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.”
交差点
kousaten
intersections
観光地
kankouchi
sightseeing spots
場所を
basho o/wo
(the) location
標識が
hyoushiki ga
signposts
これまでは
koremade wa/ha
up until recently
日本語
Nihongo
Japanese characters
に加え
ni kuwae
in addition to
ローマ字が
ro-maji ga
romaji
使われていました。
tsukawarete imashita.
was used
ローマ字が
ro-maji ga
romaji
始めています
hajimete imasu
has begun
―たとえば
– Tatoeba
for instance
Kokkai-gijido
Kokkai’gijido
Kokkai-gijido
「NationalDiet」。
“National Diet.”
National Diet
先日、
Senjitsu,
the other day
ひらがなタイムズの
Hiragana Taimuzu no
(the) Hiragana Times
国際交流パーティー
Kokusai Kouryuu pa-thi-
International Party
日本人女性
Nihonjin’josei
(a) Japanese woman
話をしました。
hanashi o/wo shimashita.
(I) talked
はじめた
hajimeta
(she) had started
外国人
gaikokujin
non-Japanese
交流
kouryuu
interacting
話すことに
hanasu koto ni
using <speaking>
慣れたいとのことでした。
naretai to no koto deshita.
wanted to become used to
外国人から
gaikokujin kara
(a) foreigner
『WhereistheNationalDiet?』
“Where is the National Diet?”
where is the National Diet?
聞かれたことがあるんです。
kikareta koto ga aru n desu.
has asked
スポーツセンターが
supo-tsu senta- ga
(the) sports center
聞いているのだ
kiite iru no da
(she) had asked (me)
『この辺には
“kono hen niwa/ha
around here
答えてしまいました」。
kotaete shimaimashita.”
(I) replied
おもわず笑ってしまいました
omowazu waratte shimaimashita
could not stop myself from laughing
「ダイエット」と
“daietto” to
(the word) diet
聞けば
kikeba
would hear and
日本人の
Nihonjin no
Japanese
減量を
genryou o/wo
weight loss
思い浮かべます。
omoi ukabemasu.
think (that it) meant
続けました。
tsuzu/dukemashita.
continued
「標識が
“Hyoushiki ga
(the) sign
書かれて
kakarete
had been written
『WhereisKokkai-gijido?』
“Where is Kokkai-gijido?”
where is the Kokkai-gijido
聞いたはずよね。
kiita hazu yo ne.
(she) might have asked (me)
わかったのに」
wakatta noni”
(I) would have understood
近くにいた
chikaku ni ita
(who) was near (me)
外国人
gaikokujin
non-Japanese
男性に、
dansei ni,
(a) man
迷うことはなかった?」
mayou koto wa/ha nakatta?”
haven’t you got lost
日本語学校に
Nihongo’gakkou ni
(at a) Japanese language school
入学した
nyuugaku shita
(he) had enrolled
若者は、
wakamono wa/ha,
(the) young man
「先週
“Senshuu
last week
ある観光地
aru kankouchi
a sightseeing spot
駅を
eki o/wo
(the) station
日本人女性の
Nihonjin’josei no
Japanese female
ボランティアガイドが
boranthia’gaido ga
(a) volunteer guide
やってきて、
yattekite,
approached (me) and
案内してくれました」。
annnai shite kuremashita.”
showed around
標識を
hyoushiki o/wo
(any) signposts
人に
hito ni
(from) anybody
なかったんだ。
nakatta n da.
(you) have not
よかったね」。
Yokatta ne.”
(you) were lucky
よかったのは
Yokatta nowa/ha
(who) was lucky
続けました。
tsuzu/dukemashita.
continued
のために
no tameni
in order to
話しました
hanashimashita
spoke (to her)
答えていました。
kotaete imashita.
to reply
英語の
Eigo no
(her) English
練習に
renshuu ni
to practice
利用していたんですよ」。
riyou shite ita n desu yo.”
was using