Essential Phrases and Body Language #5

Gesture #5: Catching someone's attention/肩《かた》叩《たた》き

Actual Gesture: Tapping someone 2-3 times on the shoulder while you're behind them

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

Any Associated Phrase?: No, but one I recommend is 「失礼《しつれい》しますが」, or something similar in intent

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

Phrase #5: 大変《たいへん》です
Literal Meaning: It's awful
Intent: This is horrible
Usage(s):
1. To point out that something is an emergency/the stuff has hit the fan(like the phrase 'This is serious!'),
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'),
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")
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")
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)
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。心臓発作《しんぞうほっさ》、起《お》こってねぇ。
(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)
(a shocking situation) 大変だ！熊《くま》が通《とお》りを通《とお》ってますよ！
Oh my word, there's a bear walking down the street right now!
(when something gets serious) ’「結婚《けっこん》しましょうか？」って！？大変でしょう。
Did he really say “Will you marry me”!? This just got real.
(showing sympathy)「赤点《あかてん》」って?　しまったね。　大変だよ。 おい、MOS Burgerに会《あ》おうぞ。 持て成してくれ。
(You got failing marks? Oh crap, man. Sucks for you. Yo, let's meet up over at the MOS Burger, my treat)

Essential Phrases and Body Language #4

Gesture #4: Showing appreciation for the meal
Actual Gesture: Holding both hands together and lightly bowing your head
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)
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 「ご馳走様《ちそうさま》でした(Thanks for the hospitality)」after it's done
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.

Phrase #4: 済《す》みません
Literal Meaning: I didn't finish the task at hand
Intent: I'm sorry
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.
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)
Example: (saying sorry) パーティーに酔《よ》い過《す》ぎて、済まないな。ひさしぶりので酒《さけ》が弱《よわ》いこと 忘《わす》れたんだ。
(Sorry about getting too blitzed at your party, man. It's been a while, so I forgot I'm a lightweight with the booze)
(saying thank you) 助《たす》けて済みません。本当《ほんとう》に有《あり》難《がた》い。
(Thank you for the help back there. I really appreciate it)

Essential Phrases and Body Language #3

Gesture #3: Showing something is wrong/you don't know something
Actual Gesture: with the thumb-side of the hand held near the mouth, waving it back and forth
It's Function?: It does as the name says, specifically when there's nothing the person doing it can do to help you out
Any Associated Phrase?: 2 main ones, the one for something being wrong, 「違《ちが》います」and the one showing they don't know something/can't help you out, 「知《し》っていません」
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
Phrase #3: 失礼《しつれい》しますが
Literal Meaning: What I'm doing is in bad form, but...
Intent: "Excuse me(and similar meanings in translation)"
Usage(s):
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)
2. To excuse your when you have to go somewhere
3. To politely get someone's attention
Notes: 失礼, itself, is a な adjective that describes someone as being rude or impolite
Example: お客《きゃく》さまがいるので、失礼しますが
(There's a guest waiting for me, so pardon the interruption)
「お客さま」って？
(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])

Essential Phrases and Body Language #2

Gesture #2: Pointing to yourself
Actual Gesture: Pointing to the tip of your nose
It's Function?: It's meant to clarify if the subject of conversation is, indeed, you
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])」
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.

Phrase #2: 大丈夫《だいじょうぶ》ですか？
Literal Meaning: "Is your health great?"
Intent: "You alright?(and similar meanings in translation)"
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?"
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)
Example: クリスさん、大丈夫？大山《おおやま》さん葉「じ自転車《てんしゃ》から落《お》ちた」といいましたのでっ。
(Are you doing alright, Chris? Oyama told me you fell off of your bicycle, so-)
はい、大丈夫ですね。若山《わかやま》さん。足《あし》、ちょっと痛《いた》いんですけれど、それ以外《いがい》にＯＫですよ！
(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.)

Essential Phrases and Body Language

In 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.

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.

Gesture #1: The Beckoning Wave
Actual Gesture: the palm of the person's hand faces the ground and the hand waves inward towards the body

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

Any Associated Phrase?: Yes, and with this one, one of them is 「こっちにおいで！(Over here, please!)」

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.

What's this about a cat and a traveler?: One possible origin of this gesture and the cat itself, known in Japan as 招《まね》き猫《ねこ》, 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.

Phrase #1: ありがとう

Literal Meaning: It's tough for this to exist

Intent: Thank you

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

Notes: One possible origin for this phrase is from the full, formal version of this phrase, 有《あり》難《がと》うございます, itself derived from the adjective describing being grateful for something, 有《あり》難《がた》い

Example: 色々《いろいろ》ありがとうございます。ご恩《おん》は決《けっ》して忘《わす》れません。《 (Thank you for everything you've done. I certainly won't forget the kindness you've shown me)

How to Teach Yourself a Language [part 7]

Constructing the Method Made for You

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.

The Ophelia Syndrome and You

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.

            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 Absinthe, 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.

How to Teach Yourself a Language [part 6]

Tempering the Knowledge by Letting Yourself Cool Off

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?

            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).

            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).

            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).

            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!)