Date: Fri, 04 Jun 1999 09:58:30 +0900 From: UEBAYASHI Masao <masao@nf.enveng.titech.ac.jp> To: mavery@mail.otherwhen.com Cc: advocacy@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: First interview hits the web.. Message-ID: <19990604095830X.masao@nf.enveng.titech.ac.jp> In-Reply-To: Your message of "Thu, 3 Jun 1999 16:33:08 -0500" <199906032134.QAA02039@hostigos.otherwhen.com> References: <199906032134.QAA02039@hostigos.otherwhen.com>
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> Don't know about Japan, but my Chineese friends put family name > first, followed by the personal name. We, Japanese ordinarily say family name first, whenever using Japanese or in Japan. Here, being in Japan means speaking Japanese. Our Japan island is whole Japan. Here is little foreigners or those who speak not in Japanese. Thus, we are isolated. :D However, when using English (or other languages which used in different cultures) the situation goes *very chaotic*. If be obedient to other cultures, we have to say personal name fitst, differing from our original naming custom. Otherwise, we can put family name first naturally. The style of putting family name first *in English* is rather ususal *in the Internet*. Like this, ``OBUSHI Keizo'' ``NOMO Hideo'' ``ASAMI Satoshi'' (actually ASAMI san doesn't use this) or ``UEBAYASHI Masao''. Those who choose this style seem to me arguing their own culture. Especially, when we are in Japan, why we should be subject to other cultures, if using other languages? :D I use this ``FAMILY Person'' style. I personally think the common word in the internet is English, but there is no country or border. So I write my name in English (ASCII), trying to be nearer to our original custom. Really unfortunately, there are many fashions how to write Japanese names in English in the Internet. And Which to choose is depending on who say / write it. We can empilically recognize which is family name or vice versa. You may be able to identify family name, written in ``FAMILY Person'' style. Otherwise you may not. If so, ignore it! Anyway, I'm very sorry for all of you confusing Japanese naming scheme... > When someone from the other part of the world introduces him or > herself, are THEY aware of the difference in syntax? If so, are > they giving you their name in their syntax or yours? And how do you > politely ask what they have done? A journalist shouldn't have any > problems.... they aren't known for being nice to start with, and have > professional reasons to get the names right. We think it as usual that foreigners cannot speak in Japanese correctly. Japanese is too difficult to learn, even for us. :D UEBAYASHI Masao BTW, http://www.nikkei.co.jp/cyspecial/stories/ca961002_01.html picture changes? To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-advocacy" in the body of the message
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