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From: barryg@sdcrdcf.UUCP (Lee Gold)
Newsgroups: net.nlang
Subject: Getting Japanese to Believe You're Speaking Japanese
Message-ID: <2528@sdcrdcf.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 18-Dec-85 20:42:37 EST
Article-I.D.: sdcrdcf.2528
Posted: Wed Dec 18 20:42:37 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 20-Dec-85 05:29:36 EST
References: <1791@uwmacc.UUCP> <839@h-sc1.UUCP> <1809@uwmacc.UUCP>
Reply-To: barryg@sdcrdcf.UUCP (Lee Gold)
Organization: System Development Corporation R&D, Santa Monica
Lines: 13
Keywords: easy and difficult

During my four months in Japan, I also repeatedly ran into natives who
assumed that my (undoubtedly English-accented) Japanese was some weird
variety of English.  I also found out a way around this problem....
You sneak up behind them and say (in Japanese), "Excuse me for bothering
you, but...."  Then ask your question.

On another occasion, when a taxi driver looked at me and -- _before I
could speak_ -- said, "No Engrish'" and started to drive off, I babbled,
"Ii des'.  (That's nice.)" and quickly told him my destination in Japanese.
He had the engine started when he realized he had indeed understood me --
and opened the door for me.

--Lee Gold