A Review of Language Learning Tactics

Re:A Review of Language Learning Tactics by irq11 on Saturday September 12, 2020 @07:25PM (#24456785)

Can’t comment on Korean, but Japanese beginners worry far too much about politeness. It doesn’t help that the textbooks all start with a relatively stiff level of grammar, but Japanese students often become neurotic about it.

If you’re a beginner, no reasonable human being is going to think anything nuanced about your choice of words. When was the last time you judged a non-native speaker of your own language for this level of subtlety?

My advice is to do whatever it takes to be understood. You’re going to sound like a rude idiot. Make peace with it.

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Re:A Review of Language Learning Tactics by tasogare on Sunday September 13, 2020 @04:05AM (#24459281)

You are totally right. This is why I don’t even bother using polite form expect when I really need it: my interlocutor is glad I’m speaking more Japanese than he could speak English or my native language anyway.

I would also add that speaking a Japanese that is too good can backfire, as native have then more expectations that go further than language (behavior), especially for East-Asian people. Keeping illusion of semi-(in)competence can be useful.

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