Words that were originally said in English are in bold .
Perverted Coworker: Eli, what word in Saga dialect has had the most resonance for you?
Me: Wha-?
Perverted Coworker:
Me: Uh, a word that resonates with me... nothing comes to mind.
Perverted Coworker: And I went to such difficulty to teach you!
Me: Uh..... I like "just do it." (「よかろうもん」)
Mr. K: Just do it?
Me: (to Perverted Coworker) What word most resonates with you in English?
Perverted Coworker: I love you.
Rebel Coworker and others: Eeewww.
Rebel Coworker: Fuck you.
Me: (blushing) What??
Rebel Coworker: Nothing.
Mr. K who always whispers so I can't understand him: sdkd dkdiei djdie?
Me: What?
Mr. K: Will you marry me?
Me: What?
Mr. K: Will you marry me?
Me: What?
Perverted Coworker: Eli, there's no according to taste.
A phone conversation with a very important boss.
Boss: Thank you for translating the slogan for the Saga National High School Athletic Meet. However, about your suggestion, "Break your own record!," it has the word "break" in it. We feel this is negative.
Me: Well, yes, break can be negative, but it's positive in English.
Boss: We feel this is negative.
Me: Okay, Exceed? Surpass? Overcome?
Boss: People don't know these words.
Me: ....Who is this translation for, Japanese people or English speakers?*(*Yes, I know Japanese people can be English speakers, but not in this case).
Boss: Japanese people.
Me: Well then, what about Do Better Than Your Best?
Boss: I like it! Do Your Better Best!
Me: No no, Do Better Than Your Best. There's a word between Better and Best.
Boss: Do Your Better Than Best!
Me: Uh, no, Do Better Than Your Best.
Boss: Do Better Than Your?
Me: For the love of..
3 comments:
NO!!! DON'T DO IT!!!
non-japanese office --
boss: erin, i would like you to [insert reasonable request] by [insert reasonable time]
erin: sure, i'll take care of that right away.
boss: thank you
Japanese office --
boss: erin, [long winded vague description about some new program that will result in world peace... also, there is a paradigm shift involved]
erin: ok... so what do you want me to DO?
boss: [continues as above]
erin: so... what should i do?
boss: you know... that thing, that is difficult for japanese...
erin: write an apology letter? to canada? like usual?
boss: [long explanation about why we can't apologize]
erin: oh
boss: ...... [leaves]
supervisor: i think he wants you to [insert task that has nothing to do with anything boss said]
erin: oh...
from the interview:
Non-Japanese Boss: So you're fluent in Japanese?
Me: Yes.
N-JB: Okay, thank you.
Japanese Boss: So, you can read Japanese?
Me: Yes.
JB: And so, this part of your resume (in Japanese), you wrote this?
Me: Yes.
JB: Your computer can do this?
Me: Yes.
JB: And you can write hiragana, katakana, all the alphabets?
Me: Yes.
JB: Wow, I'm impressed!
I was interviewed by 2 Americans and 2 Japanese, and the difference was clear. claritin clear!
and the talking! on and on and on!
on a related note:
coworker: so you can speak japanese!
me: yep.
coworker: wow! congratulations!
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