Monkey Hear, Monkey Say

[Mulboyne]

From Today's Japan Times letters:

[SIZE="3"]Foreign languages can wait[/SIZE]

By M. SAITO, Tokyo

In her Feb. 18 "Personality Profile," Vivienne Kenrick introduces Mami Yamada, who has written a number of books, including English-language textbooks for Japanese children. Her latest book advises parents on how to raise a bilingual child. While I pay due respect to Yamada's achievements to date, I question the viability and acceptability of some of her books for children.

I know a large number of bilingual persons who can speak, read and write more than two languages; whether they can speak, read and write the "mind and soul" of a given language, however, is an entirely different matter.

Before learning a non-Japanese language, a Japanese child should be taught how to speak and write correct Japanese. Foreign languages can wait till a child is in his/her teens. Planting seeds for raising good and globally acceptable Japanese must be given preference over enabling people who can make sounds that are very similar to foreign languages.

Although I'm sure there are Japanese who hold this opinion, I can't help wondering whether "M.Saito" is really an FG looking to stir it up. I remember "Reverend Christopher Taylor" used to do the same many years ago.

[dimwit]

Although I'm sure there are Japanese who hold this opinion, I can't help wondering whether "M.Saito" is really an FG looking to stir it up. I remember "Reverend Christopher Taylor" used to do the same many years ago.

It wouldn't be unheard of for someone to troll the Japan Times but I have heard the same sort of nonsense from real live Japanese so it could be believable and fits in with the 'we are unique' nationalist mantra.

[Charles]

It is well known in linguistic circles that it is much easier to begin learning a second language before age 6. But the common nihonjinron is that learning a second language contaminates your brain with foreign ways of thinking and that you can never be "truly Japanese" if you are fluent in a Western language like English. So a rant like that doesn't surprise me a bit.

[omae mona]

It is well known in linguistic circles that it is much easier to begin learning a second language before age 6. But the common nihonjinron is that learning a second language contaminates your brain with foreign ways of thinking and that you can never be "truly Japanese" if you are fluent in a Western language like English. So a rant like that doesn't surprise me a bit.

Well, in the mommy circles that Mrs. Omae Mona hangs out in, the nihonjinron appears to be that it would be embarrassing not to have your toddler in an English language preschool. Two different nihonjinrons in circulation, I guess.

See also Taro's thread on this topic.