Job Discussion Forums

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

Whiner: Maybe so, since the person who told me this didn't actually study all the swear words in the language for three years... But, she is actually a good friend of mine from Jeju Island. She is Korean.

Somehow I don't think she was pulling my leg, as we had quite a long discussion about it. But I never said I knew Korean, so you'd have to talk to her directly I suppose.

Perhaps it's a regional thing? (It doesn't sound Korean because it isn't -- if you re-read my original post on the history of that).

foster · Joined: 07 Feb 2003 Posts: 485 Location: Honkers, SARS

If my kids swear they go to the discipline master.

Both in Japan and in Hong Kong, I think kids do it to see the reaction. If we get angry, they know it is a bad word. However, in HK I would think kids now better. One kid said "BullS***" on day in class. Now, if he had been smart, he'd have sworn in Cantonese and I would be none the wiser.

I do think they are testing out words they have heard.

I once taught a group of private, company workers in Japan how to swear properly. Somehow, a mild, meek, little 'f***' just doesn't work. It was fun! Smile

The G-stringed Avenger · Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2004 10:59 am Post subject:

They have no idea what they're saying, usually. There are no words that carry the same force as "F***" in Japanese, so a word like "Baka" is perhaps their strongest, yet is still quite weak. I guess they equate "Baka" with the F-word.

When they try to impress me with their swearing, I just shrug it off. It's pathetic really.

That said, I've heard some absolute beauties in class.

Baka dayo!!!!!!!! (Oh, damn - I've descended to their level)