Grammar, diction, spelling and a misunderstood campaign
Posted on 04. Aug, 2007 by dimaks in Life
Few days ago, I happened to have a short chat with some Filipino friends here in Tsukuba and along the way, we happened to tackle the subject on how English language is viewed and taken as one of the must-have skills of the Japanese people. We also happened to take a quick look at the efforts exerted on the matter, ranging from weekly TV programs, formal and informal classes and tutorials respectively, as well as in the print media.
Overall, we somewhat had a common question posed: Why is it that, Japanese people are always on the look for a native English speakers in their day-to-day English learning processes? Well, personally I have no objection to that but sometimes, there can be a twist of things especially to the receiving end. Like for example, if a Japanese encounters a native English speaker in full native accent, then perhaps there can be some untoward products of learning. Worst thing is, anybody who thinks that he is being taught by a native speaker would have the tendency to imbibe unripe sense of confidence. Though, to be fair, there are considerable number of Japanese acquaintances that can speak and write English quiet well.
Anyway, I would just like to share to you this advertisement I saw somewhere inside the University. Apparently, a company is looking for participants for a certain discussion program that will talk about societal problems and issues, where declining birth rate is I think the main highlight.
If you take a quick run down on the items listed, you will see what I am talking about. I am not a grammarian of sort but with my elementary skills, I can pin point the gray spots. And the finale is at the bottom part of the page. It spoke clearly of the miscommunication between diction and spelling. I am wondering whether this ever passed through an editor, the fact that what I know is, there are foreigners and local people alike who speak English within the company.
But then again, I salute them for the efforts. Gambatte Kudasai Ne! (Please do you best)
Then, in a not so distant area where I saw that first poster, I was caught and intrigued by this one. A friend told me a brief information about it though, that it is meant to refer to the Japanese Ministry of the Environment (MOE) advocacy dubbed as “Cool Biz” – a campaign started in summer 2005 towards saving electric consumptions by limiting the uses of air conditionings. The idea was proposed by then MOE minister, Yuriko Koike under the Koizumi cabinet.
According to the Environment Ministry, central government ministries were to set air conditioner temperatures at 28°C until September. The Cool Biz dress code advises workers to starch collars so they stand up and to wear trousers made from materials that breathe and absorb moisture. Additionally, workers are encouraged to wear short sleeved shirts without jackets or ties. Many workers, though, were confused about whether they should follow the new stipulations—many came to work with their jackets in hand and their ties in their pockets. Even those who liked the idea of dressing more casually sometimes became self-conscious during their commutes when they were surrounded by non-government employees who were all wearing standard business suits. Many government workers said they felt it was impolite to not wear a tie when meeting counterparts from the private sector.
All of the government leaders practiced Cool Biz. Prime Minister Koizumi frequently interviewed by reporters with no tie and jacket, and this gave big advertising effect. (Source)
So, anyway, perhaps I took the first line of the poster too seriously, only to know that it is all about a proposed dress code for summer season in Japan. If ever Borat was around, you will know what will be his line.
Have a nice weekend to all!
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Part-time blogger dimaks is involved in transport planning and research and is into Internet technology, PC games, digital photography, motorcycling and martial arts.. 
kathy
Aug 4th, 2007
Haha, that line at the bottom of the first poster would have been an honest-to-goodness typo because “S” and “D” are side by side on a QWERTY keyboard.
But since it was handwritten, I do wonder how the author got confused.
handwritten nga naman. -dimaks
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Uh, that slipped away from my thoughts
SexyMom
Aug 4th, 2007
i wonder why i could not see the photos. anyway, will come back, hello, dimaks!
this is assuming i am having tremendous traffic *i wish*. -dimaks
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might be a heavy load on your internet service provider’s server or too much bandwidth coming from my site. perhaps later, the traffic will ease down a little bit
Richmond
Aug 5th, 2007
I am wondering if I should take Korean language as an elective… pano kaya kung Japanese?
but then we have better background and foundation when learning these languages. You will see the difference once you’re in it.. -dimaks
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Think wisely bro
K
Aug 5th, 2007
It’s everywhere here in HK as well. Isn’t Japan has funny names for bars as well? In HK, residential buildings mostly have the words “FOOK”, hahaha.
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That’s right. Now that you mentioned it, perhaps I should get some clickies to those names around my neighborhood.. -dimaks
aCey
Aug 5th, 2007
oh wow! those are hilarious!
i have to agree that not all native english speakers use and know correct grammar, and just because english is the native tongue doesn’t mean most of them will make excellent teachers. lol.
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Tumpak! the line “you shall know them by their fruits” is somewhat on the see-saw here.. -dimaks
tina
Aug 6th, 2007
how bout china? hehe.. and other asian countries as well. they have those… and sometimes even pinoys.. but maybe not as funny as that..
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I got post relating to that – “tags around us“.. -dimaks
verns
Aug 6th, 2007
I had this Japanese client who transact business over the phone. Of course I preferred for him to email me the details because I always find it difficult to figure out his sentences. Minsan ang ending eh hindi kami nagkakaintindihan which pissed him off big time. But what can I do really?
better yet, set a personal meeting?. -dimaks
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Well, I don’t suggest letter by letter syllabication of his words
annamanila
Aug 6th, 2007
Indivisual — i thought it was being used creatively. I truly go for inventspeak you know. But you’re right … its an editing slip. You think they’d have need for editors in Japan? Online editors?
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Though i wondered if it really went through edition. Editors here are lots i think. I am not so sure about online ones.. -dimaks
raquel
Aug 9th, 2007
thumbs up for trying! from my experience Japanese people are quite conscious about their english although most often faults are committed quite constantly too. which gives gaijins additional doughs! oportunista! hehe.
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I agree hehehe -dimaks
herb
Aug 9th, 2007
ang mas weird eh, these were found in the university! hehehehe
-dimaks
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I’m sure you have seen them by yourself
Elizar
Aug 9th, 2007
i received some forwarded emails a few time for some times now..
those ads and sign japanese style are hilarious!
you should see filipino to engrish bersyon.
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I have seen many of them in engrish.com -dimaks
betty
Aug 10th, 2007
Mas nakakatawa ng mga ads sa China!
thanks for dropping by! -dimaks
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True, by the photos i have seen somewhere here on the web. Although I have not been to china yet
Gypsy
Aug 10th, 2007
Hehe…its interesting that there is such a high demand for native english speakers in countries like Japan and Thailand, ang nakakatawa sometimes they base this on the skin color and not on their English fluency (I guess since many of them can’t speak good English they wouldn’t know who’s fluent and who’s not). I know Germans who have a hard time grappling with English actually hired to teach English in Thailand–and getting paid more than Filipinos who are actually more fluent and who know grammar structure! Ironic…
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Is it about time to let them know? hehe -dimaks
Richmond
Aug 13th, 2007
Wala namang Japanese elective sa amin eh… hehe.
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Chinese, meron ba? hehe -dimaks
J
Aug 14th, 2007
My comment is a bit related to the topic, but not quite. Hehehe. People expect a lot of us Pinoys when it comes to English proficiency. That`s something to be proud of. But the thing is, there are times when some Pinoys don`t live up to these expectations. Along with India and Singapore, the Philippines remains the top English-proficient country in Asia. But I think we also need to address our English fluency`s steady decline.
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Do you think that the advent and fast-becoming popularity of tag-lish and other modern conversational jargons have something to do with your point?-dimaks
J
Aug 19th, 2007
Dimaks writes: “Do you think that the advent and fast-becoming popularity of tag-lish and other modern conversational jargons have something to do with your point?”
Yes, I do. But I think the main reason is the fact that the Philippine academe stopped strictly using English as medium of instruction in Elementary and High Schools.
Another factor is the rise of the use of Tagalog as the language of audio-visual media. All TV news programs in the Philippines used to be in English, now you see such programs only on ANC.
I`m not against using Filipino in news program. But I think there should also be prime-time news and other TV programs in English.