Saturday, August 20, 2005

S-P-E-L-L-I-N-G

The Japanese language borrows quite a few words from foreign languages. However, you can't just walk up to someone and say a word and think they'll understand you. Chances are, they might know the word, but you aren't pronouncing it correctly. You must Japanize it. Here's an example from the bar I went to last night.

Barkeep (in japanese): What would you like to drink?
Me: I'll have a White Russian.
B: A what?
M: Wahito rahshian?
B: (blank look)
M: Wahitoh rashion? Wahito rishon? Rishian? Rushan?
B: Oh!! Wahitoh rushion!!

Sometimes I don't understand how a one syllable mistake can make me totally incomprehensable. Try, try again.

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