Wednesday, 19 March 2008
Did Japan Change YOU?
Something that I've really begun to notice lately is how much Japan changes people, though the change seems to go entirely unnoticed by the people themselves.
One such change is the evolution from "small talker" to "big talker" and visa versa. I've seen several people (friends and acquaintances) who over the first and second years of being in Japan have begun to speak increasingly louder to the point where I wonder if they're suffering from an inner ear infection.
I'm not talking about drunk loud talking, I'm talking about everyday sober conversation that now gets the reaction from myself and those around me "Why are you yelling?".
It's really kind of funny (when it's not off putting) and my theory is that because Japanese people rarely talking on trains, or anywhere else in public and when they do it's in hushed whispers some people unconsciously begin to overcompensate by raising the level of their own voice.
I've however begun to do the opposite! I've begun to realise that I'm now such a quiet speaker that people I speak to can't hear what I say! This became very apparent when I went back to Australia and spoke to "normal" people. I've also been told several times at work to speak louder during meetings and trainings. Haha.
Have you become a "small speaker" or "big talker"?
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Labels: japan
posted by Brad at
8:41 AM
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Welcome. My name's Brad and I'm about to start my fifth year in Tokyo, Japan though lately I've found that that defines me as badly as saying I'm from Sydney, Australia.
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LOL I have definitely become a quiet talker. I am excessively conscious of other foreigners speaking very loudly in public - it actually annoys me! What has really changed though is the speed of my speech, my vocabulary and the amount of gestures used. I met a non-English speaker last week and they said "You must be an English teacher. I can understand some of what you are saying just because of your expressions and gestures and because you speak slowly". I'm afraid that my old friends might think I'm a little crazy when I return home in a month. ;o)
Haha. I went to a wedding in Melbourne in January and two other guys there had also been teaching English in Tokyo for a bit. Imagine our horror when a woman at the wedding walked up to us and told us that all of us from Tokyo speak differently than everyone else. LOL.
I can't say that I speak louder than I used to back in Sydney, but I definitely speak slower....
Just making myself easier to understand when being surrounded with people for whom English is a second language.
Though my typing speed is now back to the same level now that I am finally used to my Japanese Keyboard.
Hi Brad! I love your blog and reading about your experiences in Japan. I'm thinking of going to Tokyo next year to learn Japanese as well. Do you know of a good place I can apply to?
Good question. I used to always suggest NOVA who were a sure thing but since they closed I'm not sure. Will research and make a post about it for you!