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[sudgy]

It's horrible in Japanese.  They do it so much to English words, then think that their mispronunciation is the correct way to say it.  I was talking to a Japanese person and he was really surprised when I told him everybody thinks of "anime" as a Japanese word (when it's actually their version of "animation").

You are oversimplifying how the language works.  For many things, there was no "original" Japanese word.

"pasokon" is a great example.  It's "paso" from "pasonaru" and "kon" from "konpyuutaa," or "personal computer (PC)."  There's no old Japanese word for computer (in the modern sense), so they take the English word and make it their own.

It's not like English doesn't do this.  The next time you eat lasagna or pizza, think about where those words come from. 

So a laptop is a "nouto" because it comes from "notebook."  See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gairaigo and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_gairaigo_and_wasei-eigo_terms for more.



It is not horrible, it's the evolution of a language.

I was more saying the fact that they think it's how you pronounce the words in English when you're not.  Putting words into your language is fine, as long you either pronounce them correctly or know it's not pronounced the way it is in the original language (which is fine).

[AndrewisFTTW]

I think everyone should learn to speak American or get the hell out.

[ashersky]

I was more saying the fact that they think it's how you pronounce the words in English when you're not.  Putting words into your language is fine, as long you either pronounce them correctly or know it's not pronounced the way it is in the original language (which is fine).

I've met many Japanese people who do not believe that, so I think you are mistaken about the horrible nature of how "they" think.

[pacovf]

It's horrible in Japanese.  They do it so much to English words, then think that their mispronunciation is the correct way to say it.  I was talking to a Japanese person and he was really surprised when I told him everybody thinks of "anime" as a Japanese word (when it's actually their version of "animation").

You are oversimplifying how the language works.  For many things, there was no "original" Japanese word.

"pasokon" is a great example.  It's "paso" from "pasonaru" and "kon" from "konpyuutaa," or "personal computer (PC)."  There's no old Japanese word for computer (in the modern sense), so they take the English word and make it their own.

It's not like English doesn't do this.  The next time you eat lasagna or pizza, think about where those words come from. 

So a laptop is a "nouto" because it comes from "notebook."  See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gairaigo and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_gairaigo_and_wasei-eigo_terms for more.



It is not horrible, it's the evolution of a language.

I was more saying the fact that they think it's how you pronounce the words in English when you're not.  Putting words into your language is fine, as long you either pronounce them correctly or know it's not pronounced the way it is in the original language (which is fine).

To be perfectly fair, there are a lot of words in English that are borrowed from French, and their current pronunciation is impossible to recognize because the languages don't have the same sounds.

What the Japanese do add to the confusion is their huh original way of contracting words.

[shraeye]

also, English does terribly at borrowing Italian words.  Apparently none of us fat people are willing to eat just one panino, but when it comes to lasagne everybody suddenly is watching their figure and only wants exactly one.

[Teproc]

Borrowing from other languages is what they do, it's how they work (languages I mean), sometimes with funny results. For example in English you can use the word "ennui", which just means boredom (or annoyance) in French. In English though, it means more than that, and the best translation I could come up with in French would be... "spleen".

Languages : they're wacky.

[soulnet]

I think everyone should learn to speak American or get the hell out.

I agree. Stop using that European language you dirty immigrant.

[Kirian]

I think everyone should learn to speak talk American or get the hell out.

FTFY

[LastFootnote]

I think everyone should learn to speak talk American 'Murican or get the hell out.

FTFY

FTFY

[Witherweaver]

I think everyone should get the hell out.

FTFY

FTFY

FTFY

[soulnet]

Lice sucks

FTFY

FTFY

FTFY

FTFY

[Awaclus]

FTFY

FTFY

FTFY

FTFY

FTFY

FTFY

[silverspawn]

[AndrewisFTTW]

I think everyone should learn to speak talk American or get the hell out.

FTFY

Sorry, my grammar was showing.

[LastFootnote]

I think everyone should learn to speak talk American or get the hell out.

FTFY

Sorry, my grammar diction was showing.

FTFY

[AndrewisFTTW]

I think everyone should learn to speak talk American or get the hell out.

FTFY

Sorry, my grammar diction was showing.

FTFY

Thanks buddy.

[LastFootnote]

I think everyone should learn to speak talk American or get the hell out.

FTFY

Sorry, my grammar diction was showing.

FTFY

Thanks buddy.

Any time, man.

[pacovf]

Careful LastFootnote, KingZog3 is gonna get jealous.

[LastFootnote]

Careful LastFootnote, KingZog3 is gonna get jealous.

I only worry about KingZong3. His opinion means a great deal to me.

[KingZog3]

Careful LastFootnote, KingZog3 is gonna get jealous.

I am?

[LastFootnote]

Careful LastFootnote, KingZog3 is gonna get jealous.

I am?

You are, dude. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow. But soon, and for the rest of your life.

[AndrewisFTTW]

Ladies, ladies! There's plenty of me to go around!

[AndrewisFTTW]

Careful LastFootnote, KingZog3 is gonna get jealous.

I am?

You are, dude. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow. But soon, and for the rest of your life.

"The Simpson story begins back in the old country.
I forget which one exactly. My father would drone on and on about America. He thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread, sliced bread having been invented the previous winter."

*Flashback*

"See this, Son? That's where we're going to live. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow. But someday."

*Flashforward*

"Later that day, we set sail for America."

[Awaclus]

Careful LastFootnote, KingZog3 is gonna get jealous.

I read that as KingZong3 first.

[theory]

Personally that episode is in my Simpsons Pantheon, and it mystifies me that it's never in other people's "Top X Episodes" lists. 

"What do you say we take a relaxed attitude towards work and watch the baseball game?  The nye Mets are my favorite squadron."

Proctor: All right, here's your last question.  What was the cause of
         the Civil War? 
    Apu: Actually, there were numerous causes.  Aside from the obvious
         schism between the abolitionists and the anti-abolitionists,
         there were economic factors, both domestic and inter--
Proctor: Wait, wait... just say slavery.
    Apu: Slavery it is, sir.