American Directness and the Japanese Essay -- Essays Papers

American Directness and the JapaneseAmerican and Japanese ways of speaking be so different that they often cause culture shock to both Americans and Japanese who visit each others country. Most Japanese who survey to the United States are at first shocked and have a problem with the American direct way of speaking.Culture shock occurs because most Japanese cannot easily escape from the design politeness= indirectness. Compared to the American way of speaking, Japanese speak much more indirectly. Directness is considered a form of impoliteness in Japan. Therefore, when we want to be polite, we speak and map very indirectly. For example, we seldom say, Ill go to a bathroom, except when we are with close friends. Usually, we say, Ill go wash my hands. Especially when we are at the table or with an key person, we say only, Excuse me. Ill be back in a minute because we do not want to remind other people of the bathroom, which is considered a seamy place, even though it is actually c lean. Also, other Japanese can infer that we are divergence to a bathroom from this phrase. But Americans cannot. They ask where we are going since they have no idea what we are going to do make a phone call? buy something? Yet, in this case, these questions make Japanese frustrated, question why these Americans do not understand our polite expression.Basically, expressing our desire directly is not considered polite, and culture shock happens to Japanese when Americans expect us to express our feelings honestly. Concerning appetite, when we are guests, we are unlikely to say, Im hungry. We put up with hunger until we are asked, Arent you hungry? Even when we answer the question, we want to stay polite, so we never say, Yes.... ...ure shocks to Japanese who come to the States.The difference between American and Japanese ways of speaking can cause us some bad experiences at first however, once we transmit accustomed to the direct speech of Americans, it is more convenient than th e Japanese way. First, we can say what we want. Second, we do not have to hesitate to tell the truth in order to be polite. Finally, it frees us from unnecessary misunderstandings. The third point makes us happy because it makes us feel we have adjusted ourselves to American society at last. Compared to Americans trying to learn the Japanese way of speech, we are supposed to have much less difficulty learning the American way. At first, it might wait to be difficult, but in a few months, we will find ourselves comfortable in the direct speech of the Americans and may be in flurry when speaking with newcomers from Japan.