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たまには英語で

2007-05-16 17:34:08 | よしなしごと
Recently I use comminucation tools such as MSN messanger or Lotus Same time
during working time to communicate with developers or TVT leaders in foreign lab.
This is useful more than ordinary phone because showing text via the tools is
much effective than talking on the phone. Ability or skill for Engish conversation
varies as well as non-native speakers have specific pronunciation, which sometimes
makes communication via phone messed.

Just imagine a situation where an India guy and an Italian guy talk on the phone.
India guy: Haloooo, my machine isn't worukingu veri wellu.
Italian guy: Aaa, allola, I will chekkka yoo macchin. Waitta forru mommmento.
India guy: A don ablu to see a rizon. I'm havingu problem.
Italian guy: OK, youru commando failedda.
India guy: Failedda?
Italian guy: No, feiludda.
India guy: Ah, I see. 'Failed'
Italian guy: Si, chao.

The messenger, at tha same time, is much useful than ordinary phone for communicating
with people in the same building or office, such as Japanese guy and Japanese guy.
Suppose you have a small question to ask somebody. If the question is not so big or
complicated, you wil hesitate to send the question by mail. Also, if the question
is well-known information for most people and you can be the final ignorant guy,
you will hesitate to ask by phone. In this case, the messanger is the best tool
to save your pride.

In fact, I am talked by my colleagues or others via the messanger during working
time. In most cases, their questions are trivial, such as 'Where is xxx file?',
'How can you access to the network?', 'How did you translate this sentence?', etc.
Most Japanese people hesitate to ask this type of questions because they always
avoid to lose their pride. They assume that they will be laughed if they ask such
an elementary things. This is Japanese-specific character. We are too much nervous
to avaid getting laughed or insulted.

For example, we study English for years. If you have graduated high-school, you
must have studied English for 6 years. But if you are talked by American guy on
the street, you get stuck and go like this:

American: Excuse me, can you speak English?
You: M..., me no English, no, no.

Or,

American: Excuse me, can you speak English?
You: Yes, I do.
American: Oh, great, How can you get to the station?
You: Yes, I do.

This is average Japanese people who has little oportunities to use English in their
daily life. Ooops, I'll change the subject. The communication tool is very
useful for Japanese people because of the reason above. They will take advantage of
the tools as a 'survival equipment'.