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 Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 9:39 pm
Lesson 12.4: The Art of the Delay In communication, we often find that we often cannot form what we wish to say on the spot, and have to search ourselves for just the right words to say(a crucial aspect in any form of language, not just Japanese). Speaking it is a simple enough matter, some of the more integral delaying sounds being じゃぁ, あのう, えっと, まぁ and さぁ(note that まぁ is normally feminine in it's usage. Also nervous laughing works just as well). The function of these is close to the words we use to delay for time, such as err, uhh, hmm, well, you see, like and in some cases wow and come on, as well as soften any statements we may make proceeding them(along with several other ways you'll learn throughout the course of your study). Some of these even have multiple uses, especially まぁ and さぁ. When doubled up, まぁ,in this case appearing as まぁまぁ, can be used as a way to tell someone to calm down(close to the way someone would use "Hey, hey" to someone showing a lotta rage), as well as to say something is "okay" or "alright" in terms of being neither very bad nor very good, just somewhere in between or express surprise at something(much like saying "My, oh my"). Also part of the phrase まあね, which is highly context sensitive, as it can also be a delaying sound(general usage), tell someone you're alright(when asked how you're doing), give someone a shaky response(like sort of, maybe and similar responses if you're not sure you agree with the person's statements or after being asked something is a certain way, like being asked if you're working or on vacation when that's only partly true) or as a general statement of resignation(much like saying 'oh well' after you lose at something or something goes wrong). Inversely, doubling さぁ up,thus getting さぁさぁ, is a word that invites the listener to do something or agree with the speaker, close to how someone would say "Come on in", and is most often used with verbs carrying the -なさい command form(more on that later) さぁ can also be added to the end of words or statements to soften them a bit, even some other delaying sounds(most often あのう, with pairing them getting あのさあ). Let's observe some of these uses in a chat between a teacher visiting his friend's apartment during the weekend. さあさあ, きなさい. (*interjection* come)[ ?] [Come, come; come on in] どうもね. ビヤ飲(の)んでもいい? (thanks beer drink CoP good)[ ?] [Thank ya. Is is alright to down some beers?] はい, どうぞ. どうしたのですか? (yes please how do ?p)[ ?] [Yes, please do. Is something the matter?] じゃぁ...昨今(さくこん), 教(おし)えるのが大変(たいへん)だぜ. (*delaying sound* recently teaching PosP SuP tough EmP)[ ?] [Well...these days, teaching has been tough stuff.] でも教えるのがいつも大変じゃありませんか? (InP CoP teaching PosP SuP always tough is not ?p)[ ?] [But isn't teaching always a difficult matter?] そうね. だけどさぁ, 毎日(まいにち), もっと疲(つか)れになるよ. 身体(からだ)がもう我慢(がまん)できないぞ. これが物足(ものた)りない! (that way EmP but *delaying sound* everyday more tired InObP become body DuP already endure can not EmP unsatisfying)[ ?] [It is, but even so, I'm gettin' more tired every day My body just can't take it no more. This does not please me!] まあまあ, おちついて下(くだ)さい. ちょっと年寄(としよ)りになります. 早晩(そうばん), 皆(みんな)は老化(ろうか)するのが始(は)まります. しかし, 川(かわ)は見(み)られて美(うつく)しくなる. (*delaying sound* calm little old InObP become eventually everyone ToP aging PosP SuP begin river ToP look beautiful become)[ ?] [Hey, hey, calm yourself. You're just getting older. In time, every one of us begin to age. However, looking after the rivers will make them beautiful.] (cultural note: using 年寄 to call someone old is more likely to make them angry. Try 年上(としうえ) instead, which give the listener more status and dignity than the former word) じゃぁ, 成程(なるほど). ところで, その成語(せいご)はどこから識(し)っているか? (*delaying sound* understand place PlP that saying ToP where from know ?p)[ ?] [Well...I catch your drift. By the way, where do you know that saying from?] こどもだったとき, 祖父(じい)ちゃんを言(い)って上(あが)ったんですから, 僕(ぼく)も年寄りになるだろう. (child was when grandpa Noun Suf DiObP say give because I CoP old InObP become probably)[ ?] [When I was a child, Gramps told it to me, so I guess I'm getting older, as well.]
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Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 2:18 pm
Lesson 12.5: Opening the Ears to See the Heart As it is important to express yourself well, it is just as much so to let others do so, as well as letting them know you're taking their words into consideration. In Japan this process is called 相槌(あいづち), and most often occurs as a series of statements as you're listening to the person speak. Note that it doesn't neccessarily mean you agree with them, or them with you, just that they're paying attention and are aware of what you're talking about. Some statements used in practicing 相槌 are はい(neutral way of saying yes), ええ(casual), うん(even more casual), そう(だ/です)ね(general agreeing statement, much like sure is, and similar statements), そう(だ/です)か(questioning version of that agreeing statement), へえ(used to show amazement or shock at something, close to how the words wow and whoa are used) & 本当(ほんとう)に? Inappropriately using phrases, however, clearly illustrate you're not letting one word in edgewise and will undoubtedly make the situation worse. To strengthen your use of 相槌 beyond listening and using these phrases, learn to mirror their thoughts back to them from time to time in the form of a question. In this context, mirroring means analyzing the information they're telling you and summarizing it into either single statement or a few, to show them how much you're listening and build a greater rapport. In short, repeat to them not the exact words, but the intent behind them. It's what happens when you're speaking with a friend about how much debt you have over going to college and other things and then they ask "So are you worried you'll stuck with all this debt for a long time?" Of course, words alone are just the beginning of complete 相槌. As you learned long ago, this also encompasses listening to their tone of voice, body language, what is and isn't said, and many, many other factors. Understand them as a whole, so that they can better understand you, and in turn you both can better understand each other. Side note: this word is also used with the phrase 相槌を打(う)つ, which can mean either whipping up agreeable responses or being a yes-man(I'm sure you can guess which is meant by the context of who you're speaking to). Let's look at some 相槌 in action as two friends meet up in front of the Hachiko statue in Shibuya. さあ, いい天気(てんき)ですな. (*delaying sound* good weather EmP)[ ?] [My, this is some fine weather] うん, そうです. ああ, これはPradaのハンドバッグですか. (yes, that way *interjection* this ToP Prada PosP handbag ?p)[ ?] [Yeah, lovely stuff. Ah, is this a Prada handbag?] はい, はい. 姉(ねえ)さんからバースデープレゼントです. (yes yes sister Noun Suf from birthday present)[ ?] [Yes, yes. It's a birthday present from my big sis] へえ, いいね! ちょっと,これはバースデープレゼント? 本当に? (*interjection* good EmP little this ToP birthday present real InObP)[ ?] [Whoa, awesome! Wait, this is a birthday present? Serious?] 間違(まちが)いない. (doubt)[ ?] [Without a doubt] そう...そうですか. (that way that way ?p)[ ?] [Is...is that right?] はい. でも, ななちゃんのプレゼントもとてもいいです. 実(じつ)はその絵(え)にバインダーの前(まえ)にまだあります. (yes but Nana noun suf PosP present very good truth ToP that picture InObP binder PosP front PlP still have)[ ?] [Yes. That said, your present is also quite good. In fact I still have that drawing on the front of my binder] 本当? (real)[ ?] [For real?] はい. あたしはキュートと思(おも)います (yes I ToP cute QuP think)[ ?] [Yes. I think that it's adorable] As you can see from the example above, 相槌 can become very intricate and key to influencing the tone and direction of both a conversation, and the development of a relationship. Pair this with your knowledge of reading the atmosphere and you'll create many strong, long lasting bonds with those you speak with. For a list of all the new vocab from this lesson, click here
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Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 10:55 pm
Lesson 13.1: Would You Like to Invite Someone? A key part of creating the bonds with others is in the invitation, whether it's to a friend or to someone you know through a friend of a friend's cousin. In Japanese there are a couple different ways to do this, the more direct being actually asking someone if they want to do something, like if you were to get a message from your fellow Japanese student after class saying "ウェンディーズに行(い)きたいんですか?(You wanna go to Wendy's?)" The other, much more common and polite way is as a negative question, close to how we would say "Don't you wanna eat some pie?", although in Japanese this covers both positive and negative invitations. To see this in action let's observe an Office Lady, more often referred to as an OL(Japanese equivalent of a secretary, give or take a few cultural differences, such as serving tea to the other employees) taking a call after she gets off the train: もしもし, ひろみです. (hello, Hiromi)[ ?] [Hello, this is Hiromi speaking] (note: もしもし is a general greeting used when answering a call) あのう, 今晩(こんばん), 暇(ひま)ですか? (*delaying sound* tonight, free ?P)[ ?] [Umm, would you happen to be free tonight?] はい, 何(なに)もしないんですよ. どうして? 小林(こばやし)ちゃん? (yes, what CoP doing EmP why Kobayashi name suf)[ ?] [Yeah, I'm not doing anythng. Why ask, Kobayashi?] じゃぁ, 友達(ともだち)とageHa行(い)きたいんですけど,北口(きたぐち)くんは忙(いそが)しいですよ! だから, 一緒(いっしょ)にきませんか? (*delaying sound* friend CoP ageHa go want but Kitaguchi name suf ToP busy EmP CaP together come ?P)[ ?] [Well, I wanna go with a friend to ageHa, but Kitaguchi has his hands tied! So do you wanna come there with me?] あたしに? 本当? ぜひですね! (I InObP real certainly EmP)[ ?] [You want me? Really? I'd love to!] よかったです. 19:00(じゅうくじ)はどうですか? (good 7 PM ToP how ?P)[ ?] (I'm glad to hear. How does 7PM sound to you?) いいですね. それじゃ! (good EmP there)[ ?] (Sounds great. See you then!) じゃね. (*delaying sound* EmP)[ ?] [Later] Refusing such invitations takes a little more social tact than a lot of people from more direct cultures are used to. Instead of bluntly saying yes or no(or even something like いいえ, けっこです, the statement equal to "No, I'm fine, thank you" in terms of meaning and intent), you give them the reason you can't do something, then state you can't. This is a much softer and palatable way to tell someone you can't/don't want to go some place or do something. For example, when 小林 asked his Salaryman(conceptually, the term is close to people we call desk jockies)friend about going to ageHa that night, his boss asked him to work overtime and take care of a few papers for filing the next morning. With much regret, and possibly some frsutration in his voice he answered: すいませんが, 今晩, 社長(しゃちょう)は 仕事(しごと)したいから, だめだよ. ひろみちゃんに電話(でんわ)しようか? (sorry SuP tonight manager ToP work do want CaP no good EmP Hiromi noun suf. InObP call ?P) [I'm sorry, but tonight the boss wants me to do some work, so I can't go. Why don't ya try giving Hiromi a ring?] (note, すいません is a more casual way of saying すみません)
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Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 7:30 pm
Lesson 13.2: The methodology of the Nudge and Gentle Push Though this will always depend on the individual person, one of the most important general concepts to grasp about Japanese is that desires are never, ever, ever directly stated, but rather shown through actions and statements leaving people hints as to what that desire is. One of the ways the language shows, rather than tells is the use of recommendations, IE "Let's(x)" or "Why don't we(x)" among others. The grammar behind this function is a simple matter of changing the final sylable sound to an おう kind of sound(る vebs are an exception to this, with that Mora being replaced with よう). For polite versions of verbs this would make the -ます into , -ましょう, and the plain forms would follow accordingly, with a list being presented below: [to teach something]教える/教えよう [to impose]課(か)す/課そう [to wait]待(ま)つ/待とう [to buy]買(か)う/買おう [to protect]守(まも)る/守ろう [to sweep]掃(は)く/掃こう [to hurry]急(いそ)ぐ/急ごう [to play]遊(あそ)ぶ/遊ぼう [to request]頼(たの)む/・頼もう [to die]死(し)ぬ/死のう [to do]する/しよう [to come]くる/こよう When used with questions it's a more direct way to invite the listener to go and do something, much like how we say "Shall we dance?(躍(おど)りましょう?)" or "Why don't you try the Fugu?(河豚(ふぐ), 食(た)べてみようか?)". The questioning tone is key to achieving this effect(also remember you can use actual negative questions to do this, as well). Likewise, in normal statements it beckons the listener towards certain actions, much the same way your friends badgered you into doing That Thing. You know what That Thing is, and everyone's done it at some point(as have I), so don't try to deny it. To see this usage in action let's watch as two friends discuss doing That Thing. おい, 行(い)こう. (hey go) [Hey, let's go] どこへ? (where DiP) [Go where?] あの...その場所(ばしょ)だ. (*delaying sound* that place) [You know...to that one place] その場所, 何(なに)やるか? また, もう一度(いちど), 曖昧(あいまい)っぽい答(こた)えれば, 殴(まぐ)ってやれ. (that place what do ?P also vague(look) answer(cond) punch give) [And what're we doing at that place? Also, if you answer me vaguely one more time, I will smack you] では...何が好(す)き? *殴* いた! (*delaying sound* what SuP like punch ouch) [Well then...what do you like? *smack* Ouch!] 聞(き)かなかったね? (listen EmP) [Didn't listen, did ya?] This also has a use with です, in でしょう, but it's use is more layered than a simple suggestion, and will be covered shortly
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