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6810
Joined: 16 Nov 2003
Posts: 309
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 Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 7:37 am Post subject: |
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I wouldn't get bent out of shape about it.
The whole To-dye, Newspiper thing is one of those stories that's been going around in Japan for at least as long as the Yamato-intestine.
The thing about the Aussie accent appears regularly in guide books etc.
It's one battle you will never win. |
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furiousmilksheikali
Joined: 31 Jul 2006
Posts: 1660
Location: In a coffee shop, splitting a 30,000 yen tab with Sekiguchi.
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| Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 7:41 am Post subject: |
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| I hear plenty of Australians bashing the New Zealanders for their supposed poor English. I have even seen a group of Australians tease a poor Kiwi by repeatedly goading it into saying "fish and chips". |
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gaijin4life
Joined: 23 Sep 2006
Posts: 150
Location: Westside of the Eastside, Japan
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| Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 7:43 am Post subject: |
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| flyingkiwi wrote: |
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| One thing some American friends taught me though was how Australians say "No". I don't know if you do it but as my friends would say "It's one sound! Why do Australians make it at least three". |
H.T.F. is that possible!!?? |
Believe it !!  It sounds a little like - `Naaaah uuuuu ooohhhh` !!  |
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flyingkiwi
Joined: 29 Jan 2007
Posts: 211
Location: In the Golden Gai in Shinjuku, arguing with Mama-san over my tab
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| Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 8:51 am Post subject: |
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I have even seen a group of Australians tease a poor Kiwi by repeatedly goading it into saying "fish and chips".
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I like the way you say 'goading it' lol |
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Smooth Operator
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Posts: 140
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 11:09 am Post subject: |
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Who really cares what the locals think about your accent? Chill out a bit and remind them you are from the best country in the world in terms of lifestyle/quality of life etc. If not, then at least remind yourself of that. I wish I was Australian, you guys don't know how lucky you are.
To be honest, I don't know why Aussies ever come to Japan to teach English when life must be so much better back home... |
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fox1
Joined: 22 Feb 2005
Posts: 268
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| Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 11:59 am Post subject: |
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| Chris21 wrote: |
I'm talking about GAE and RP. |
Dude, you didn't read my very next sentence! I was backing up your point, in a way.
OK. It's easy to say don't worry about it. I didn't used to think much of it. In a way, I like their honesty: "Hey, your country's English is crap!" (or in so many words) has a rather brutal, frank, un-Japanese honesty about it. I respect that. And I usually laugh it off (btw, they're NOT talking about my English, again!...most of these people have never heard me speak English). And Aussie-go is terrible, sometimes. But, some Aussies (and I!) have really nice, middle-of-the-road, almost like international accents that have nothing wrong with them! (they're r. nice-sounding!)
The reason it's a concern is because, you know, it kind of has a bearing on getting employment! If being Australian is unimpressive (as far as your English), then, that's not cool in looking for work.
And, yeah, what I was saying about that "annoying, nasal, loud person" was totally about accent! But, anyway, that's a whole other thing.......
Last edited by fox1 on Wed Jul 04, 2007 12:13 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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Eva Pilot
Joined: 19 Mar 2006
Posts: 351
Location: Far West of the Far East
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| Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 12:07 pm Post subject: |
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| furiousmilksheikali wrote: |
| I hear plenty of Australians bashing the New Zealanders for their supposed poor English. I have even seen a group of Australians tease a poor Kiwi by repeatedly goading it into saying "fish and chips". |
Hahaha yeah! Teasing New Zealanders is one of the little things that makes life a bit more fun.
New Zealand is like the unpopular little brother that wants to hang around all the time. It's the Australian's job to tease New Zealanders. |
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callmesim
Joined: 27 Oct 2005
Posts: 279
Location: London, UK
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| Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 1:35 pm Post subject: |
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Australia and New Zealand 'banter' is all done in good fun. They root sheep, we drag our knuckles on the ground and throw dwarves. It's been like that for centuries! Though I do find the "sheep shagger" schtick rather tired.
I can't speak for all Australians but I know for me that I'd side with a New Zealander long before many other nationalities. They're our brothers in arms. It's the ANZAC spirit! |
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David W
Joined: 17 Jan 2003
Posts: 457
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 1:55 pm Post subject: |
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| callmesim wrote: |
Australia and New Zealand 'banter' is all done in good fun. They root sheep, we drag our knuckles on the ground and throw dwarves. It's been like that for centuries! Though I do find the "sheep shagger" schtick rather tired.
I can't speak for all Australians but I know for me that I'd side with a New Zealander long before many other nationalities. They're our brothers in arms. It's the ANZAC spirit! |
Me too, I'd reckon most Kiwis would say the same. Seems lots of people like sprouting a lot of crapola about things they really have no idea about.
As far the Aussie English thing.  What a non-issue. |
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gaijinalways
Joined: 29 Nov 2005
Posts: 2279
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| Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 1:41 am Post subject: |
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| As far the Aussie English thing. What a non-issue. |
Should be, but it isn't. I used to get guff from my British boss because I didn't pronounce 'Birmingham' the way he'd like it to be said (never mind how Birmies say it).
I work with Canadians, New Zealanders, Brits, Irish, Scots, Aussies, and South Africans. All the accents are a little different. People here in Japan need to get used to it or at least try to .
gaijin4life posted
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| There are subtle differences in pronunciation and word usage between speakers from US and Canada. I usually find it quite easy to tell if someone is from either place. However I take your point that pronuciation of most North Americans is considered to be GAEnglish. |
Such as? Please give examples. I would think the area that the Canadian or American was from would make a huge difference in comparing word usage and pronunciation. The only telling differences I have noticed in more metropolitan Canadian speakers is the French accents exhibited by some bilingual speakers and in some parts of western Canada, the habit of using 'ay' in every senetnce.
Other differences are minor, as 'Canadian' English is a mix of British English and American English depending on the area and the background of the Canadian speaker. |
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markle
Joined: 17 Jan 2003
Posts: 1316
Location: Out of Japan
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| Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 2:45 am Post subject: |
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Chris twentyone
Well I guess you are right that standard US English is more popular.
But if you have students that are not dullards and simpltons then you will find that an unusual accent is helpful.
I mean many low level students are happy with the language equivalent of sweet white bread, processed cheese and Macdonalds but when you come across students at a higher level, who want to be challenged, stimulated and enlightened then having a inscrutable accent is a advantage.
Seriously who, on finding out that Osakans spoke Japanese different and it was considered a bit more 'colourful', didn't think "Oh, I'm gonna learn me some of that!" |
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JimDunlop2
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Posts: 2286
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 4:54 am Post subject: |
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| gaijinalways wrote: |
gaijin4life posted
| Quote: |
| There are subtle differences in pronunciation and word usage between speakers from US and Canada. I usually find it quite easy to tell if someone is from either place. However I take your point that pronuciation of most North Americans is considered to be GAEnglish. |
Such as? Please give examples. I would think the area that the Canadian or American was from would make a huge difference in comparing word usage and pronunciation. The only telling differences I have noticed in more metropolitan Canadian speakers is the French accents exhibited by some bilingual speakers and in some parts of western Canada, the habit of using 'ay' in every senetnce.
Other differences are minor, as 'Canadian' English is a mix of British English and American English depending on the area and the background of the Canadian speaker. |
I also call BS on this -- and anyone who tries to tell me that they can easily tell the difference between an American and a Canadian. Unless you come from a distinct area and have certain ethnic roots (e.g. born and raised in NYC or in Cajun country, Louisianna, or St. John's Newfoundland) you will have a tough time distinguishing. In fact I would challenge anyone to tell the difference bettwen two native-speakers, one from inland north-western U.S. (like Idaho) and one from Calgary, Alberta. Good luck!
Once again, check out the website and listen for yourself.
http://accent.gmu.edu/
It's kinda funny... I used Idaho and Calgary as random examples but there are INDEED speakers from Idaho and Calgary that you can listen to. Try it out. I sure as hell can't tell the difference! |
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fox1
Joined: 22 Feb 2005
Posts: 268
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| Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 4:58 am Post subject: |
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also, I didn't really mention, but it's usually in a group setting that people are making fun of Aussie English to me. One on one is one thing, kind of OK. But it's a different dynamic in a group where I'm the only foreigner.
Making fun of Aussies (to me, in a group setting) for all calling soy sauce "kikkoman" is just weird. So this guy stayed with some f***ers in the western suburbs of Sydney and the woman of the house probably said "Hun, can you pass the Kikkoman for our young Japanese friend?".. and so now, this guy tells everyone here, including me, that Aussies all call soy sauce "Kikkoman". So I'm like: "ha ha, yeah, funny, OK, okashi Australia-jin dake". He, and a lot of people, can't see that Japanese have weird-ass names for a lot of s*** too. He also couldn't see that that particular (strange) host mother knew that it was soy sauce, but she just liked calling it by its brand, probably just in a playful language way. |
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Betty Lou Jones
Joined: 06 Jun 2007
Posts: 14
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| Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 5:11 am Post subject: |
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| fox1 wrote: |
also, I didn't really mention, but it's usually in a group setting that people are making fun of Aussie English to me. One on one is one thing, kind of OK. But it's a different dynamic in a group where I'm the only foreigner.
Making fun of Aussies (to me, in a group setting) for all calling soy sauce "kikkoman" is just weird. So this guy stayed with some f***ers in the western suburbs of Sydney and the woman of the house probably said "Hun, can you pass the Kikkoman for our young Japanese friend?".. and so now, this guy tells everyone here, including me, that Aussies all call soy sauce "Kikkoman". So I'm like: "ha ha, yeah, funny, OK, okashi Australia-jin dake". He, and a lot of people, can't see that Japanese have weird-ass names for a lot of s*** too. He also couldn't see that that particular (strange) host mother knew that it was soy sauce, but she just liked calling it by its brand, probably just in a playful language way. |
Fox you are taking this too seroiusly! I have found people who make fun of others do so because of being insecure! They feel bad about themselves and so make fun of others to make themselves feel supior!
I'm not saying that is the case, just might be. Another possiblity is that he might have a strange sense of humour and is only trying to be friend you!
In any case you really need to just forget about him when the class is over. You only have to deel with him for only an hour a week. Why give him the power to ruin your whole week in just an hour? |
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JimDunlop2
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Posts: 2286
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 5:11 am Post subject: |
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Yeah, I love how people turn individual variations into conclusions about the whole g%&d'%$mned country. But that's the way it is with anything. I had a grade 2 girl ask me if Americans brush their teeth because apparently she watched a show on TV where they said that they didn't.   I told her not to believe everything she heard on TV.
I also get asked CONSTANTLY about eating certain foods and doing certain things... And They are always surprised at my responses because the last Canadian they talked to gave them an answer opposite to mine, and therefore it must hold true that ALL Canadians eat/don't eat/say/don't say _______________________.
As for the soy sauce/kikkoman thing... I guess it's no different than telling someone to go "xerox" something.
But then again, I don't suppose that the Aussie lady who passed the Kikkoman over to their Japanese guest would be QUITE so lenient if he had asked her to kindly pass the Marmite! (  Yeah, like THAT would ever happen anyway).... |
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