J-Doctor-Speak

[kurohinge1]

[SIZE="4"]Even Japanese don't understand doctor-speak[/SIZE]

Have you ever had problems understanding your doctor? Ask this question and some people are likely to retort: "Haven't you ever had problems understanding your doctor?" If you feel this way and happen to be a foreigner in Japan, your frustrations would seem to arise from the simple fact that you and your doctor speak different languages. But native Japanese face very similar problems.

Proof of this is a recent report by the National Institute for Japanese Language (NIJL) titled "Byō]The third problem identified is words that when mentioned by a doctor are likely to produce such a state of shock in a patient as to prevent them from understanding the real state of affairs[/B]. . . . more

The third one sounds like that subset of Japanese who see a foreign face talking and suddenly can't understand their mother tongue.

[soulboy]

"The third one sounds like that subset of Japanese who see a foreign face talking and suddenly can't understand their mother tongue."

That sounds like the subset of foreigners who blame the listener for their bad pronunciation.

[kurohinge1]

"The third one sounds like that subset of Japanese who see a foreign face talking and suddenly can't understand their mother tongue."

That sounds like the subset of foreigners who blame the listener for their bad pronunciation.

Um . . . not at all. But thanks for playing.

Your group are just clueless. The group I'm describing are the very type described in the article - something shocks them (like a perception of bad news from the doctor or the sight of a foreign face) and their comprehension suddenly fails.

Anyone who's spent some time in Japan should be able to give you some examples, but the most blatant one that sticks in my mind was an FG who got his J-friend to ring and order pizza from the local pizza place, but because his phone number triggered a foreign surname on their system, the operator froze and said (to the J-caller, talking in their mother tongue) that he was sorry, he couldn't understand him and he would have to get his manager!

Thankfully, they don't seem numerous, but they are out there.

[wuchan]

I usually get the feeling that the docs here make it up as they go along. One good example I can offer happened last month. I go to a new clinic for a problem that I have had many times before. New Dr. says "you need to go upstairs to our rehab area"... just for fun I go. Get up stairs and they pull out an EMS machine (used for people with low muscle mass). I laugh at them. They act confused until I show them all the reconstructive surgery scars and describe my daily training regiment. All of a sudden they call a conference including the staff downstairs. 30 minutes later they tell me to go back down to the original Dr.. When I see the quack he asks me "what do you need?". I tell him I want XXX drug and he hands me a THREE WEEK supply.


Another case of "I payed for a degree, therefore I am smart".

[omae mona]

I've never had the experience of a native not understanding (or pretending not to understand) my Japanese, except when it was clearly my fault for mis-speaking, which I realized later. My Japanese is not particularly good, but I totally believe the stories I hear from others. So I assume I have just been lucky.

On the other hand, and getting back to the original topic, it does seem to me like Japanese people have a lot harder time understanding each other than we do back home. Just anecdotal evidence. But I have had a few experiences with conversation involving my wife or inlaws, and another 3rd-party native Japanese speaker, where afterwards I've said "sorry, but I didn't understand half of what that guy was saying". The response was "please explain it to us, because we only understood about a quarter of what he said".

Actually maybe this is saying something more about my wife & her relatives...

[omae mona]

[Greji]

• Take me to Roppongi Crossing, please
  
• One more beer
  
• Sorry about the vomit

You forgot that ever-popular old favorate:

• A little lower please

I had difficulty mastering "Do you serve goats here?"

[dimwit]

The real problem with Indonesian nurses is not going to be nurses being unable to communicate with patients, as doctors and nurses rarely communicate with patients as it is, but rather the inability for doctors and nurses to communicate with each other, which is very important.

[soulboy]

Anyone who's spent some time in Japan should be able to give you some examples, but the most blatant one that sticks in my mind was an FG who got his J-friend to ring and order pizza from the local pizza place, but because his phone number triggered a foreign surname on their system, the operator froze and said (to the J-caller, talking in their mother tongue) that he was sorry, he couldn't understand him and he would have to get his manager!

Thankfully, they don't seem numerous, but they are out there.

I have been here about 4 years and never experienced it. I guess some people panic.

[Gilligan]

I have been here about 4 years and never experienced it. I guess some people panic.

Yeah, like the old lady I ran into last week while running. This little old lady was standing, looking around as if she weren't really sure where she was, and as I came running past she said, "Excuse me," and then launched into her apology for bothering me while I was clearly busy, but before she could finish, and before I could even open my mouth to say anything, she stopped and this paniced look came across her face, she clutched her coat more closely around her, and quickly turned and hurried away, looking warily over her shoulder as she went, muttering, "That's OK. That's OK."

[Sentakki Fried Chicken]

I've done more than a bit of time in Japanese hospitals and never had a problem with the medical staff. They've always been outstanding and invariably go out of their may to make sure I understand what's going on.
Could say the same about back home, too. I may be lucky, but I think those in the medical profession everywhere do a helluva job. (Generally, of course...I'm sure there are exceptions and horror stories. I'm just mentioning my personal experience so I can give everyone who's helped me a well-deserved pat on the back.)