English-speaking = attractive?

[novacane]

Now I've heard from some people that Japanese girls do like Japanese guys who can speak english well. I've also seen a Japanese article whose title said something like Japanese guys who have grown up in the West are desirable by Japanese women. Now is this true? I have never seen any proof of this.

[Excel-2008]

Western-sounding names have become popular among Japanese girls, I've read.
http://japanese.about.com/library/weekly/aa050601a.htm

[orson]

From time to time, Az writes that someone is saying the darnest things. I’m from Romania and as strangely as it sounds, the same things are said here also. What I mean is that even if we have words in Romanian for F**k and others like that (what language doesn’t), it’s not the same thing. When you say it in your on language it means only one thing and it is bad. But when you say it in another language is not that bad. It has a comical sense. It has a cool sense. You don’t really want to swear, you just want to use a word that is forbidden. If you use the one that you have in your on language, the result isn’t the same. So, you use the one that you have heard so much in movies, in music, in books, on the internet...

So, when the teacher says “those f**king kids” she just means that they are brats. For those who don’t speak in English very often, it means the same thing, it’s not a bad thing to say. And I think that we are not the one to blame. When you hear the word use frequently on every English information that you receive (cool music, cool movies...) you might believe that it’s ok to use it also.

Please don’t ask me what the Romanian word for F**k is. There’s no way you would be in a situation where you would have to use it. :D

[StormShadow]

That is so true. I never say shit anymore, always sheise, which is german. (I totall spelled it wrong!) It's just more fun, nobody knows what your saying, and other people think your cultured. "oh wow, what did you say? What language is that?"

[orson]

Heh! “sheise” is used here also...

We use other languages also – for example "merde" sounds so well when you say it with a really good French accent. You should try it! :D

Question for a native English – “f**k” is such a used word? When you are with a group of friends do you hear this word or the movies are full of bulls**t (I have no idea where the stars should be in this word and how many – if you don’t understand, I might remove some of them - but for now I'm sticking with this version). We don’t use that much the Romanian word for “f**k” (mostly in oral arguments) but I’m under the illusion that with only this word and with the right voice tone an English man (or woman – I’m not misogynic) can express every feeling that he/she has (sadness, happiness...)

[Unactuality]

It depends completely on the individual in question.

Me, I only use it if I'm SERIOUSLY pissed off about something, or perhaps I'll use it occasionally for emphasis around (generally male) friends who I'm familiar and comfortable with.

Some people just plain have their mouth in the gutter and use the word to the fullest possible extent in everyday conversation. Besides being crude, this sort of overuse reflects a limited vocabulary and ability to express oneself. I don't have a serious problem with it, but as a general rule, a constant stream of obscenity quickly becomes off-putting.

How you talk reflects who you and determines how people perceive you just as surely as how you dress, or how you type on the internet.

I suspect none of this is significantly different from how you use Romanian curse words. You may not use the equivalent of "f**k", but I'm sure you have your own choice phrases. It's actually interesting which words become obscenities in different languages. For example, it seems like American insults revolve around sexual matters far more than is the case in many other cultures.

[BluZytrix]

Orson,
If you really wish to learn the many uses of f*** in English, I suggest you listen to this interesting and informative audio clip of its many uses. It has many different uses. I must warn you though that from my experience, when a clear non-native person uses such language, the feeling involved may be increased when speaking to a native person. I will never forget some of the strange conversations with Japanese exchange partners that bring up this topic. I hope you enjoy it.

http://www.khoury.org/funny/fword.wav

[Joe]

Man, it seems like english is to Japan, what french is to America. I suppose it's no wonder native english teachers are in such demand, huh?

And to answer your question Orson, Unactually is right, it does depend on the individual, and the group. In general, the younger you are though, the more you swear (and it is generally assumed that most young people do).

Fuck is overused though, we need a new curse word like Fundie, or Pat Robertson, or Microg.

Edit: hahahahaha, I just heard that little audio clip. Damn, that was funny. The guy had a good point though, Why don't you go outside and play-hide-and- go-fuck yourself?

[BluZytrix]

As long as we are putting up new curse words for use, I love using "Buckets!". Not is it only not that offending, but its a plosive. You can really get some energy behind it and it explodes off of your lips. Go ahead and give it a try. You know you want to.

[KujiInRetsu]

Man, it seems like english is to Japan, what french is to America. I suppose it's no wonder native english teachers are in such demand, huh?I've asked myself what French is to Americans, and I can assure you, it's not where English is in Japan. That is to say that French speakers in America aren't considered fashionable anymore unlike English speakers in Japan. I'm sure you've heard of that ridiculous backlash against the French for not supporting the war in Iraq, the one that caused French Fries to become "Freedom Fries" at military cafeterias. Well, it hasn't reached that sort of fevered pitch, but there is still some perceptible disdain for the French among more Americans than you'd think, whether it be because of political differences or the stereotype that all French people are "le gay" (HAHA... yeah, right). It used to be that French speakers in America were possessed of a keen cultured intellect (Thomas Jefferson was an admitted Francophile, as were many waaaay back when), but nowadays, those seeking such an image can take a variety of other languages now, not the least of which are Chinese and Japanese, seeing their respective nations' rise as economic giants (particularly the former these days).

English in Japan tends to be where French used to be in America. Let's cut it short there.

[Joe]

Well put Kujin, I should have been more specefic and mentioned the old Cliche where the man holds the woman in his arms and she moans to him "Speak french to me." That was what I was thinking of when I wrote that.

Just how french can be considered the "sexy" language in some parts. I wonder if you speak english to a japanese girl will she get all horny? "Ohhh... do me now hard fast!"

The anti-French crap has got me a bit annoyed, I dig the french, but they can be a bit ... well French. And in all honesty, some of it is deserved... (But the freedom fries thing was ridiculous)

[KujiInRetsu]

If English were as effective at getting Japanese women into heat as French was to getting American women (I've actually never heard that before), then there would be scads of poor, pimply English speakers flooding into Japan, instead of the comparative trickle there is now. Monetary concerns and anti-Japanese sentiments would stand no chance against the possibility of easy poontang (even more laughing here). That said, no. I don't think it works like French used to or still does on some American women, though you will find one or two girls that it may work on. Heavy emphasis on the may. PopCulturePooka's story on his Japanese girlfriend might be one of those situations.

And yes. The whole "Freedom Fries" debacle was one of the things Jon Stewart on the Daily Show poked fun at, with good reason.

[Monkey]

The anti-french "freedom-fries" thing was even more funny because french fries are actually from belgium. Some American got it wrong in the past and it's never been corrected....


As for english being sexy in Japan, all I can say is yes it is. :D
I managed to chat up women over there with little more than a few basic words in English. Then I pretend some crude Japanese so that they think I'm trying (how cute!). Next thing you know it's off to the love hotel and see you in the morning!

[Kustom]

Ok, the "freedom fries" was going too far, but after all the French were saying ridiculous things like "there are no WMDs in Irak" and shit like that, weren't they ;)

I'm not sure English will get a Japanese guy into a girl's pants. On the other hand, you can easily chat your way into a love hotel in French or Italian or you-name-it. It's just gaijin power baby, English is fashionable but I don't think it makes J-girls horny. I mean hornier.

[Monkey]

True, it's all down to Gaijin power!!!

[Joe]

So simply being foreign is all it takes does it? I wonder, do foreign women make japanese men swoon? Or is it just one way?

Silly japanese... sex with foreigners will only serve to increase the genetic versatility of their race, they will lose the rank of the worlds "purest race'. Although, some of them could probably benefit with a more spread out gene pool, Az's descriptions of people has got me believing. From drooping faces, to monstrous lips (and small tit-tums)

[erbiumfiber]

So simply being foreign is all it takes does it? I wonder, do foreign women make japanese men swoon? Or is it just one way?

Umm, for everying gaijin girl/Japanese guy couple I see, I see about 20-30 gaijin guy/Japanese girl couples. One of the reasons is I think that Japanese girls are WAY more likely to speak English than Japanese guys. Maybe girls are better at languages than guys or maybe more girls major in English in college or junior college than guys. Also, Japanese guys can be incredibly shy- hence the whole system of being introduced to a potential spouse.

Japanese guys DO think it's incredibly cool to be seen competently speaking English with foreigners in restaurants, etc. (speaking to either males or females). It makes them look very worldly.

[kensei]

I'm sure you've heard of that ridiculous backlash against the French for not supporting the war in Iraq, the one that caused French Fries to become "Freedom Fries" at military cafeterias
In a related story, American cheese will now be known as idiot cheese.

[Joe]

Hahaha, silly cheese lovers. You are pwnt.
I wonder if anyone in japan eats american cheese simply because it's called american cheese.

[Citizen]

The anti-french "freedom-fries" thing was even more funny because french fries are actually from belgium. Some American got it wrong in the past and it's never been corrected....

Actually, nobody got it wrong. French fries are named as such because of two reasons. The first is their shape. They are "french cut". The second is the way they are cooked, as they are "fried in a French manner". It has nothing to do with being named after a country or what nationality supposedly invented them.

Which makes the name "American fries" even more idiotic, as it showed that the people in charge of that whole scam were too stupid to even know what they were trying to change in the first place. That, and the whole "omg!!1 wai wai teh french r no gud!1" bullshit. Honestly, it's painfully childish to change the name of a food over something like that.

It's actually the second time something like this has happened. A lot of people used to call them German fries, but that changed due to WWI. The people who run our country must assume that acting like five year-olds is a good way to settle international disputes.

[Nessa]

That is so true. I never say shit anymore, always sheise, which is german. (I totall spelled it wrong!) It's just more fun, nobody knows what your saying, and other people think your cultured. "oh wow, what did you say? What language is that?"

That word became really popular in my high school. Even people who you'd never hear swear in English could be heard cursing in German. A group of guys even got a German-English dictionary so they could be vulgar and insult each other in the middle of class without getting caught by a teacher.

[TS-]

I can't believe that people don't understand that the whole "freedom fries" thing was a silly joke. And also, people think that the supposed animus towards the French is new...

...ah well, more silly Americans.

[StormShadow]

That word became really popular in my high school. Even people who you'd never hear swear in English could be heard cursing in German. A group of guys even got a German-English dictionary so they could be vulgar and insult each other in the middle of class without getting caught by a teacher.

It totally works. Except once, I said some mean things to a person and the German teacher at my school overheard. Frou Cow was not a nice lady to begin with, and she just got more ugly. And mean too.

[Kustom]

So simply being foreign is all it takes does it? I wonder, do foreign women make japanese men swoon? Or is it just one way?

It's really mostly one way. I think it has to do with social roles. The guy is supposed to do the first step in Japan, and gaijin guys have no problem doing, but Japanese guys are scared nearly to death of talking to a foreign girl. And if the girl actually makes the first step, it doesn't help because they get so weirded out that they probably loose all mating capabilities for a week. All the foreign girls I know in Japan are either dating gaijins or single, and a lot of them complain that they are not getting any.

It is not true that no Japanese guy values having an independent-minded foreign girlfriend. A lot of them have fantasies about dating foreign girls (I don't know how many students asked me to arrange a date with my hot gaijin friends), but they don't dare to do it...



Although, some of them could probably benefit with a more spread out gene pool, Az's descriptions of people has got me believing. From drooping faces, to monstrous lips (and small tit-tums)

Yeah, it's surprising that the Japanese are not a bunch of inbreds... I think it's because they still have a variety of genes from Russia, China, Korea and the Pacific... But the imperial family was a consanguine mess, and that's why they actually decided the heirs should marry outside the family.