How many people here are on a REAL first name basis?

[K'Ehleyr]

Now all my loved ones are in deadly peril.

Yes, yes they are



But I did like the card so I will restrain my evil intentions

Yeah, I know, but my point was that the word "you" in and of itself doesn't have different forms in English. We can use "you" for our boss, our best friend, some stranger we just met...it works for all levels of familiarity.

Thee, thou, and thy really aren't relevant to modern English speakers.

I usually use another word for my boss... but's that's another thread!

I am intriqued however, tsq, by when and how you judge the difference between, for example 'tu' or 'vous'? When to be more familiar.

Is it invited? As in "please call me *first name* instead of 'Mrs ***'"
Is it something that you fall into?

Well, I'm not a native French speaker, and to be honest, 6 years on from my last French class my French is pretty awful at this point. However, I'd assume it is much the same as how English speakers modify their speech to suit different situations. You wouldn't likely use the same type of language when speaking to your friends as you would to a possible employer, to your underlings as to your doctor, etc. Sometimes in English the differences are more subtle, but they are there.

Japanese is an interesting one in that the words change with the speaker more often than with the subject. For example, watashi is generic Japanese for I or me, atashi is only used by females and is less formal, boku is used by either young males or males who are being subservient, (or butch lesbians, I've heard), and so on.

tsq, please see my other post re: Japanese etiquitte.(sorry for double post ~ cat has sat on keyboard and it's full of fur! That's an new excuse surely!)

Off subject ~ do you think a Bosai tree would be an appropriate present?

And to RJH ~ but I want to! And I want to wear chopsticks in my hair... just tell me when to stop!

 

[RoJoHen]

And to RJH ~ but I want to! And I want to wear chopsticks in my hair... just tell me when to stop!

I think you are approaching a level of stereotyping bordering on insult.

 

[K'Ehleyr]

And to RJH ~ but I want to! And I want to wear chopsticks in my hair... just tell me when to stop!

I think you are approaching a level of stereotyping bordering on insult.

Ok I'm stopping

So no Pokemon then?

 

[thestrangequark]

Yes, yes they are



But I did like the card so I will restrain my evil intentions

I usually use another word for my boss... but's that's another thread!

I am intriqued however, tsq, by when and how you judge the difference between, for example 'tu' or 'vous'? When to be more familiar.

Is it invited? As in "please call me *first name* instead of 'Mrs ***'"
Is it something that you fall into?

Well, I'm not a native French speaker, and to be honest, 6 years on from my last French class my French is pretty awful at this point. However, I'd assume it is much the same as how English speakers modify their speech to suit different situations. You wouldn't likely use the same type of language when speaking to your friends as you would to a possible employer, to your underlings as to your doctor, etc. Sometimes in English the differences are more subtle, but they are there.

Japanese is an interesting one in that the words change with the speaker more often than with the subject. For example, watashi is generic Japanese for I or me, atashi is only used by females and is less formal, boku is used by either young males or males who are being subservient, (or butch lesbians, I've heard), and so on.

tsq, please see my other post re: Japanese etiquitte.(sorry for double post ~ cat has sat on keyboard and it's full of fur! That's an new excuse surely!)

I'm no expert in Japanese culture, I only speak a smattering of the language. I've traveled to a few foreign countries with different cultures, however, and what I've learned is "when in Rome..."

In other words, I'd give her a friendly handshake. Unless, of course, you are traveling to Japan to meet her, in which case I would bow.

 

[RoJoHen]

I agree. Adapt to the culture around you. If she's meeting you in your country, greet her normally. If you're meeting her in her country, greet her how they normally greet people.

 

[KJbushway]

Just don't look them in the eyes, Japanese see it as an insult.

 

[eastman23]

Like Canadave, my name is pretty easy to guess (easier probably ).

I know a few people's names, and have talked to two of them off-board, one of them in person.

 

[JarodRussell]

Just don't look them in the eyes, Japanese see it as an insult.

That's more the Korean thing.

So you'd say, "voulez vous coucher avec moi" to your boss and "voulez tu coucher avec moi" to a friend?

"Veux-tu...", but yes.

 

[KJbushway]

OH. Stand corrected.

 

[K'Ehleyr]

I agree. Adapt to the culture around you. If she's meeting you in your country, greet her normally. If you're meeting her in her country, greet her how they normally greet people.

No, it will be in UK. But I know I'll still have the urge to bow. Oh ~ how can it hurt?

Just don't look them in the eyes, Japanese see it as an insult.

Oh crikey now I'm really worried!

It will be fine ~ I'm sure...

 

[RoJoHen]

Try your best not to make jokes about tsunamis, and you'll probably be okay.

 

[KJbushway]

Why are you worried about my post. Don't worry I don't plan to visit until they plan to stop whaling and dolphin slaughtering.

 

[K'Ehleyr]

Why are you worried about my post. Don't worry I don't plan to visit until they plan to stop whaling and dolphin slaughtering.

No, not worried. Just want to show respect to Son's Tutor. And maybe she's not particularly proud of her countries heritage either.

 

[JarodRussell]

Don't worry I don't plan to visit until they plan to stop whaling and dolphin slaughtering.

Ugh, you're blaming the entire country for stuff that only a few do? Your visit or non-visit has no effect on it whatsoever. That really shouldn't prevent you from visiting.

 

[KJbushway]

No I am not blaming at all, I hope the best for the Japanese people in these hard times.
I know its just a few, I just don't like those few, but I can't exactly where A Sea Shepherd T-shirt in the middle of Tokyo.

 

[Holdfast]

I'm worried about meeting Son's Japanese tutor. She has been brilliant to him and I would love to take her for a drink/chat. But I'm scared of mucking up. Would I look totally stupid if I bowed? Would that be showing respect or just looking silly?

She lives in the UK, right? Don't bow. Treat her like anyone else in this country.

Do take her out for a drink/chat though. Just don't challenge her to a karaoke contest.

 

[thestrangequark]

No I am not blaming at all, I hope the best for the Japanese people in these hard times.
I know its just a few, I just don't like those few, but I can't exactly where A Sea Shepherd T-shirt in the middle of Tokyo.

Of course you can.

 

[JarodRussell]

I'm worried about meeting Son's Japanese tutor. She has been brilliant to him and I would love to take her for a drink/chat. But I'm scared of mucking up. Would I look totally stupid if I bowed? Would that be showing respect or just looking silly?

She lives in the UK, right? Don't bow. Treat her like anyone else in this country.

Yeah, that can be really annoying. The country sets the "rules" basically. If you're in Japan, bow, if you're in Europe/America, shake hands.


It's funny to see most people react to tourists/foreigners. Kind of similar to how most people suddenly behave when they're confronted with kids or handicapped. Pretty awkward most of the time.

 

[Holdfast]

No I am not blaming at all, I hope the best for the Japanese people in these hard times.
I know its just a few, I just don't like those few, but I can't exactly where A Sea Shepherd T-shirt in the middle of Tokyo.

Of course you can.

Yeah. They can't harpoon you in the middle of Tokyo. It's wearing it near the coastline that you have to worry about.



I've eaten whale. It's OK, but very fatty. Nothing special taste-wise, though of course the cultural symbolism of it in Japan has little to do with the taste per se.

 

[thestrangequark]

No I am not blaming at all, I hope the best for the Japanese people in these hard times.
I know its just a few, I just don't like those few, but I can't exactly where A Sea Shepherd T-shirt in the middle of Tokyo.

Of course you can.

Yeah. They can't harpoon you in the middle of Tokyo. It's wearing it near the coastline that you have to worry about.

hehehe. That made me choke on my tea a little -- just the wonderful image of a Green Peace hippie wearing a Sea Shepherd shirt with a harpoon through his chest in the middle of Shibuya.

I've eaten whale. It's OK, but very fatty. Nothing special taste-wise, though of course the cultural symbolism of it in Japan has little to do with the taste per se.

I was offered some at a Powwow once. You see, KJ some Americans are whalers too. And while whaling is part of my culture, I don't support or condone it -- likewise, I'm sure there are some in Japan who are against whaling too.

ETA: I didn't eat the whale meat. I've had alligator, though!