[MMM]

Originally Posted by bearcat

I got some good answers elsewhere:

The Japanese find it rude to simply answer "Yes" or "No".
an explanation, often an elaborate one, has to accompany the reply.

I think a better way of putting that is that Japanese conversation is less direct, so when a simple yes or no would do, often the answer is less direct...especially if it is an answer that the asker is not going to like.

Originally Posted by bearcat

The Japanese use body language MUCH more than Westerners, and what we consider overstatement is
considered normal.

I am curious where you got this one. I remember reading a scale of how much communication is done through gestures, Italy was number 1 (or near the top) and Japan was at or near the bottom. The US fell somewhere in the middle.

I would say what we consider understatement is normal in Japan. Many Westerners not accustomed to Japanese communication will miss cues that answer questions because they are used to direct answers, not more subtle, indirect answers

Originally Posted by bearcat

The wordy replies in Japanese films make the mouth move for a long time, so the translators struggle to fill this in with more English words, resulting in some repetition and absurdity.

Isn't that what I said in the first place?