OK, as someone who enjoys learning about languages and cultures, I have made an observation.
I come from three cultures myself...Italian, Irish, and American. All three are known for their abilities in (and frequency of use) what I will call "rough" language...i.e., cursing.
In fact, one of the first things people tend to want to know when learning a new language...is how you drop the "F-bomb" in said language. Again, Most Italians, Irish, and Americans (and Brits) seem more than willing to share that information with language learners...HOWEVER...
One thing I notice is that many Asian people are very reticent to share their native insults with you. The Koreans and Vietnamese seem an exception to this "rule," but that is probably due to the cultural influence of Americans during wartime.
Now, let's face it...among my many study aids for Japanese are two full (and thick) volumes of Japanese Street Slang. Now, I also know that "Baka yaro" does not translate into "silly person." LOL I do, in fact, know that the Japanese and Chinese culture has some marvelous curse words and phrases...which they have been known to use regularly among themselves. So, why does any inquiry about said words usually get met with that wonderful, inscrutable look that Asian culture is known for?
Please don't blow me off as asking a frivolous question...I am very interested in your serious answers. It is NOT my intention to have posted a stereotype...this is just an observation I have made, which may, or may not, be valid.
Thanks.
BTW, I already know more than enough of these words and phrases...so that is not the sort of response I am looking for. LOL
Pepsi-dude: This doesn't seem to be a gender thing. My experience is that most Japanese over the age of about 18, avert the question. I found no such problem when learning Spanish, Italian, or Gaelic.
BTW, this is NOT to suggest that I go about asking everyone on the street about how to say naughty words, but rather to try to see just how much of a taboo this is...and why. It is not as obvious an answer as one might think.
I guess what I am saying is...it is nice to know when you are being insulted.
For instance, even innocent sounding (to Gaijin, that is) words can be inflammatory and misunderstood. The Japanese word "Otaku," for example has a VERY different connotation in Japan than in America. In the US, people are prone to use the word in a neutral way (or slightly pejorative way) to describe someone who is a HUGE fan of Anime and Manga. In Japan, that same term is the rough equivalent of calling someone a social misfit, possibly mentally ill and emotionally unstable. It is nice to know these differences, especially if one is going to interact in the culture. I am not suggesting that it is nice to turn into the Japanese equivalent of Andrew Dice Clay. LOL
Babael: Yeah, I know about Japanese youth culture. I am NOT looking to learn Japanese curse words...believe me, I could post many more curses than exist on any website. I am not especially proud of that, but let's just say that I can have the vocabulary of a dock worker in Japanese, English, Italian, Greek, Spanish, and Gaelic. LOL
I am not trying to debate if Japanese use these words and phrases...they do...THAT is a given. I am also not condoning that, but taboo words ARE indeed part of any culture...and any good language training would be remiss if it ignored that.
Right?
I come from three cultures myself...Italian, Irish, and American. All three are known for their abilities in (and frequency of use) what I will call "rough" language...i.e., cursing.
In fact, one of the first things people tend to want to know when learning a new language...is how you drop the "F-bomb" in said language. Again, Most Italians, Irish, and Americans (and Brits) seem more than willing to share that information with language learners...HOWEVER...
One thing I notice is that many Asian people are very reticent to share their native insults with you. The Koreans and Vietnamese seem an exception to this "rule," but that is probably due to the cultural influence of Americans during wartime.
Now, let's face it...among my many study aids for Japanese are two full (and thick) volumes of Japanese Street Slang. Now, I also know that "Baka yaro" does not translate into "silly person." LOL I do, in fact, know that the Japanese and Chinese culture has some marvelous curse words and phrases...which they have been known to use regularly among themselves. So, why does any inquiry about said words usually get met with that wonderful, inscrutable look that Asian culture is known for?
Please don't blow me off as asking a frivolous question...I am very interested in your serious answers. It is NOT my intention to have posted a stereotype...this is just an observation I have made, which may, or may not, be valid.
Thanks.
BTW, I already know more than enough of these words and phrases...so that is not the sort of response I am looking for. LOL
Pepsi-dude: This doesn't seem to be a gender thing. My experience is that most Japanese over the age of about 18, avert the question. I found no such problem when learning Spanish, Italian, or Gaelic.
BTW, this is NOT to suggest that I go about asking everyone on the street about how to say naughty words, but rather to try to see just how much of a taboo this is...and why. It is not as obvious an answer as one might think.
I guess what I am saying is...it is nice to know when you are being insulted.
For instance, even innocent sounding (to Gaijin, that is) words can be inflammatory and misunderstood. The Japanese word "Otaku," for example has a VERY different connotation in Japan than in America. In the US, people are prone to use the word in a neutral way (or slightly pejorative way) to describe someone who is a HUGE fan of Anime and Manga. In Japan, that same term is the rough equivalent of calling someone a social misfit, possibly mentally ill and emotionally unstable. It is nice to know these differences, especially if one is going to interact in the culture. I am not suggesting that it is nice to turn into the Japanese equivalent of Andrew Dice Clay. LOL
Babael: Yeah, I know about Japanese youth culture. I am NOT looking to learn Japanese curse words...believe me, I could post many more curses than exist on any website. I am not especially proud of that, but let's just say that I can have the vocabulary of a dock worker in Japanese, English, Italian, Greek, Spanish, and Gaelic. LOL
I am not trying to debate if Japanese use these words and phrases...they do...THAT is a given. I am also not condoning that, but taboo words ARE indeed part of any culture...and any good language training would be remiss if it ignored that.
Right?