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06-06-2008, 04:58 PM
Its also the culture and different vocabulary/phrases.
For example, the well known "apartment" vs. "flat", "flashlight" vs "torch", "buck" vs "quid" You could get away with saying "I'm easy" in Australia and everyone knows you mean you're easy going. The sexual connotation doesn't exist like it does in American/Canadian English. When giving instructions, checking for feedback with "okay" vs "yeah?" There are many small differences that add up quickly. 
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06-06-2008, 05:45 PM
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The topic you choose to bring up will depend on who you're talking to. If you're with someone you just met and wanna get to know that person, you may start out by asking about basic, not-too-private stuff, but that too will depend on the context the conversation takes place in. Quote:
Like in British English they say "Blow me" as an exclamation of surprise, no sexual connotation is implied there either. I used to have a British Enligh teacher we all made fun of cause he was said to have been a porn actor and he certainly looked like he could've been one, I was in class, all concentrated on my paper and I hear him shout to someone: "what a cock-up you've made!", we were all like o_O Made a woooooooot? lol everything is relative and contradictory ~
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thank you;) -
06-06-2008, 05:55 PM
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Yes I agree. It really depends. so Can you give me your advise how I can tell new Japanese English learners about "how are you" thing? most of the English text books in Japan, it doesn't tell this thing, I mean for example some books written by Japanese who lived in USA many of them say "don't use HOW ARE YOU? nor I AM FINE" those are way too polite. but other books written by someone lived in England.Australia or NewZealand, They say different things. Many of Japanese people learning English, they want to use English IN JAPAN, that means we will have chance to meet people from various countries. We don't want to be rude or anything. You may think I am worried too much, but.... One of my friends from England, She didn't like it when one of my co-workers(japanese boy) said to her "What's up,man?" . The Japanese boy was studying English for a year with an American teacher at "N" English School in Japan. His English level was not very high. He only could say very simple things, but he wanted to use lots of slangs which he believed that's the natural and cool way to talk. but I thought and think while we are beginner of the foreign language, better use "polite(r) way" rather than slangs. oops I'd better go to bed now it's 3am!
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naruhodoh! -
06-06-2008, 06:00 PM
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I have been learning alot from you, Nathan  I hope you can come to http://www.japanforum.com/forum/%E8%...%EF%BC%81.html so that I could help you with your Japanese.
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06-06-2008, 06:10 PM
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Yeah, studying slang when you are a beginner makes you sound strange. It's like a beginner in Japanese not using "こんにちは、和弘さん！お元気ですか？” and instead saying "よ！和弘！マイド！元気や？”
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hahaha -
06-07-2008, 05:53 AM
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hahaha  so you lived in Kansai area when you were in Japan?The N(you are right) school did many things wrong to the teachers and the students, many of the teachers HAD to leave Japan, many of the students had no where to go to study English even they paid a lot of money already, and not only that, many of Japanese people started doubting about all English Education related businesses so some of English schools also had to be closed. There are still many English schools(they call themselves "School"but they don't deserve to be call that) keep cheating I am afraid. You might have noticed that there are many many Japanese "English teachers" can't speak English! I want to be an English teacher, teaching at elementary school or junior high, so I am going to back to uni to get qualified. I am qualified as a home-ec teacher, but not English. My major wasn't English. oops I talked about something not related to the topic, please forgive me yurusitene~
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06-07-2008, 06:01 AM
If you have any more questions about English language, feel free to PM me or just randomly ask. Yeah...ok, that was random. But seriously, my English might not sound very great but its only cause I was raised in the country. ^-^ ...wish I was still in the city though. I'm homesick for it...
ack, I got off-topic as well
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aligatoh! -
06-07-2008, 04:52 PM
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Can I ask you one? I would like to know how to use this word "bother". I sometimes hear people say Can't be botherd, but I don't know exactly how to use it. Can you give me some examples? have a nice weekend!
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06-07-2008, 06:14 PM
Ah, bother. 難しいですね。
I know the question is not directed at me, but I'll still through in my two cents! Bother has many meanings. All based on context. ****************************************************** 1) Bother as "annoy" or "not annoy" ** A mosquito is flying around you, really close to your ears ** - "That mosquito is bothering me!" ** Kentaro is hitting/poking/interrupting his sister when she's working/watching tv** - Kentaro's mother: "Kentaro, stop bothering your sister and do your homework." - Kentaro's sister: "Yeah! Go away and stop bothering me!" (Stop annoying her. Yeah, stop annoying me!) ** Kentaro's family is visiting his grandparents' hosue, and Kentaro is making lots of noise (like kids do!)** - Okaasan -> "Kentaro! Be quiet! I'm sorry mother! He's not usually this loud." - Obaasan -> "That's okay, it doesn't bother me. Let him play." (I'm not annoyed) ** 2) Bother showing "effort", or "no effort" **John wants to call his boss to say he will be late because his car won't start, but his phone isn't working because he didn't pay the phone bill. His wife Mary is angry at him** - John: "How am I supposed to tell him now!?" - Mary: "Well if you had bothered to pay the bill we could call him!" (If you had done it, the situation would be different) **Mary wants John to get in shape, but John is really lazy and loves junk food** - John: "I know I should exercise, but usually I can't be bothered and I just go watch TV" (I don't want to!) **John has a lot of things to do at his house, but he is too tired because he worked 10 hours today** - John: "Mary, I'll cut the grass tomorrow, I'm exhausted and can't be bothered to do it now." (I'm too tired, I don't want to do it) ****Bother can be a noun too, not just a verb***** - John: "Man, cutting the grass is such a bother! I'll just pay someone to do it." **There is a loud party happening near Mary and John's house, and Mary wants them to be quiet. John doesn't think talking to them will work." - Mary: "Those kids! I'm going to tell them to turn off that music so I can sleep!" - John: "Why bother? They won't listen, just call the police." (It's not worth the effort, it won't work) 3) Bother as "a polite interruption when someone is doing something", usually used at the work place or talking to a superior. ** John wants to talk to his boss about taking vacation time, and his boss looks busy** - John - (Knocks on the door) - Boss - "Come in. John, what is it?" - John - "Sorry to bother you, but could you spare a moment? I was wondering ..." (I'm sorry to interrupt you) 4) Bother as "a worry" **John and Mary see their friend Susan at the park. Susan is obviously worrying about something (frowning, scratching her head, confused look, etc)** - Mary: "Hey John, isn't that Susan? Huh.. I wonder what's bothering her." - John: "Well, lets go find out." 5) Bother as "a pain" *John hurt his shoulder playing tennis earlier this morning* - Doctor: "So John, what's seems to be the problem?" - John: "Well, my shoulder has been bothering me all afternoon. I think I hurt it during my tennis game." ****************************************************** As you can see, there are many ways to use bother!
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wow... -
06-07-2008, 07:16 PM
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wow, "bother" isn't an easy one!! and another WOW for how you taught me... Nathan, you are a wonderful teacher! I am going to print out what you just taught me, and read again again again until I understand them! until I become an expart using "bother"! oops now it's 4:30 am, I couldn't sleep... but I am going to meet my friends (from Brazil) for lunch, so I have to go to bed soon. oyasumi~
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