failed at it before finally getting it the
way they wanted. Both sides can agree, though, that it instills the knowledge
at a level no book, classroom or application could hope to match(I mean really,
would you rather sit there watching someone talk about the way a guitar works
or get up there and see the sounds you can make with that knowledge?)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Before
writing it down was widespread, this is how info was passed on, and the
immediacy and intimacy it creates is why it's lasted as long at it has and why
people look to it when they're in a pinch and only have themselves to pass
either on the knowledge or story they want to tell. True, it benefits many more
when it's recorded for others to observe and add their own input, but to make
that solid, it needs to start at the personal level. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
When
you tell a joke, for instance, how you interpret the punchline and delivery
play a huge role in how the listener feels after you're done and they have to
digest what you've said, so if you don't really get it, neither will they; the
more you do get it, the more you can alter or add to the story leading up the
joke and perhaps hit even further out of left field than the the person you
heard it from, in turn drawing out a bigger appeal to their sense of humor. In
other words, when the teller connects to it at a deeper level, then they can
help those they tell it to make the same connection, which is where the Game
stage starts to influence how the info is processed. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
The
Game Stage<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
When you hear the word 'game,' what
pops up in your mind? Maybe you think about that game of Monopoly where you
managed to make everyone broke as a joke through your strategic railroad and
hotel purchases? Perhaps you think of the game of Halo where you got your team
together to plan and execute your improbable comeback on the Hang 'em High map?
Or maybe, just maybe, you think back to that game of flag football where you
worked the Flea Flicker play to perfection and watched as the other side was
juked out of their shoes while your ball carrier ran it in for the game winning
touchdown? However you get your kicks, you know that success at any kind of
game demands that you're able to manage doing different things at once as well
as managing different people at once, and this is referred to as the Game stage
of development. Whether you know it or not, though, it's games like the ones
mentioned that sharpen your ability to do the same when you're in the daily
grind and work alongside the folks around you to get things done and make sure
everything flows fairly smooth until it's quitting time, and you get to head
home and kick up your feet. In learning to use a language, this is a skill sure
to help you see the deeper connections at work when you communicate and ensure
that everyone is on the same page, which is when a relationship truly blossoms
and amazing moments have the proper conditions to take root. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Nowhere
is this a more pivotal aspect of your personal life than in how you regard
their significant other. The better you can manage all the different facets of
what you know about them and what they do everyday, the more in tune you become
with how they think and feel, which gives you ample opportunity to show what
you feel about them and help them get through their trials and tribulations,
such as what the best present would be for their birthday or whether or not
they should take that promotion for more pay and hours, but with much less time
to spend together. In the game of life, this is where you fly high or
face-plant, and an unseen but ever present factor guiding these decisions is
the concept of Generalized Others. (coming soon!)<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00777052796992673020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436321359146765603.post-46563542001920987092012-02-27T19:28:00.000-08:002012-02-27T19:28:10.519-08:00How to Teach Yourself a Language (or anything else, really[part 1])<br />
When I was gathering my materials for the blog, one of the things I came upon was that for everything language teachers do to try and better their students, they leave typically leave classes with the same level of ability to absorb info as they came in with, which, when someone's trying to better their ability to learn a language and the info is flying at them a mile a minute, is <b>not </b>a good thing. I knew that a student should be able to bolster how they absorb new info, but for the life of me, I couldn't put any method onto the page that didn't require the kind of time sink most people just don't have(e.g. reading and researching book after book until everything suddenly clicks, which is how I got started).<br />
<br />
Some time later I came upon some info about how the brain absorbs info, then later how the stages of learning people go through to get it down solid, which I began to organize into the best, most easily connectable and most quickly applicable form my skills would allow. This next series of articles is the result of all that, and is built to help you trim the fat in how much of the grind you'll have to go through, because if there's one thing I know people want to maximize, it's how much they get back from the time and effort they put into what boils down to relearning how to express yourself in every facet of the word. All that said, let's kick it off with some of why someone should improve the way they learn.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Why Learn Better?</div>
One of the most important and least taught skills you'll ever learn is how to learn better, which of course raises the question of “What do you mean 'Learn Better'? Isn't reading and all that crap enough to get something down?” It can be, but when you improve the way you absorb info, all those seemingly impossible tasks you couldn't approach before take several steps back in difficulty, thus letting us grasp and apply what we learn that much faster. I mean would you rather learn the method to cooking rice in a way you understand or the way someone who doesn't know the way you best learn wants you to? It certainly is possible, but I can guarantee that learning it in a way you connect with will make it more fun and make it stick much, much longer. To start building towards learning your way, here are the 4 steps in the basic development process, the process many will naturally go through when they make first contact with something new.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Process in Brief</div>
The super condensed version of this starts with the Preparatory stage(basically copycatting) , goes to the Play stage (learn by doing), then the Game stage (managing lots of relationships and things we do at once) and goes right to the Generalized Others stage(learning how things are done in a given society). If you, for instance, were amazed by how <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JxLHC8pqPI&feature=related">Michael Jordan handled the rock</a>, you'd probably start by copying the way he plays the game, then getting on the court and getting comfy with how the ball feels in your hand as you run up and down, building your rhythm from dribble to jump to shot.<br />
<br />
After a bit of practice with that, you'll probably want to get into a real time game of basketball, where you learn how to apply what you've been practicing when someone's in your face and trying to swat it out of your hands. The more you do that, the more you get to know both what to do and what not to do in certain situations, such as getting used to passing to teammates when you're being doubled teamed and they have an open shot, which starts to bring you from a kid shooting J's at the plastic hoop in their room to a kid shooting J's over hapless defenders. I know that sports isn't everybody's things, so if you need a bit more meat to how this stuff works, then allow me to detail each step, starting with the Preparatory stage<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Preparatory Stage</div>
One thing people often forget when they learn something new is that no matter how talented, rich, sharp, connected or experienced you are, everyone starts at the bottom and has to work their way up from zero. How do you get started when you basically have next to zilch to draw from when you take it on? You could jump right in and learn it step by step by step and get frustrated with every face-plant you make trying to learn it and get it down, or you could look at what the guy with their stuff together is doing and copy them 'til you find your footing.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>When you do that, a crucial process takes place: you lay the foundation on which everything else you learn is built, refined and tested by the stresses of how it's applied to the real world; can't think outside the box without a box to think outside of, right? Once you build it, though, you can do any number of things to change its shape and how it's meant to work, even question whether or not you need a box and perhaps would like a circular container, instead. Say, for example, you never got behind the wheel of a car before and wanted to learn how to drive-and the person who taught you the basics also happens to love driving like they're trying out for the next Fast and Furious movie.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>After you picked what they have to teach, their style becomes your style, which you then become free to modify however you please to suit your needs(that is, unless you plan to get tickets every time you get behind the wheel), and part of doing that lies in playing around with it, in turn letting it show what it can and can't presently do, so you can find where it needs work; this is where you enter the Play stage of development(coming soon, I promise!)<br />
<div>
<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00777052796992673020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436321359146765603.post-49654343522310447132012-02-21T17:03:00.000-08:002013-06-03T22:13:37.646-07:00Sorry, I Don’t Speak Manglenese: Pronouncing Foreign Terms through Japanese Phonetics (part 11)<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Ideally,
slang and foreign terms should compose 10% of an average conversation, even
where they heavily influence the local culture (e.g. tech stores, skate shops,
ranches and so on). On top of that, the nature of these terms is very volatile,
which makes them susceptible not only to falling out of use in mere days of
their invention, but also weeding out those not in the know and barring them
from ever becoming part of the inner circle. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> Why, then, should anyone bother to employ
something so fickle and exclusionary? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> Well, for one, it strengthens the bonds
between us and those we speak with, as well as encapsulate concepts that'd take
paragraphs to describe (such as Salty, the sports term to describe bitterness
over an unfavorable situation, typically losing at something); like wise, using
foreign terms can help you when you know the word you wanna use, but don't know
it in Japanese yet-which will be quite a bit in your initial experiences with the
language and long after. Most importantly, there will always be terms the
language doesn't have that everything you've learned will help you express.
Like what, exactly? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> Names are the area they'll make an
immediate impact, specifically if they don't fall in line with traditional
Japanese phonetics; same goes for terms tied to certain lifestyles and ways of
doing things, terms that come with their own history and weight, terms that
tell the listener the speaker thinks they know enough about the culture behind
it to embrace all that and use it in a conversation. The best way to discover whether you have enough of that to use terms like Grinding or Mixing
is the same way you can get all you've learned-as well as stuff I might've
overlooked-down pat: chattin' with folks; that single act can teach you more
about slang and how to use it than anything or anyone-myself included-could
ever dream of doing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> Books are static, blogs are static, people
aren't and damn sure don't talk that way. As I see it, conversation is a living
ocean with its own ebb and flow, never the same way twice and always demanding
the focus of those riding it, lest it swallow them whole (though you can always
try again, unlike actual ocean travel). Don't think this the only sure shot
method to learning it, but since auditory memory sucks when not in use, you'll
wanna reinforce what it gives you by pairing it with other methods-taking cell
shots of where you parked your ride, for example, decreases the chance you'll
need to comb the lot just to find it again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> It's not guaranteed to make it stick(as
guarantees are as real as tasty, hearty and cheap vegan cuisine), but all
you've picked up will steady that initial voyage and give you the tools to plot
your language learning course, wherever the destination might end up being. Safe
travels, and may this info make your journey more like sailing these
oceans instead of swimming across them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Special
thanks go out to <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/tomoakiyama">Tomo Akiyama</a>, who's assist during the planning phase played a
major role in setting this thing off proper. Without it, this would've been a
research <u>nightmare</u>. Greatly appreciated, Akiyama-san(orz). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00777052796992673020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436321359146765603.post-25834865041548835242012-02-16T19:38:00.001-08:002012-02-18T14:46:07.991-08:00Sorry, I Don’t Speak Manglenese: Pronouncing Foreign Terms through Japanese Phonetics (part 10)<br>If you've caught a glimpse of the ひらがな or カタカナcharts, you'll notice there's nothing for Ye or Yi, primarily because there isn't a way to render the full sound; there is, however, a way to get an approximation of each-which you'll see again for the other sounds in this section.<br /><br>     Yi sounds, as normally heard, use イ to render them, the harder version heard in Yipe and Yikes using ヤイ; for Ye sounds, the common way is to use イエ, in some instances using イェ to represent the actual sound. If you wondering how often you'll be able to practically use this, so was I when I started doing research and discovered how few words in the dictionary even have these sounds or the onescoming up. At least now you have something to refer back to and thus be less confused over the next time someone lets out a cheer of “イエイ(japanese rendition of "Yay")!” in celebration.<br /><br>     Now then, on to 'W' sounds, in particular the sounds that either don't exist or are likely to cause a double take,starting with the 'wo', 'we' and 'wi' sounds. 'Wo' sounds come in 3 distinct varieties: medium (like in work and wonder), High (like in Wok and Woe) and low(like in wound and wolf); medium 'wo' sounds are rendered using 「ワ」, high ones, 「ヲ」, and low ones, 「ウ」. Low ones are likely the ones you'll need to spend some time before it really sticks, so don't get to flustered if you don't get it right away, just keep at it(note: the info 'bout low 'wo' sounds also apply when it's written as 'wu'). <br /><br>     Similarly, 'Wi' sounds comes in two types:soft(as in winter and withdraw) and hard(as in Wipe and Wise). Soft 'Wi' sounds are made using 「ウ」mora + イ + appropriate mora, where hard 'Wi' sounds use 「ワイ」 + any appropriate mora to form it. <br /><br>'We'sounds (such as those in Wet and Well), similarly, also come in two varieties: short(rendered using「ウ」mora+ エ + appropriate mora) and long (extended「ウ」mora+ イ + appropriate mora). All these together will lay a solid foundation and let you grasp for possible words and names these sounds a reconnected to, like when your friend tells the tale of ワイルド・ウエンディー・アヴ・ザ・ウインズ, the girl who lassoed anyone foolish enough to pronounce her family name, 'Whip' as hwip(note about names: in Japanese,foreign names and strings of terms are typically separated with this dot(・), produced with the key that makes this (/) when the keyboard's set to Japanese). Get all that? Alrighty then, time for the next level of 'W' sounds: those using 'Wh' somewhere within them.<br /><br>     In English, those sounds can be spoken one of two ways: the way normal 'W' sounds would be and the form which gives it a unique sound, e.g. saying 'Whip' as hwip. When this sound is rendered through Japanese phonetics, folks often use the latter way and base how they say it on that, so that's where the next section will be aimed, starting with 'wha'sounds. <br /><br>     'Wha' sounds-heard in whack and wham-use ホ + 「ア」mora, long 'Wha' sounds using  ホ + extended「エ」mora; should one of your Japanese-speaking friends ask you what 「ホアック・ザ・ホエーラーズ」means, this knowledge will let you understand what they're trying to convey and tell them the implications of such a statement(which, if you can interpret the intended meaning, is <i>very</i> potent). 'Whe' sounds-heard in whet and when-apply the general principles you've picked up with 'E' sounds, utilizing ホ +「エ」mora for short sounds and ホ + extended「イ」mora for long ones, the same going for 'Whi' sounds and what you learned from 'I' sounds; to be more specific, 'Whi' sounds-used in which and the previously whip-use ホ +「イ」mora, while long versions of it use ホ + ア + イ. <br><br /><br>     The only 'Wh' sound where previous knowledge won't do you much good is with 'Who' sounds-short versions using just ホ and long versions using フ(bear in mind that the sound associated with フ in either formlies somewhere between the sounds made in words like hula and fool). Now that I've topped off your knowledge of how to say foreign terms through Japanese phonetics, you may still be wondering how much use this all has in the long run, after you've built up your vocab, grammar and other related knowledge. Sit tight, 'cause in the next part, I'll show you a taste of what you do and how all this can let you make the Japanese you pick up yours and yours alone, which is really what you want out of learning to use a language, right?<br><br /><br>Key Takeaways!<br /><br>ñ  Soft 'Yi' sounds →  イ(EX:Yiddish → イヂッシュ)<br /><br>ñ  Hard 'Yi' sounds →  ヤイ(EX:Yipes → ヤイプス)<br /><br>ñ  'Ye' sounds → イエ (EX:      Yes → イエス)<br /><br>ñ  Medium 'Wo' sounds → 「ワ」(EX: One Pattern(word used to say someone/thing does things the same way over and over again and is boring to be around) → ワンパターン)<br /><br>ñ  High 'Wo' sounds → 「ヲ」(EX: Wozniak →  ヲズニアック)<br /><br>ñ  Low 'Wo' sounds → 「ウ」(EX: Woozy → ウージ)<br /><br>ñ  Soft 'Wi' sounds → 「ウ」mora + イ + appropriate mora<br /><br>(EX:Week → ウイーク)<br /><br>ñ  Hard 'Wi' sounds → 「ワイ」 +appropriate mora<br /><br>(EX:Winans → ワイナンス)<br /><br>ñ  'We' sounds → 「ウ」mora + エ + appropriate mora<br /><br>(EX: Wedding → ウエディング)<br /><br>ñ  Short ‘Wha’ sounds → ホ +「ア」mora(EX: What → ホアット)<br /><br>ñ  Long ‘Wha’ sounds → ホ + extended 「エ」mora <br /><br>(EX: Whale -> ホエール)<br /><br>ñ  Short ‘Whe’ sounds → ホ+「エ」mora (EX: Whey -> ホエイ)<br /><br>ñ  Long ‘Whe’ sounds → ホ+ extended 「イ」mora <br /><br>(EX: Wheezy ->ホエージ)<br /><br>ñ  Short ‘Whi’ sounds → ホ+「イ」mora (EX: Whisper -> ホイスパー)<br /><br>ñ  Long ‘Whi’ sounds → ホ +「ア」mora+イ (EX: White → ホアイト)<br /><br>ñ  Short ‘Who’ sounds -> ホ (EX: Whole -> ホール)<br /><br>ñ  Long ‘Who’ sounds -> Extended フ (EX: Whodunit -> フーダニット)<br /><br>Extra Credit! <br /><br>Asbest as you can, render the words Yenta, Wolverine, Smartphone, Wheedle and Whimper into Japanese phonetics<br /><br>As best as you can, render the words イエルプ,ウインナー, ウマン,ホイットル and ホッパーinto English phonetics<br><br /><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00777052796992673020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436321359146765603.post-87342938318990426282012-01-09T16:04:00.001-08:002012-01-31T15:04:39.673-08:00Sorry, I Don’t Speak Manglenese: Pronouncing Foreign Terms through Japanese Phonetics (part 9)<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">'X'
sounds are an interesting case within Japanese, since they, like the others
you'll see in these last few sections, require you to 'expand your mind' in
terms of how they're sounded out(lucky for you, you've been doing just that all
throughout the Manglenese installments, so this shouldn't be much of a
stretch). As for how it's done, let's review how the letter 'X', itself, is
rendered: </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">エックス</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">. Simple, right? It and another, upcoming
method are the foundation for the sounds this letter creates, so keep 'em mind
as we move on to the two ways to render them. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> For 'X' sounds at the end of a word, like
Max and Flex, the formula is an appropriate mora + </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">ッ</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">+
</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">クス</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">; when they're somewhere in the middle of a
word, as in Mexico and Foxy, the normal approach is mora before the X sound + </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">キ</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">or </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">ク</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">+ the appropriate mora(s); since I'm assuming you want to build
up to the tricky stuff, let's start off simple with the sounds made when X ends
the word. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> 'Ax/Ux' sounds are rendered using </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">「ア」</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">Mora + </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">ッ</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">+ </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">クス</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">, 'Ex' using </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">「エ」</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">Mora + </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">ッ</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">+ </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">クス</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">, 'Ix' using </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">「イ」</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">Mora + </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">ッ</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">+ </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">クス</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">and 'Ox' using </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">「オ」</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">Mora
+ </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">ッ</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">+ </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">クス</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">. As the time you put in with germinate
consonants has shown, these alone can open a world of words you can now express
in Japanese, and since I'm sure you picked up a lot of how to apply this from
studying that stuff, I'll take off the other kid glove and plop you into the
sounds X make when they're somewhere in the middle of a word, including Xa, Xi,
Xu, Xe and Xo. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> One part of what make the formula for these
sounds</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; line-height: 200%;"> [mora before the X sound + </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun; line-height: 200%;">キ</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New'; line-height: 200%;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; line-height: 200%;">or </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun; line-height: 200%;">ク</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New'; line-height: 200%;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; line-height: 200%;">+ the appropriate mora(s)] so tough to use is that it allows a
lot of variation, with the choice between using
</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun; line-height: 200%;">キ</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New'; line-height: 200%;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; line-height: 200%;">or </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun; line-height: 200%;">ク</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New'; line-height: 200%;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; line-height: 200%;">hinging on the speaker's tastes and experiences.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">For
the most part, </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">キ</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">is the go to choice, as reflected in </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">テキサス</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">being
the common way to say Texas and </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">メキシコ</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">,
the one for Mexico, but the fact that most folks say sexy as </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">セクシー</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">and Mixi-Japan's response to Facebook-as </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">ムクシー</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">doesn't help those still trying to get down
what the words are for Up and Down. Time and experience will help you refine
how you decide which one suits the way you want to talk, and since it's mostly
applied to casual matters, folks won't be as likely to jump down your throat or
give you the cold shoulder if you get it wrong; just relax, let it happen
naturally and everything will be made clear(maybe). <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> Another reason to take it easy? 'Cause
trying to match this with the multiple languages that use these letters in
their words will drive you nutty. To keep it from getting too complex, this
section will focus on the sounds found in English-origin words, but you know
enough to render any names or words in the accent you feel more comfy with(e.g.
Xavier as said in Spanish phonetics v. the English rendition of it), so just
apply what you've picked up and let your skills handle the rest.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> Moving on to the aforementioned sounds,
'Xa/Xu' sounds-such as those in Roxanne and Nexus- use any mora before Xa/Xu + </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">キ</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">/</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">ク</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">+ </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">サ</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">+ any additional mora(s) to sound the word out, 'Xi' sounds-like
in Lexicon and the previously mentioned Mixi- using any mora before Xi + </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">キ</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">/</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">ク</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">+ </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">シ</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">+ any additional mora(s). Similarly, 'Xe' sounds-heard in
Execution and Lexington-are rendered using any mora before Xe + </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">キ</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">/</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">ク</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">+ </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">セ</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">+ other mora(s), 'Xo' sounds-used in Roxor and Toxic-using any
mora before Xo + </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">キ</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">/</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">ク</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">+ </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">ソ</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">+ other mora(s). <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> If a word uses the harder versions of
these, it's a simple matter of altering the formula to voice it, hard 'Xa/Xu'</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">sounds</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;"> (</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">e.g.
Alexandra and Luxury</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">)</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">swapping </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">キ</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">/</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">ク</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">+ </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">サ</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">with </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">ギ</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">/</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">グ</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">+ </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">ザ</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">. For hard 'Xi' sounds (e.g. Exile), you just
need to swap </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">キ</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">/</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">ク</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">+ </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">シ</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">with </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">ギ</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">/</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">グ</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">+ </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">ジ</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">, hard 'Xe' sounds (e.g. executive)
swapping </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">キ</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">/</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">ク</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">+ </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">セ</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">with </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">ギ</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">/</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">グ</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">+ </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">ゼ</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">and hard 'Xo' sounds(e.g. exodus) swapping </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">キ</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">/</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">ク</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">+ </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">ソ</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">with </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">ギ</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">/</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">グ</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">+ </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">ゾ</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> It's not likely you'll be using these or
the W and Y sounds coming up after this too often, but I'm sure lots of people
will tell you the same about using Japanese outside of Japan or the communities
that frequently use it, like those in LA, NYC, Oregon and other places. You
know what, though? So what? You have own your reason for wanting to up your
ability to interact with and understand another culture, which has always been
the aim of this and the rest of the articles here. As long as you enjoy what
you learn and grow because of it, why should it matter whether or not
something's 'useful'? <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> As long as you keep the humanity of those
you use the language with close to your heart, I could care less if you're
learning all this so you can navigate the world of Japan's geeks, want to date
a Japanese speaker or seek to order auto parts from a hook-up in Japan. I say
have fun and enjoy using what you learn, because you get one shot to live life
well, no need to waste it trying to make every little thing 'mean' something(whatever
<i>that</i> means). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">Speaking of those applications, though, hang tight, in
addition to the sounds I mentioned, I'll also give you a peak into how you can
use all your knowledge of saying foreign terms through Japanese phonetics,
including the best way to use these foreign terms in your style of speaking
Japanese. Stay tuned!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">Key
Takeaways<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Wingdings 2';">ñ<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">Ax/Ux Sounds → </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">「ア」</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">Mora + </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">ッ</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">+ </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">クス</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">(EX: Max → </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">マックス</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">/Flux → </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">フラックス</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Wingdings 2';">ñ<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">Ex Sounds → </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">「エ」</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">Mora + </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">ッ</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">+ </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">クス</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">(EX: Rex → </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">レックス</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">/ Dexter → </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">デックスター</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Wingdings 2';">ñ<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">Ix Sounds → </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">「イ」</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">Mora + </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">ッ</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">+ </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">クス</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">(EX: Kix → </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">キックス</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">/Mix → </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">ミックス</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Wingdings 2';">ñ<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">Ox Sounds → </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">「オ」</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">Mora + </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">ッ</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">+ </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">クス</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">(EX: Vox → </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">ヴォックス</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">/Cox → </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">コックス</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Wingdings 2';">ñ<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">Xa/Xu Sounds → Appropriate Mora(s) + </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">キ</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">/</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">ク</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">+ </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">サ</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">+ Additional Appropriate Mora(s) (EX: Alexa → </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">アレクサ</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">/Lexus → </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">レクサス</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Wingdings 2';">ñ<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">Hard Xa/Xu Sounds → Appropriate Mora(s) + </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">ギ</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">/</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">グ</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">+ </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">ザ</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">+ Additional Appropriate Mora(s)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Wingdings 2';">ñ<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">Xi Sounds → Appropriate Mora(s) + </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">キ</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">/</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">ク</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">+ </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">シ</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">+ Additional Appropriate Mora(s) (EX: Lexi → </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">レクシ</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">/Auxin → </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">アクシン</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Wingdings 2';">ñ<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">Hard Xi Sounds → Appropriate Mora(s) + </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">ギ</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">/</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">グ</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">+ </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">ジ</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">+ Additional Appropriate Mora(s)</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">(EX: Exile → </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">エグザイル</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Wingdings 2';">ñ<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">Xe Sounds → Appropriate Mora(s) + </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">キ</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">/</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">ク</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">+ </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">セ</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">+ Additional Appropriate Mora(s) (EX: Axel → </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">アクセル</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">/Execrate → </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">エクセクレート</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Wingdings 2';">ñ<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">Hard Xe Sounds → Appropriate Mora(s) + </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">ギ</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">/</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">グ</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">+ </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">ゼ</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">+ Additional Appropriate Mora(s)</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">(EX: Executrix → </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">エグゼキュートリックス</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Wingdings 2';">ñ<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">Xo Sounds → Appropriate Mora(s) + </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">キ</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">/</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">ク</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">+ </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">ソ</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">+ Additional Appropriate Mora(s) (EX: Buxom→ </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">バクソム</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">/Luxor → </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">ラクソー</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Wingdings 2';">ñ<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">Hard Xo Sounds → Appropriate Mora(s) + </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">ギ</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">/</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">グ</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">+ </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">ゾ</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">+ Additional Appropriate Mora(s)</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">(EX: Exotic → </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">エグゾティック</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">/Exorbitant → </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">エグゾービタント</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">Extra
Credit!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">As
best as you can, render the words Klaxon, Sexcetera, Mixology, Moxie and
Suxurious into Japanese phonetics<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">As
best as you can, render the words </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">ブラクスプロイテーション</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">, </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">メキサキューショナー</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">, </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">キックスター</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">,
</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">ロクソー</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">and </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: SimSun;">タクシド</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: 'Courier New';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">into English phonetics<o:p></o:p></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00777052796992673020noreply@blogger.com0