Japanese not wanting you to speak Japanese? Wha..?

[Kayci]

Yeah, I thought so. Cause again, no one else said it, and I have a lot of friends that go to Japan often. (Her Japanese is not that good as well, so...whoever mentioned that...probably?)

I really thought it was odd, cause I also never heard this. Thanks for helping me know I am not crazy.

[RealJames]

Maybe your friend thinks "上手" (Jouzu) means "shut up"...
When I was first learning, and totally sucked at Japanese, I still got heaps of comforting and nice remarks about it.

Or maybe she overheard some Japanese people discussing among themselves the fact that English accents sound SO BAD in Japanese!! hahaha

[Kayci]

Originally Posted by RealJames

Maybe your friend thinks "上手" (Jouzu) means "shut up"...
When I was first learning, and totally sucked at Japanese, I still got heaps of comforting and nice remarks about it.

Or maybe she overheard some Japanese people discussing among themselves the fact that English accents sound SO BAD in Japanese!! hahaha

Possibility on the second part. I tried to speak with her to practice and...well...yeah...it did not sound good. (It does not help that she still pronounces the "Ah" sound as "Ay/Eh" sound...)


But yeah. One person also told me later on that they think she is jealous because she sees me using it a lot with other Japanese friends, but I do not think it makes sense...

[Columbine]

Originally Posted by Kayci

Possibility on the second part. I tried to speak with her to practice and...well...yeah...it did not sound good. (It does not help that she still pronounces the "Ah" sound as "Ay/Eh" sound...)


But yeah. One person also told me later on that they think she is jealous because she sees me using it a lot with other Japanese friends, but I do not think it makes sense...

If you combine what Nyororin said about Japanese people expecting mixed race people to be able to speak it well with the idea that she goes there with a 'I'm one of you' attitude and yet poor Japanese, she might be actually speaking to people with inappropriate tone/ familiarity, which would put people right off. Perhaps they assume that as someone with Japanese blood she should know better. And if she is that jealous, then yes, that would make sense for her to irrationally tell you random crap to make you nervous about going. 'My Japan' attitude. You're taking away her special.

[Kayci]

Originally Posted by Columbine

If you combine what Nyororin said about Japanese people expecting mixed race people to be able to speak it well with the idea that she goes there with a 'I'm one of you' attitude and yet poor Japanese, she might be actually speaking to people with inappropriate tone/ familiarity, which would put people right off. Perhaps they assume that as someone with Japanese blood she should know better. And if she is that jealous, then yes, that would make sense for her to irrationally tell you random crap to make you nervous about going. 'My Japan' attitude. You're taking away her special.

Okay...now I see what you mean. She never mentioned it before I bought my ticket so...Yeah...maybe its jealousy...

[Columbine]

Originally Posted by Kayci

Okay...now I see what you mean. She never mentioned it before I bought my ticket so...Yeah...maybe its jealousy...

Just so we're not merely assuming she's a massive cow, could also be worry rather than out and out spite. If she's established herself as your Japan expert, you're not going to need her as much if you go there yourself and figure things out from your own perspective. To a certain extent she'll loose status and control in her socialising. Maybe she's insecure and feels she needs to be like that for you to keep you as a friend. Not saying that's a nice way to go about things, just throwing it out there for perspective.

[Kayci]

Originally Posted by Columbine

Just so we're not merely assuming she's a massive cow, could also be worry rather than out and out spite. If she's established herself as your Japan expert, you're not going to need her as much if you go there yourself and figure things out from your own perspective. To a certain extent she'll loose status and control in her socialising. Maybe she's insecure and feels she needs to be like that for you to keep you as a friend. Not saying that's a nice way to go about things, just throwing it out there for perspective.

I never used her as my "japan" expert. We just talk about it, since I talk to actual Japanese nationals too. I only just found that sooo weird of her to say, and was so confused because that was a first. I was talking to other Japanese friends about it but they merely shrugged...So I dunno. Was just realllllllly confused on why she would say that.

[Realism]

Maybe it's because she thinks your Japanese isn't good enough....

Sometimes you go to a foreign country, you speak their language to a local and they look at you like you're speaking gibberish to them....yeah....that usually means something...

Or the worst...you speak Japanese to a native....and they respond in English...yeah...they usually means they don't think your Japanese is good enough to converse.

[Kayci]

Originally Posted by Realism

Maybe it's because she thinks your Japanese isn't good enough....

Sometimes you go to a foreign country, you speak their language to a local and they look at you like you're speaking gibberish to them....yeah....that usually means something...

Or the worst...you speak Japanese to a native....and they respond in English...yeah...they usually means they don't think your Japanese is good enough to converse.

I never had that with the Japanese students here... I converse daily in Japanese...

[JBaymore]

Originally Posted by Realism

Or the worst...you speak Japanese to a native....and they respond in English...yeah...they usually means they don't think your Japanese is good enough to converse.

Sometimes with some friends we do this deliberately. I get to use my Japanese....... and they get to use their English. If we don't understand something, we can each correct it. "Best of both worlds", so to speak.

A long time ago I was in an international artist's program in Japan and met a Korean Buddhist monk who was there to give a presentation. He spoke no English. I spoke no Korean. But both of us spoke a little bit of Japanese. So that is how we (barely) conversed. A rather fun experience.

best,

..................john