Re: [tlug] (OT) The enigma of Japan (was: UNIX jobs on TLUG)

[Clemens Schwaighofer <gullevek@example.com>]

On Mon, Jun 8, 2009 at 22:58, Shawn Brown<big.coffee.lover@example.com> wrote:
>> I wonder, if someone were to live in two or more different foreign
>> countries (Western countries don't count because they are too
>> familiar), I bet you'd begin to see common threads.
>
> Yes, I suspect so.
>
> For example, when I am right and a Japanese person is wrong and it's
> important enough that I have to say something about it and I don't
> have confidence in my ability to sort of discreetly hint in a manner
> they are sure to understand, the same thing always seems to happen.
>
> Once the Japanese person realizes that I am right, they will start
> speaking about the problem at a higher level than I can comprehend and
> then they will try to claim that I don't speak Japanese and therefore
> must be wrong.  All I can do is reiterate clearly what is really
> certain and perhaps most importantly mark my speech as being as polite
> as I can make it.

If this happens, this person is an arrogant idiot. This can happen in
any culture, in any language, even in your own. People who cannot
admit their faults are available worldwide, this is not a japanese
problem.

> This basic pattern probably happens in every second language context.

Well, no, english is my second language and I feel quite confident
that even if some snot comes and tries to push me off with some high
level english I smart enough and know the language good enough to
fight back.

-- 
Clemens Schwaighofer
gullevek@example.com / gullevek@example.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gullevek/