More trolls from the New York Times

[cstaylor]

Japan and China: National Character Writ Large

Of all languages in the world, Japanese is the only one that has an entirely different set of written characters to express foreign words and names. Just seeing these characters automatically tells the Japanese that they are dealing with something or someone non-Japanese.

"China is a big continent and has an inclination to think that it is No. 1 and that others are uncivilized," said Minoru Shibata, a researcher at NHK, Japan's public broadcast network. "Therefore, they feel that giving Chinese names to foreigners is doing them a favor."

Not one Chinese individual was quoted in this article.

[Neo-Rio]

Somehow,
Somewhere,
Someone will choose to be offended by
Something.

Being offended is a choice.

Honestly, there are some people in this world who, when given a compliment, will think you are trying to be manipulative. When you insult them, they think you are unbalanced and mean. What do you do?

Human relationships are complicated.
There must be a word to explain this phenomena.......

[cstaylor]

Who's offended? Don't you think it's silly to quote Japanese researchers about China when describing China? Shouldn't Chinese people be interviewed?

[Big Booger]

Cstaylor, I am ashamed...

You of all people should know that there is no difference between chinese and Japanese.. LOL

[Taro Toporific]

Japan and China: National Character Writ Large...

Maybe it's a slow day or more likely the Japanese reporters just wanna cover "safe" non-news.

[gkanai]

[kenchan]

Cstaylor, I am ashamed...

You of all people should know that there is no difference between chinese and Japanese.. LOL

how about dirty knees and ...look at these? hehe

[Big Booger]

Cstaylor, I am ashamed...

You of all people should know that there is no difference between chinese and Japanese.. LOL

how about dirty knees and ...look at these? hehe

muwhahahaha...

[Socratesabroad]

[GomiGirl]

[blackcat]

"Of all languages in the world, Japanese is the only one that has an entirely different set of written characters to express foreign words and names. Just seeing these characters automatically tells the Japanese that they are dealing with something or someone non-Japanese"

YES WE KNOW
what does that tell you about the japanese mind??? they are self obsessed. and totally Xenophobic.

They hate china to the core and LOOK for any possible way to continue that simple minded hatred.

[GomiGirl]

Compare that to China (where I live now). Here, everything is kanji, even my bumbling foreigner name. Sure I'm still fvcked, and I haven't ceased to be a gaijin (laowei), but at least my name is written and pronounced just like everyone else's.

That's good, right??!?

Also, correct me if I am wrong, but isn't there only one reading per glyph in Chinese unlike the multiple readings in Japanese..

If so, this explains a few things, namely that the average Chinese native speaker can read many more "kanji" characters than the average native Japanese speaker.

Also that there are few or no participles, particles or complex verb conjugations that are in Japanese which are usually written in kana.. (for the sole purpose of confusing us poor saps who try to learn JSL)

[GomiGirl]

YES WE KNOW
what does that tell you about the japanese mind??? they are self obsessed. and totally Xenophobic.

We certainly took our happy pills this morning didn't we???

[cstaylor]

Also, correct me if I am wrong, but isn't there only one reading per glyph in Chinese unlike the multiple readings in Japanese..

Yes, I believe that's correct, but Mercutio may be more informed. ]If so, this explains a few things, namely that the average Chinese native speaker can read many more "kanji" characters than the average native Japanese speaker.[/quote]Well, it depends on which China we're talking about. The official kanji of the PRC were reduced by Mao after the revolution into simplified kanji. The kanji used in Taiwan are still the traditional, overly-complex form.

So someone visiting from Taiwan could certainly understand what they read, but they wouldn't have an idea on how to pronounce it (unless the original onyomi(?) applied).

[Gestalt]

[lostintranslation]

"Japan is a big continent and has an inclination to think that it is No. 1 and that others are uncivilized," said Min Shibao, a researcher at CCTV, China's state propaganda machine. "Therefore, they feel that giving katakana names to foreigners is doing them a favor."

[Frost]

I have nothing valid to say..had to edit

[ramchop]

[GomiGirl]

[GomiGirl]

Great info.. thanks Ultra!!

[blackcat]

GOMI.G

Happy pills aside I get sick of the mindless "we are different" (read better)
than everyone else shit so many Japanese come out with on a regular basis.

As the article said Japan is THE ONLY nation with an entire alphabet devoted to foreign words(but not used in that way now thats why many japanese think, memo, idyle, croquette etc. are japanese!)...

To put that into context imagine if all Germanic words in English had to be written in BLUE and Latin origin words written in RED etc.

it would give you an idea of a rather paranoid society in my opinion.

But really what can we expect from Japan when a "scientist" thinks SARS may be spread more easily speaking Chinese/English than Japanese

[Taro Toporific]

"China is a big continent and has an inclination to think that it is No. 1 and that others are uncivilized," said Minoru Shibata, a researcher at NHK, Japan's public broadcast network.

"Japan is a big continent and has an inclination to think that it is No. 1 and that others are uncivilized," said Min Shibao, a researcher at CCTV

Yes! Now Japan and China are continents. Wow! Quick I have to make some changes my atlas and geography books.

[cstaylor]

Because the slacker is a Japanese, writing from Japan, about Japan. Don't confuse him with facts that conflict with his preconceived notions.

[tidbits]

China is a big continent and has an inclination to think that it is No. 1 and that others are uncivilized," said Minoru Shibata, a researcher at NHK, Japan's public broadcast network. "Therefore, they feel that giving Chinese names to foreigners is doing them a favor."

Strange, I feel like asking the NHK reseracher what 'favor' did he mean? How else can a Chinese (who only know Chinese language) express a foreigner's name then? Isn't creating whole set of Katakana for foreign words sounds like much bigger favor?

[Socratesabroad]

[rippoff]

It ain't much, but it is long.

My humble response that that floater of a NYTimes artlcle.

Please feel free to address any mistakes; I have written it rather quickly and with a raging passion.

Patrick



http://cif.rochester.edu/~rippoff/Check%20out%20this.doc