Is “Considerate English” Necessary?

Japan Watching | 「親切な英語」は必要ですか?

Is “Considerate English” Necessary?

At intersections in cities and sightseeing spots there are signposts indicating the location and up until recently, in addition to Japanese characters, romaji was used. However, English has begun to replace romaji – for instance “National Diet” instead of Kokkai-gijido. The other day, I talked about this with a young Japanese woman at the Hiragana Times International Party. She said she had just started to learn English and wanted to become used to interacting with non-Japanese and using English at the party. She said, “In fact, a foreigner has asked me ‘Where is the National Diet?’ I thought that she had asked me where the national sports center was, so I replied, ‘Not around here.’” I could not stop myself from laughing, although many Japanese would hear the word “diet” and think that it meant weight loss. She continued, “If the sign had been written in romaji instead of English, she might have asked me ‘Where is the Kokkai-gijido?’ Then I would have understood.” I asked a young non-Japanese man who was near me, “Haven’t you ever got lost on your way?” The young man, who said he had just enrolled at a Japanese language school, said: “Last week I went to a sightseeing spot, and when I exited the station a Japanese female volunteer guide approached me and showed me around.” “Then you have not looked at any signposts, nor needed to ask directions from anybody. You were lucky.” Then he said, “No. It was she who was lucky,” and continued as follows. “In order to practise, I spoke to her in Japanese, but she continued to reply in English.” In short, she was using me to practice her English.”

都市とし
Toshi
cities
no
in
交差点こうさてん
kousaten
intersections
ya
and
観光地かんこうち
kankouchi
sightseeing spots
には
niwa/ha
at
場所ばしょ
basho o/wo
(the) location
しめ
shimesu
indicating
標識ひょうしき
hyoushiki ga
signposts
あり、
ari,
there are and
これまでは
koremade wa/ha
up until recently
日本語にほんご
Nihongo
Japanese characters
くわ
ni kuwae
in addition to
ローマ字ろーまじ
ro-maji ga
romaji
使つかわれていました。
tsukawarete imashita.
was used
しかし、
Shikashi,
however
ローマ字ろーまじ
ro-maji ga
romaji
英語えいご
Eigo ni
English
かわり
kawari
to replace
はじめています
hajimete imasu
has begun
―たとえば
– Tatoeba
for instance
Kokkai-gijido
Kokkai’gijido
Kokkai-gijido
no
of
かわりに
kawarini
instead
「NationalDiet」。
“National Diet.”
National Diet
先日せんじつ
Senjitsu,
the other day
ひらがなタイムズたいむず
Hiragana Taimuzu no
(the) Hiragana Times
国際こくさい交流こうりゅうパーティーぱーてぃー
Kokusai Kouryuu pa-thi-
International Party
で、
de,
at
わか
wakai
young
日本人にほんじん女性じょせい
Nihonjin’josei
(a) Japanese woman
to
with
このこと
kono koto
this
について
ni tsuite
about
はなしをしました。
hanashi o/wo shimashita.
(I) talked
彼女かのじょ
Kanojo wa/ha
she
英語えいご
Eigo o/wo
English
なら
narai
to learn
はじめた
hajimeta
(she) had started
ばかりだ
bakari da
just
to
[that]
い、
ii,
said and
この
kono
the
パーティーぱーてぃー
pa-thi-
party
de
at
外国人がいこくじん
gaikokujin
non-Japanese
との
to no
with
交流こうりゅう
kouryuu
interacting
ya
and
英語えいご
Eigo de
English
はなすことに
hanasu koto ni
using <speaking>
れたいとのことでした。
naretai to no koto deshita.
wanted to become used to
彼女かのじょ
Kanojo wa/ha
she
こう
kou
[the following]
いました。
iimashita.
said
じつ
“Jitsu wa/ha
in fact
わたし
watashi,
me
外国人がいこくじんから
gaikokujin kara
(a) foreigner
『WhereistheNationalDiet?』
“Where is the National Diet?”
where is the National Diet?
to
[that]
かれたことがあるんです。
kikareta koto ga aru n desu.
has asked
わたし
Watashi wa/ha
I
国営こくえい
kokuei no
national
スポーツすぽーつセンターせんたー
supo-tsu senta- ga
(the) sports center
どこに
doko ni
where
あるか
aru ka
was
いているのだ
kiite iru no da
(she) had asked (me)
to
that
おもって、
omotte,
thought so
『このへんには
“kono hen niwa/ha
around here
ない』
nai”
not
to
[that]
こたえてしまいました」。
kotaete shimaimashita.”
(I) replied
わたし
Watashi wa/ha
I
おもわずわらってしまいました
omowazu waratte shimaimashita
could not stop myself from laughing
が、
ga,
although
ダイエットだいえっと」と
“daietto” to
(the word) diet
きけけば
kikeba
would hear and
日本人にほんじん
Nihonjin no
Japanese
おおくが
ooku ga
many
減量げんりょう
genryou o/wo
weight loss
かべます。
omoi ukabemasu.
think (that it) meant
彼女かのじょ
Kanojo wa/ha
she
こう
kou
[the following]
つづけました。
tsuzu/dukemashita.
continued
標識ひょうしき
“Hyoushiki ga
(the) sign
英語えいご
Eigo
English
でなく
de naku
instead of
ローマ字ろーまじ
ro-maji
romaji
de
in
かれて
kakarete
had been written
いれば
ireba
if
『WhereisKokkai-gijido?』
“Where is Kokkai-gijido?”
where is the Kokkai-gijido
to
[as]
いたはずよね。
kiita hazu yo ne.
(she) might have asked (me)
それなら
Sorenara
then
わかったのに」
wakatta noni”
(I) would have understood
と。
to.
[that]
わたし
Watashi wa/ha
I
ちかくにいた
chikaku ni ita
(who) was near (me)
わか
wakai
young
外国人がいこくじん
gaikokujin
non-Japanese
男性だんせいに、
dansei ni,
(a) man
いままで
“Imamade
ever
みち
michi
(your) way
ni
on
まようことはなかった?」
mayou koto wa/ha nakatta?”
haven’t you got lost
to
[that]
きました。
kikimashita.
asked
日本語にほんご学校がっこう
Nihongo’gakkou ni
(at a) Japanese language school
入学にゅうがくした
nyuugaku shita
(he) had enrolled
ばかりだ
bakari da
just
という
to iu
(who) said
若者わかものは、
wakamono wa/ha,
(the) young man
こう
kou
[the following]
いました。
iimashita.
said
先週せんしゅう
“Senshuu
last week
ある観光地かんこうち
aru kankouchi
a sightseeing spot
ni
to
きました
ikimashita
(I) went
が、
ga,
and
えき
eki o/wo
(the) station
deru
(I) exited
to
when
日本人にほんじん女性じょせい
Nihonjin’josei no
Japanese female
ボランティアぼらんてぃあガイドがいど
boranthia’gaido ga
(a) volunteer guide
やってきて、
yattekite,
approached (me) and
わたし
watashi o/wo
me
案内あんないしてくれました」。
annnai shite kuremashita.”
showed around
「それじゃ
“Soreja
then
標識ひょうしき
hyoushiki o/wo
(any) signposts
ること
miru koto
looked at
も、
mo,
nor
ひと
hito ni
(from) anybody
みち
michi o/wo
directions
たずねる
tazuneru
to ask
必要ひつよう
hitsuyou mo
needed
なかったんだ。
nakatta n da.
(you) have not
よかったね」。
Yokatta ne.”
(you) were lucky
すると
Suruto
then
かれ
kare wa/ha
he
「いいえ。
“Iie.
no
よかったのは
Yokatta nowa/ha
(who) was lucky
彼女かのじょ
kanojo
she
のほう
no hou
[side]
ですよ」
desu yo.”
(it) was
い、
to ii,
said and
こう
kou
as follows
つづけました。
tsuzu/dukemashita.
continued
わたし
“Watashi wa/ha
I
練習れんしゅう
renshuu
practice
のために
no tameni
in order to
日本語にほんご
Nihongo
Japanese
de
in
はなしました
hanashimashita
spoke (to her)
が、
ga,
but
彼女かのじょ
kanojo wa/ha
she
ずっと
zutto
continued
英語えいご
Eigo
English
de
in
こたえていました。
kotaete imashita.
to reply
つまり、
Tsumari,
in short
彼女かのじょ
kanojo wa/ha
she
英語えいご
Eigo no
(her) English
練習れんしゅう
renshuu ni
to practice
わたし
watashi o/wo
me
利用りようしていたんですよ」。
riyou shite ita n desu yo.”
was using

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