Comments on: Does Your Listening Make Japanese People Uncomfortable? [Aizuchi]

By: wiring

wiring — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 18:26:00 +0000

The funny thing is I either do this and try to follow the conversation and realize they are confused because I’m not responding/don’t look like I’m listening, or I remember the aizuchi only to realize I’ve been so focused on looking like I’m listening that I actually didn’t catch anything that was said to me. Which is always slightly embarrassing since at least a couple times I’ve either said I understood something I didn’t and then have to be like “Actually I have no idea what you said” or agreed to something I didn’t know about.

By: moo

moo — Sun, 14 Jul 2013 20:32:00 +0000

This is called backchanneling, if you’ve ever studied any kind of linguists/sociology you’ll know of it. So there is definitely a word for it in English!

By: I.C.Wiener

I.C.Wiener — Sat, 13 Jul 2013 08:39:00 +0000

Great article (yes, I am a little behind :D).
I picked up some “hu” sound for agreeing in a conversation from watching japanese movies. Here it means something like “I am not sure I understood/agree”. Leads to lots of confusion. :)

By: bunalz

bunalz — Fri, 12 Jul 2013 05:46:00 +0000

Haha, so that explains the cartoon; I thought it’s a comparison of some sort. :P

By: Jimmie Harp

Jimmie Harp — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 20:19:00 +0000

HAHAHAHA!!! Yep, right where I’m at!

By: Jimmie Harp

Jimmie Harp — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 20:16:00 +0000

I picked up the “へぇぇぇぇ?!?” some years ago, and now get funny looks (or giggles) when I use it!