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Conformity –our normal behavior-
Hello everyone. I’m Ayaka Taira, I’m Mikako Tsuchiya, I’m Hikari Aizawa, I’m Youngju Honda. Our topic is conformity. We already leaned this issue at the chapter twelve. Reviewing the Conformity issue, Conformity means that one group adopts certain behavior. The certain behavior is called normal behavior or norm. The certain behavior is normal in that group but people who do not join the group think the certain behavior is strange. So today, we are going to look at our normal behavior which means we don’t recognize our normal behavior but it could be strange from the viewpoint of foreigners. When we go to another country, we have felt something uncomfortable and strange in certain situations. The same as this, many foreigners come to Japan, some behaviors or Japanese languages looks difficult to understand for them. From now, we are going to talk about three points of certain behaviors such as unspoken norm, language and gestures in Japan. Before we start it we want you to inform one thing that there are some short plays in our presentation. We intentionally speak in Japanese because we thought speaking in Japanese would be more familiar to you. If you have any questions please ask after the presentation. OK, let’s start.
First we are talking about greeting. Greeting is the first step to communicate and there are many ways in the world. In Japan, bow is the most polite greeting style. How do you greet? It depends on a situation and a person. We greet older person with a bow. A bow is expression of the respect to a partner and gratitude. That is why we bow not only greeting but also when we apologize. One unique in bowing Japan, Japanese people bow even on the phone we are not able to see him/her. Like this… (short play)
In addition, when Japanese people say good-bye, their good-bye bowing doesn’t seem to end. Like this… (short play)
In East Asia, a bow expresses a greeting, gratitude, and an apology like Japan. However, bowing of a greeting is rare in the United States. If they meet people, they usually shake hands first. So, American may not understand why Japanese bow so much. About two years ago, President Obama bowed to His Majesty the Emperor of Japan. The reason was expression of the respect to the Emperor of Japan and many Americans criticized it because of it is not suitable as the President. In Islam, a bow is performed only to God. Similarly, in Judaism, bowing to other things except God is forbidden by Mosaic Ten Commandments. Since the method of a bow also changes with a country or religion, bow would not be always a polite greeting style.
Next, we are going to talk about table manner in Japan. Let’s have a look her eating soba. (short play)
Well, this situation is very normal and we are unable to find what is odd. Has anyone realized the normal behavior but it could be strange for foreigners? We are able to find that many people there sip noodles and making many noises. This is very rude table manner in the west and sometime in Japan too. However, Soba seems exception in Japan. When people eat Soba, they make noises and don’t care about it. Even, some people may think eating soba is delicious with making noises. Many people know that making noises when we eat is bad manner but soba is different. So many foreigners might have a question about this.
Actually this situation has one more normal behavior in Japan. Holding a bowl when we are eating is very normal. We always hold the rice bowl and scoop rice to mouth. However, next country Korea, it is very bad table manner. In Korea, you should never hold a bowl and scoop anything.
Next, we are going to look at conformity in Japanese language. Although we don’t recognize, there are lots of diplomatic language(社交辞令)in Japan. Let’s look at next situation and focus what they say.
(short play)
Do you realize what diplomatic language is in this play? Yes, right, we are going to talk about the phraseつまらないものですがand すみません. When Japanese people give gifts to someone, they usually say 「つまらないものですが」 which means “This is worthless things”. This phrase is common in Japan. However, from viewpoint of foreigners, this phrase is strange. In foreign country, sometimes people say “This is a humble present from me”. At that time, the present is really humble, such as your book which you don’t need anymore, but good for receiver. However, Japanese people say 「つまらないものですが」even if when they give valuable and expensive presents.
In foreign country, when they give something special, they will say “I hope you like it” or “I thought you might like this”. So, they express directly that their present will good for the receiver. Also, some people say “This is a little something for you”. This phrase expresses humility of the person who gives present, but they never say their present is worthless. So, it is strange for foreign people why Japanese people say 「つまらないもの (worthless things)」when their present is not worthless.
Actually, the Japanese expression「つまらないもの」doesn’t means the present is really worthless. This phrase intends to express the presenter’s respects for the receiver. Originally,「つまらないもの」means, “I tried hard to choose good present for you but this present might be worthless from you, because you are a splendid person”. So, if you don’t know this intention, you might feel why Japanese people say 「つまらないもの」to you. So, in Japan, it is common that people use superficially strange phrase, つまらないもの.
We have also strange phrase すみません. すみませんmight be very familiar Japanese word for foreigners because すみませんis usually said many situations in Japan. As we know すみませんmeans apology but we use also other situation. When we call a waiter at the restaurant and when we ask something to someone, we say すみません. Also when we express the feeling of gratitude, we say すみません instead of thank you. Actually the meaning of gratitude is very confusing for foreigners because they understand the meaning of すみませんis apology. すみませんlooks a simple word but the depth of meaning is not simple like that.
Next, we are going to talk about supportive response. Please look at what they say.
(short play)
This is the response! So, we are going to talk about 「あいづち」. 「あいづち」is responses given during a conversation to indicate comprehension. In conversation among Japanese people, they frequently give あいづちwhile the speaker is talking. However, in conversation among foreign people, they give less あいづち than Japanese people, because they think あいづち may interrupt the speaker’s talking. In foreign countries, good attitude of listeners is gazing at the speaker’s eyes. Also, from viewpoint of foreigners, あいづちshow their agreement to what the speaker talking about. So, they wonder why Japanese people give あいづち while the speaker is talking, even if when they don’t agree with the speaker’s idea.
In Japan, people give あいづち many times in order to show their understanding about what the speaker saying. If you don’t give あいづち while Japanese people are talking, the speakers may worry whether you are really understanding or not, and some of them may stop their talking. So, in Japan, it is important to give あいづち to make the conversation go smoothly. Some foreigners feel giving あいづち many times may irritate the speaker. But, it is necessary for Japanese people to giving あいづち many times to show your understanding and have a smooth conversation.
Last, we are going to look at gestures or signs. Some of them are different meaning with Japan. Let’s look at this finger sign. As you know, this is a peace sign and means victory or peace. Included western countries get through the meaning. However, in Greece, the sign means very bad something like going to hell. Moreover, in Western countries, the meaning of a peace sign which the back of the hand face to people changes from victory or peace to insult or fuck. So, if a person lived in a Western country wanted to show the number of two, he should raise his thumb and forefinger.
How about this? Your palm turning to people means five or stop in Japan, but same gesture means “you are foolish” in Greece.
This sign is very common but the meaning is different among countries. In Japan, making a circle with thumb and forefinger means okay or money. However, this sign means dirty and insult one in Brazil.
In Asia, Russia, and Mediterranean area, beckoning means “Please come here.” On the other hand, beckoning means “Get away!” in United States and European countries except for Mediterranean area. When you want to come here there, you should turn up your palm.
In Russia, people give something using one hand. If you use both hand to give something, you would be looked on as a child. People guess you couldn’t bring something well by one hand.
In many countries, people point their chest to show themselves. Pointing their noses as Japanese people means “a just nose” or “I am a foolish.” in those countries.
You often wave your hands in front of your face to mean NO, isn’t it? In some foreign countries, it means “you smell so bad.” Be careful to gesture to it in foreign countries.
Waving your neck from side to side means NO in Japan, but same gesture means YES in Bulgaria and India.
Putting your hands together has a lot of meanings. When people pray, they put their hands together in front of their chests in Europe. In some Asian countries, for instance India or Thailand, this gesture is used as greeting. In Japan, Japanese people don’t put their hands together for greeting. They use it to request something or apologize. They gesture it in front of their faces. If American people ask for something, they fold their hands and say please.
We talked about our normal behavior so far. These are normal behavior and routine actions in our life but it might be strange for foreigners. Preparing the presentation, it was difficult to recognize our conformity because we are in Japan. As we learned, the text book said that person who is in a group doesn’t realize a certain behavior. We absolutely understood this with our own experience. Although it was hard to find our conformity, it was good to learn the differences between Japan and others.
Thank you for your attention. Do you have any question?