Speaking Japanese doesn't make you cool

[Ness]

There are every few things that annoy me and one of them is that group of people who think speaking Japanese makes them cool or special.

You guy know who I'm talking about. I'm talking about those kids who go around speaking a combination of both English and Japanese, butchering two perfectly good languages.

There are three ways they do this:

1. They combine Japanese and English sentences.

These are the guys who will say one sentence in English and say the next sentence in Japanese, making it impossible for someone from either camp to understand them. When you tell them stop they will usually go on about how they are so cool and you're not or that they are an "otaku." Speaking of which, what is an otaku? Whatever it is I'm sure it's not some loser that alternates between English and often fragmented Japanese.

2. They combine English and Japanese words to make a sentence.

These are even worse to than the previous group because at least you could understand half of what they said. With these kids, you don't know what they are saying (and they probably don't either, but more on this later). Most of the time these vocabulary of these kids are limited to a few words like "chibi" or "baka" so they use them over and over again to make them look like they have a grasp on Japanese. These guys are annoying because "chibi" and "baka" are the most banal Japanese words used over here. They are used so much that a guy that has never heard of Japan in his life will know what they mean by hearing them.

The kids that are really annoying are the ones that know more than just a few words. They will be talking in English and then all of a sudden switch to Japanese without finishing the English sentence. This leaves most people clueless. What's even worse is that they are proud of the fact that they just made the founders of both languages turn over in their graves.

3. They insult people using either both languages or just Japanese

These guys think that swearing or threatening people in two languages makes them look tough. They are usually a combination of numbers one and two. Most of the time they say something that would cause them to be ridiculed if they said it in English. For example if someone said “I’ll kick you in your head!” in English, people would laugh at them but when they say it in Japanese they except to be treated like gods. I say you’re an idiot either way.

Another thinbg that pisses me off is when they use the wrong words. They will say "chibi" to replace the word "fat" or "loser."

I’d go on, but thinking about these kids for too long in one sitting is unhealthy

[Deathscythealpha]

Otaku's real meaning is something along the lines of 'Obessive' with undertones of being wierd and not having many friends. Yeah, not the coolest thing to be, thats why its so funny when people refer to themselves as Otaku's.

And I have never really come up against anyone who does any of that stuff really, is this on Xbox Live or in real life? In a way I could understand it on Live, their tryingt o show off that they know something cultural and are trying to attract others. In real life it would be well wierd though.

And I cant help but think that number one sounds like 'Pigeon English'. I know its used a lot in some of the Africain countries and those sort of areas, where both languages have been spoken for so long that theyve been combined into one to make wierd half english/half africain sentences. Never heard it applied to Japanese.

[Meaky]

I'm never heard anyone ever do anything you just posted about, so...um......punch them?

[Ness]

Their as commom as rats over here where I live.

[Meaky]

Well, see, I don't have rats here, either.

[TheOneHero]

High School Freshmen. Gotta love 'em. http://pso-world.com/images/phpbb/icons/smiles/icon_disapprove.gif

[Getintothegame]

I remember someone making a topic about this... was it last year? I think the thing that I remember most from that topic was:

"The thing that annoys me is when people use 'Kawaii'."

[AYY-BEE-CEE]

Meh, traditionalists. http://pso-world.com/images/phpbb/icons/smiles/icon_razz.gif Let the little rascals abuse whatever language to their heart's end, they'll get over it eventually. http://pso-world.com/images/phpbb/icons/smiles/icon_wink.gif

[Ness]

On 2005-03-19 15:49, AYY-BEE-CEE wrote:
Meh, traditionalists. http://pso-world.com/images/phpbb/icons/smiles/icon_razz.gif Let the little rascals abuse whatever language to their heart's end, they'll get over it eventually. http://pso-world.com/images/phpbb/icons/smiles/icon_wink.gif



But the problem is they insist on imposing this abuse on us. They can butcher Japanese to hell and back for all I care as long as it stays in their little group. What annoys me is when they try to use it on the rest of us.

[Shattered_weasel]

As I said in the last topic. You don't seem to get angry when people throw any other language into an English sentence.

Isn't that right, Amigo.

Do they "overuse" it?

[Ness]

People don't do with Spanish over here.

[Solstis]

Fick dich ins Kino!

http://pso-world.com/images/phpbb/icons/smiles/icon_wacko.gif

Yeah, it's annoying. Yes, they'll either grow out of it or... well... be idiots for the rest of their lives.

[rena-ko]

mostly people tend to like looking like a fool. let them.

and its "knie" (knee), not "kino" (cinema).

[Aunt_Betty]

Well, I am not one of those people. The only reason why I am learning Japanese is because of its rise in the world. It may soon become the langauge of technology and business. I may think in Japanese to myself here and there, but certaintly not to let it escape my mouth. To be honest, I actually perfer French, another language I am learning. I may talk to myself in French at many times, and even make people feel bad in it.

[HAYABUSA-FMW-]

Meh.
The thing that gets me is this:

If you love this (secondary) language so much, why aren't you taking classes to learn it well and use it correctly?

Doing it half assed shows that you are half assed.

Try a foreign exchange program or something similar and try to speak like that. See what happens.

For myself, my parents and grandparents know how to speak plenty of Japanese. I don't know much, and no one pushes me to learn it. They think it may be too late, too hard, etc.

Family friends every once in a while might ask me questions using only Japanese, I don't understand a word and this looks bad sometimes-like I'm just straight up ignoring them. http://pso-world.com/images/phpbb/icons/smiles/icon_frown.gif They might talk behind my back about it or whatever, but it wasn't required of me so I see no disrespect in not knowing it fluently.

Learning a secondary language is all well and good and I recommend it to everyone. I've tried to learn Spanish, French, a little Japanese, but nothing noteworthy enough to carry on conversations or what-have-you. I just am not persistent enough.

Keep at it and do try to be humble once you do have a secondary(or third, etc.) language "down-pat." http://pso-world.com/images/phpbb/icons/smiles/icon_smile.gif

[Tycho]

Yes, haha.
Trying to combining two languages because you don't know one of them well enough is ridiculous.
Over here, lots of highschool kids think it's cool to combine Dutch and English (again, because they suck at English even worse than I do). Heck, even adults, although they don't try to look cool as much.

I would love to learn Japanese properly, but, I do understand what you mean. Abusing languages is bad.

[The_Pea_Guy]

I think that it's great that young people are willing to learn different cultures and its languages, because this helps to reduce prejudice and ignorance in the world today. http://pso-world.com/images/phpbb/icons/smiles/icon_smile.gif
What I don't agree with is that young people use little or half of what they learnt, mix it with their primary language, and use it just to belittle others who choose not to learn the said culture to look superior. It's foolish and stupid.

Someone, whom I repect online, once said: "He who exalts himself is small, and will be ignored. He who omits himself is great, and will be exalted."




<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: The_Pea_Guy on 2005-03-20 06:44 ]</font>

[Daikarin]

On the other side, some people think speaking their language is uncool.

Some kids here prefer english games, than seeing it translated into portuguese. (on the few times this happens)

That's kinda like the trouble with english kids speaking japanese. I find that kinda immature.

Esses miudos deviam ir para a tropa!

[Zelutos]

nani ka.

[navci]

On 2005-03-19 14:40, Getintothegame wrote:
I remember someone making a topic about this... was it last year? I think the thing that I remember most from that topic was:

"The thing that annoys me is when people use 'Kawaii'."



That would be Balthor the Defiled. A juicy rant, that was.

[Eihwaz]

Japan has produced many things that I really like. Anime, j-rock, games (Legend of Zelda <3), and so on and so forth, but I know it'll make me look like an idiot if I try to use Japanese words and phrases. This is also why I don't buy a shirt that has a Japanese symbol meaning "good luck" or something on it. >_>;

At the same time, I'd like to become literate in Japanese. It would be useful for playing import games, as well as reading manga, and even listening to j-rock, so I signed up for Japanese 1 next year in school. I look forward to learning the language properly. :D

[BoarDemon]

I only know a little Japanese.

[Sagasu]

I loathe it with a bitter passion, the mutialtion of any laguage really just makes humans more irritating than they already are.http://pso-world.com/images/phpbb/icons/smiles/icon_mad.gif

I know a decent bit of the spoken language myself, and rarely use it as often as I should. way out of practice, damnit. http://pso-world.com/images/phpbb/icons/smiles/icon_disapprove.gif

But on a more serious note, they'll never stop. So Just knife them and they'll never make that mistake again <.< Besides, japanese isnt the 'rising' language, not too long from now the chinese will overflow their cage and washout all over the place, seriously.

You'd be surprised what a billion people can do in a couple years http://pso-world.com/images/phpbb/icons/smiles/icon_wacko.gif

[HAYABUSA-FMW-]

On 2005-03-20 21:02, navinator wrote:


On 2005-03-19 14:40, Getintothegame wrote:
I remember someone making a topic about this... was it last year? I think the thing that I remember most from that topic was:

"The thing that annoys me is when people use 'Kawaii'."



That would be Balthor the Defiled. A juicy rant, that was.


Ah goodtimes there. http://pso-world.com/images/phpbb/icons/smiles/icon_smile.gif

A paraphrased quote:
"That kind of typing of (English and Japanese) = 'Look I'm wasting mom's paycheck!'" http://pso-world.com/images/phpbb/icons/smiles/icon_lol.gif

I think I'll go get a link and take a look at what I typed in there, or if I did at all.

[ai_no_usagi]

this is kind of old, but I figured I'd reply anyway.

I may end up looking like a dumbass too, but oh well.

me and my bf will occaisionally speak partially in japanese, because we're learning japanese. now, yes, I picked up doing that before I decided to learn, but at least I could use those words properly.
when done correctly, I see no problem with it. when done incorrectly, it makes me squirm >_<

yeah, that's all I have to say

[Solstis]

On 2005-03-19 18:26, rena-ko wrote:
mostly people tend to like looking like a fool. let them.

and its "knie" (knee), not "kino" (cinema).



I just realized that after going through this thread again.

*Technically* the phrase still works. http://pso-world.com/images/phpbb/icons/smiles/icon_frown.gif

[Alielle]

This is the oldest rant on the internet.

But yeah, those people suck. Also, I hate how some people think anything with Japanese in it automatically makes it cool or interesting.

[Calx]

Someone, whom I repect online, once said: "He who exalts himself is small, and will be ignored. He who omits himself is great, and will be exalted."

If only that was always the case. Unfortunately, as we can all witness every day of our lives in various situations, it isn't.



On 2005-03-20 22:28, Sagasu wrote: Besides, japanese isnt the 'rising' language, not too long from now the chinese will overflow their cage and washout all over the place, seriously.

You'd be surprised what a billion people can do in a couple years http://pso-world.com/images/phpbb/icons/smiles/icon_wacko.gif


I was going to say the exact same thing. Japanese is not the language of the future, and it hasn't been for quite a long time. I remember when I first started Japanese at the University, one of the first things one of our teachers told us was that if we were here for the money and job opportunities, we'd chosen the wrong class, and to go sign up for Korean or Mandarin instead.

I had 20 weekly hours of intensive Japanese for a year, mostly with Japanese teachers who didn't speak English. It was a great way of learning and I got pretty damn good. It's extremely rusty now, from lack of use. Maybe I should start throwing in a "ne" and a "kudasai" here and there to brush up on it.

Then again, nah, that'd just make me look like a complete dick.