Lost In Translation?

[bearcat]

Originally Posted by MMM

I think a better way of putting that is that Japanese conversation is less direct, so when a simple yes or no would do, often the answer is less direct...especially if it is an answer that the asker is not going to like.



I am curious where you got this one. I remember reading a scale of how much communication is done through gestures, Italy was number 1 (or near the top) and Japan was at or near the bottom. The US fell somewhere in the middle.

I would say what we consider understatement is normal in Japan. Many Westerners not accustomed to Japanese communication will miss cues that answer questions because they are used to direct answers, not more subtle, indirect answers



Isn't that what I said in the first place?

I suspect the person who gave me that answer was referring to the histrionic gestures in manga and film.

I thought it was mostly the Chinese who utterly refuse to ever give a direct answer, no matter what.

[MMM]

Originally Posted by bearcat

I suspect the person who gave me that answer was referring to the histrionic gestures in manga and film.

I thought it was mostly the Chinese who utterly refuse to ever give a direct answer, no matter what.

Anime and manga do have a "language" of gestures that are common, just as do Bugs Bunny cartoons.

I don't know how the Chinese communicate, but maybe this will help

Japanese talk about Japan: Japanese -Indirect Communication-

[BobbyCooper]

I have never seen this movie, but I heard it is a good one. The Story is not really my type of movie.. but do you think it's worth it just because it plays in Tokyo Japan?

Whats your opinion about the movie in general??

[myk]

Originally Posted by BobbyCooper

I have never seen this movie, but I heard it is a good one. The Story is not really my type of movie.. but do you think it's worth it just because it plays in Tokyo Japan?

Whats your opinion about the movie in general??

I don't think they're talking about the Bill Murray movie.

Kinda wish they were though...

[BobbyCooper]

Originally Posted by myk

I don't think they're talking about the Bill Murray movie.

Kinda wish they were though...

Have you seen it?

I am really thinking about watching it, cause it has such a high rating too.

[myk]

Originally Posted by BobbyCooper

Have you seen it?

I am really thinking about watching it, cause it has such a high rating too.

Yeah man, I highly recommend it. In fact, it's one movie that's been made in the last ten years that is REALLY good (going back to what we were talking about in the other thread lol).

[BobbyCooper]

Originally Posted by myk

Yeah man, I highly recommend it. In fact, it's one movie that's been made in the last ten years that is REALLY good (going back to what we were talking about in the other thread lol).

Awesome I'm definitely gonna watch it now finally^^

[JohnBraden]

Spoiler alert:

My favorite scene is when Bill Murray's character is sitting in the waiting room of the hospital and some drunk person (I think) is talking to him in Japanese. The two women in the background were hilarious. They were having the hardest time holding their laughter in. It was precious.

[myk]

Originally Posted by JohnBraden

Spoiler alert:

My favorite scene is when Bill Murray's character is sitting in the waiting room of the hospital and some drunk person (I think) is talking to him in Japanese. The two women in the background were hilarious. They were having the hardest time holding their laughter in. It was precious.

Further Spoils:

I liked when the director of the Suntory commercial was telling Bill Murray's character what to say and the translator was telling him something totally different. That part pretty much summed up the whole movie to me.

[JohnBraden]

Originally Posted by myk

Further Spoils:

I liked when the director of the Suntory commercial was telling Bill Murray's character what to say and the translator was telling him something totally different. That part pretty much summed up the whole movie to me.

"Is that ALL he said? I'm sure he said more than that" or something similar....

The best line was when he was posing as Bond for photos and the photographer asks, "Are you drinking?" and he answers "As soon as I'm done." Awesome!