The Importance Of Names

A name is a very important element of how people identify with a person. Many celebrities’ names become a kind of symbol for that person. What do you think about when you hear the name Brad Pitt? Just think about it for a moment… Now, what would you think if I told you that Brad Pitt’s real name is Carol Christmas?

Merry Christmas, Carol

I’m sure you’d be surprised, because that’s not his real name (did I get you?). His actual real name is William Bradley Pitt, but he wouldn’t be nearly as cool with a name like Carol Christmas. Now compare this to Brad Pitt. Obviously, the coolest of them all is this one. This is how important a name is for someone’s image.

Let’s look at a couple more examples. Do any of you know who “Margaret Mary Emily Anne Hyra” or “Thomas Cruise Mapother IV” are? Maybe you can figure out the latter? The first person, Margaret Mary Emily Anne is actually Meg Ryan. Thomas Cruise Mapother IV is, and you probably guessed, Tom Cruise. Mapother is spelt M-A-P-O-T-H-E-R but it is pronounced “May bother,” with a “B.” That’s strike one in the action movie star new-name handbook right there, so he removed that part. He also shortened Thomas to Tom, just like Ryan shortened Margaret to Meg. With these shorter versions of their names it became easier for people to remember who they were.

Some people’s names don’t originate from English and can, sometimes, sound strange to English speakers. Though the pronunciation doesn’t change, what a name means in one country is not what the same name could mean in another country. For example, Lea Michele, who became famous with her role in the TV show Glee, changed her name from Lea Michele Sarfati to the shorter version: Lea Michele. It is a Jewish name that, oddly enough, means “French,” but Lea was made fun of as a child because her classmates called her “So-fatty” or “So-farty.”

Anyways, my point is: names are very important, both to the people who have the name and to the people who have to remember the name. This is especially so for Japanese, I think.

The Difficulty Non-Japanese People Have With Japanese Names

My name “Mami” (pronounced mommy) is a good example of this. Mami is quite a common name in Japan and mostly means “true beauty” or “true”, but in English, it just sounds like mother. Therefore, I always feel embarrassed when I introduce myself, because I have to say, “Hi, nice to meet you. I’m Mami.” It’s pretty strange, isn’t it? “Hi, nice to meet you. I’m Mother. Say my name.” Even my teachers and my bosses have to call me Mommy!

There was a famous Japanese actor, whose name was, Yuusaku Matsuda (pronounced like “You suck” Matsuda). The name Yuusaku means “superb job” in Japan, but in English speaking places it means something very different. So sometimes, celebrities have to change their names if they want to perform in countries with other languages.

Once you remember the Japanese five basic vowel pronunciations, it’s not really hard for non-Japanese people to catch or pronounce Japanese people’s names. Yet, like above, they just sometimes sound so silly or very confusing. There are other problems, though, that don’t even arise from incorrect pronunciation.

One such case was back in 2008 when author/translator Hiroko Yoda tried to register for Facebook. Turns out, she wasn’t allowed to join, because her last name (a fairly common Japanese last name, btw) was Yoda, the popular Star Wars character. They were blocking her because of her name! Of course, no American has the name Yoda (well, I’m sure there were a few poor kids, actually).

Confusion with Japanese names doesn’t only happen with non-Japanese people. Japanese people will get confused by Japanese names as well! So, you can feel a little bit better. In Japan, we don’t really use “あなた (anata)” meaning ‘you’ in conversations. Instead, you have to use their names like “abc-san”, “def-kun”, “ghi-chan”, etc. Therefore, remembering people’s names is the first thing you get used to when you speak Japanese.

However, it’s a little tricky when you have to guess Japanese people’s name from kanji because there are different readings for even just one kanji, and names often have their own weird readings. I assume that many of you guys are probably wondering how Japanese people know how a name kanji’s kanji reads if he/she doesn’t know who the person is yet. Don’t worry! It’s actually difficult for even Japanese people, unless the kanji are usually read in a particular way in a name. That’s why Japanese names in official document usually have “furigana”, which is a Japanese reading aid.

Difficulty For Japanese People With Non-Japanese Names

I also have difficulty catching people’s names because they are not familiar to me at all. So during introductions, if it was the first time I heard that name in English, I usually can’t catch it, even if it’s simple.

For example, even with the common name Michael, which I knew because of Michael Jackson, Michael Jordan, and other famous people, I had trouble here in Canada when a guy introduced himself to me for the first time.

“Hi, I’m Michael.”

But, I couldn’t catch it well, because Michael is pronounced マイケル (ma-i-ke-ru) in Japanese. Also, he said it so quickly, like “Hi’m’Michael,” so it sounded like one word to me. Because of the difference in pronunciation between the Japanese version and the English version, and also because of the speed at which he said it, I was unable to understand. Perhaps if he said it slowly, “Hi, I’m M~i~ch~ae~l” I’d have gotten it. But, because it’s such a common name in North America, people named Michael don’t usually introduce themselves that slowly.

Hey, Michael

However, it seems that this is not only my problem but others’ as well. I searched “外国人の名前” (foreigners’ names) 聞き取りにくい (hard to catch)” in Google, and approximately 275,000 results came up. In the results, I found a blog called “ハーフを考えよう” which literally means “let’s think about a half.” You might have known already, but “a half” is used to describe a “mixed race child” in Japan. Instead of saying, for example, “I’m half Japanese and half American,” Japanese people tend to say “I am half.” Anyways, this blog was written by “a half” person (half Japanese and half German) named サンドラ・へフェリン (Sandra Heafelin), and she said that her name was always misunderstood by Japanese people who heard 田村 (Tamura) instead of Sandra and フェミニン (Feminine) instead of “Heafelin.” Tamura is a very common name in Japan, by the way.

She also had a friend named Müller（ミュラー）and they went out ot dinner one day. Müller had made a reservation, but when they arrived at the restaurant, a server told them that they didn’t have a reservation for them. However, just a moment later, they found a reservation card saying “reserved 三浦様 (Miura-sama), 6 people.” The server mixed up Müller and 三浦, which is a very common family name in japan as well.

Of course, it doesn’t stop there. Since the Japanese language is limited to fewer sounds than many Western language countries, the version of the name in Japanese is quite different from the one that’s from somewhere else. Even names as simple as John can be confusing. For example, in English, John is just John, right? But, pronounced in Japanese, John sounds more like “Joan” because it is written as ジョン (jyon), but in English you pronounce it like the Japanese “jan” or じゃん sound. So Joan is John and there are probably a lot of ladies named “John” out there, at least when it comes to the pronunciation in Japanese.

Outside of common names, which do have set Japanese versions, there are also less common names that don’t have any really decided way to say them. Due to how Japanese works, this could mean that there is multiple ways to pronounce a foreign name. This can get confusing for both the person with the foreign name and for the people trying to say it. Miller isn’t “Miller,” it’s ミラー (mi-raa). Smith isn’t “Smith,” it’s スミス (su-mi-su). Bluth isn’t “Bluth,” it’s ブルス (bu-ru-su). To say the least, it isn’t always easy to make that jump.

What’s Your Name?

There is so much to be said about names. I think if you’ve spent some time in Japan and you have a non-Japanese name, you’ll have a story or two to tell (go ahead and tell us in the comments!).

For me, I have an interesting story about my name too. When I came to Canada for the first time, I had difficulty getting a job or even an interview. Then, I encountered an article about foreign names, which could possibly prevent someone from getting hired! I got a hint from the article and decided to put an English name on my resumé. I’d taken a while to decide my name, but ended up choosing “Anna.” I thought it was a cute name and easy to remember, because of the famous Japanese Airline ANA (which is pronounced the same way). It actually seemed to work, too, as I got a phone call right after handing out the “Anna” resumés. However, when I went to do the interview, I totally forgot what my made up name was! The interviewer said, “Hi, I’m ABC, and you are…?” I was like “Hi, I’m… well… uhmmmm… (made a really nice smile?).” Other than the horrible introduction I thought the interview went well. That being said, I didn’t get a callback, sadly.

ANNNNNAAAAAAAAAA!

This probably happened because I hadn’t gotten used to English names (and maybe I was a little too nervous). I figured that it’s also difficult to memorize foreign names, even though they sound similar to some random words in your native languages.

I hope you finish this article understanding the difficulty (and humor!) of names between languages, especially Japanese. Since names are so often made up of strange sounds (even for your own language!) you can get fun results, but sometimes it can create difficult or embarrassing situations, too!

BOIL JAPAN.

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJlj-pdhg8k']

According to Nissin’s website, their Cup Noodle campaigns as of late have centered around the concept of “this country (Japan) has a hidden strength” (and that’s what it says at the end of the CMs by the way). Their aim is to rebuild the spirits of the Japanese people through these epic commercials. Nissin wanted to take striking images and “use them in such a way that boosts the energy and imagination of the Japanese people by heating up their courage and passion.” Makes sense for an instant noodle commercial if you think about it.

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvweDgcWISI']

But why Boil Japan? That sounds pretty silly on its own doesn’t it? Well, Boil Japan is actually a pun. A very convoluted pun, but a pun nonetheless. On Nissin’s website they use the word wakasu (わかす), written as 沸かす which means to boil, but apparently it can also be written with the character 湧 instead of 沸 which changes the meaning to boost up or raise up. How people will ever catch this from the CMs alone I have no idea.

Other Goofy Nissin CMs

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlWotouHTf8&feature=related']

Dancing Skeleton noodle.

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2LWwT7MBdI&feature=related']

Mr. Mercury noodle.

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mh6rNrxEDCM&feature=related']

Pew pew pew cheese cheese pew pew pep pep pep pew pew noodle.

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDFa9CtaAlM']

Gomen kudasai noodle.

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAxQCC8bVxI']

Karate Beyonce noodle.

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tU7IdCTZxsg&feature=related']

Love Revolution noodle.

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U60YJK3_-gI']

The Noodlenator noodle.

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-K-MpnhwJjw']

James Brown super fly noodle.

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7p9ZQQGvcM&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PL79235B97F3444526']

Jackie Chan kung-fu noodle.

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfCELYY_zX0&feature=related']

Robot woman eats the noodle.

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95Uy1jF97Ps&feature=related']

So good to inhale the noodle.

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjYrTsk2lfc']

Anime invasion noodle.

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5_a9taDf00']

Billboard smashing noodle.

Want more wonky Japanese commercials? Check out my top 25 featuring Western celebs here.

P.S. Hankering for some Cup Noodle? Follow us on Twitter.
P.P.S. Maruchan more your thing? Check us out on Facebook or Google+.

Not content to blindy folllow popular methods of language study a Jedi Knight searches the near and far galaxies for hitherto unknown tools and techniques with which to master Japanese. Hidden beneath the long sleeves of a hooded cloak is a tool for deciphering even the densest of Japanese literature, the Kanji Sono Mama Rakubiki Jiten on Nintendo DS.

Kanji Sono Mama is a dictionary, translated “Kanji just like that, easy to pull”, which puts any authentic Japanese text within the reach of a mere mortal. Sure there are other electronic dictionaries, but none I’ve found come close to the utility of this sleekly packaged touch generation device. I’m going to show you the method I use to expand my vocabulary with Kanji Sono Mama.

This method works with any dictionary which allows you to look up kanji compounds online or off. The Kanji Learners Dictionary is a good example of a dictionary that will allow you to look up compounds based on recognition of their radicals. If you’re reading kanji online then you could use a combination of QuickKanji and Jisho.org. For this post however I’m going to focus on using Kanji Sono Mama, because it’s mobile and it has a flash card function that combines well to make it an all-in-one vocabulary droid.

Your choice of reading material

I’m a big proponent of reading authentic Japanese while you’re learning. Textbooks simply don’t have the variety of language that literature does. Your choice of literature is up to you, I’m a big  fan of Manga as you might know. I welcome a debate about the merits of manga over classical Japanese literature any day, but ultimately the choice of reading material is yours.

I covered some techniques for reading authentic Japanese manga where I talked mostly about short sessions without a dictionary. This post picks up where that one left off, because ultimately you’ll want to know the meanings of words you’re reading.

Choosing what to study.

People often ask me how to select books that are the right reading level. I usually answer that what you find interesting is usually more important than what reading age it’s aimed at. Reading Chibi Mariko Chan or Sazae San is not just for kids, it’s important social commentary. Although, if it doesn’t interest you it’s not going to hold your attention for very long.

Let’s imagine you have something you really want to read, it’s important to select vocabulary for further study with real intent. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is trying to read too much in one go. Other mistakes that will slow you down are selecting too many items for review or words that are too far out of reach.

Keep the passage you intend to study short, use the techniques I’ve covered elsewhere. Before you pull out your DS decide what vocabulary you’re going to study.

• Finish reading: Only after you have finished your reading session should you start to go back and find vocabulary you want to study. Keep these two sessions separate as much as possible, punctuate them with a short break if necessary. Make sure you have come to a point in your reading from which you will go no further.
• Choose things you understand: If you’ve seen something before but in a different context it is going to be useful for you to get a real fix on it through further study. You know these items are going to be useful because they just keep popping up. They may also be used different ways, so learn them well.
• Choose things you partially understand: In a new context things may look a little different, you may be able to infer meaning but you’ll need a bit more study to come to a full understanding. Choosing words you almost have a handle on is going to be much more fruitful than taking words completely out of context.
• Don’t choose more than you can commit to memory: Even for a Jedi Knight short term memory typically holds no more than seven items. For words you want to learn no more than five a day is a good rule of thumb, particularly if they are new and complex. You should spend as much time on these five items as you did in reading the passage of text you selected.

Practical example #1 – Guessing at the reading with hiragana

Good for: When you can guess from context what the kanji might be.
Method: Use your hiragana input to extract a dictionary entry.

The girl in the picture is on the phone, I could try keitai [けいたい] but that would be incorrect, next best guess is denwa [でんわ] Bingo! Now when I select the entry in the dictionary I get an English equivalent from the Ei-Wa jisho and some usage examples.

The guess work is important because it helps you make leaps at understanding, it doesn’t matter if you fall short a couple of times. Don’t dwell on it, just find the right answer and move on.

Practical Example #2 – Direct entry of the kanji

Good for: When you can’t guess the reading.
Method: Copy the strokes.

The big bold kanji in this cell is easy to copy. You may have seen it before but can’t remember the reading, 大丈夫, just use the touch pen.

I immediately get two readings as before, and some uses in fairly easy to understand sentences.

Practical Example #3 – Stab in the dark?

Good for: When you have to use the force.
Method: Use English input.

I use English input for the word ‘think’, there are two occurences of something that it might be. I get the entry from the Ei-Wa jisho. There are lots of examples, but not all of them contain the kanji I’m looking for.

Caution: Use sparingly!

Using the flash cards.

Now you have a word that you can add to your vocabulary list. This where I really like the DS Sono Mama Rakubiki Jiten, with a simple tap of the touch pen you can add the word to one of three flash card groups.

They have their advantages over hand made flash cards.You don’t have to write anything out carefully on tiny bits of paper. Each card links to a full dictionary entry if you want to see alternative uses and meanings. You can move the flashcards between groups, which is perfect if you are using a Leitner system.

The DS also has a one handed mode. You can collect vocabulary and then causally flip through you cards while sitting on the bus. Perfect for the incognito Jedi in you.

If you have technique for breaking down what you read into reusable chunks please share it in the comments. Do you use flash cards? How do you build your vocabulary?

Keep Reading! Take a look at the companion article: “Are You Still Lugging Dead Tree Bilingual Dictionaries?“

Brett Fyfield is the Chief Rainbow Maker at Rainbowhill Language Lab. He enjoys Aikido and is often mistaken for “suits homeless” because of his dishevelled appearance. If you want more tips on incorporating authentic Japanese literature into your study routine tweet him up on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

The Manga is Homunculus by Hideo Yamamoto. 2003.

No doubt, if you’ve taken Japanese lessons from me before, you probably have heard this “rant” before. The one about Star Wars and how it was “inspired” by a Japanese film, and Yoda (which is a Japanese name, by the way) is actually an old Samurai master who speaks with Japanese grammar. I use this as a jumping off point when teaching people about Japanese grammar, so I thought it would be fun to share it with all of you as well!

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehVguHuVvuM']

The lesson begins with an explanation of “This is a pen.” This sentence seems innocent enough, but really, it’s so full of depth that it’s astounding (or not, really). Most Japanese know this English phrase (“This is a Pen”) and wonder why it’s one of the first things they learn. Sure, it’s a dumb phrase, but if you can say “This is a pen” then you can say “This is a computer,” or “This is stupid” or (with a little bit of tweaking) “This was a pen” or “This wasn’t a monkey.” It’s the foundation of grammar, and since Japanese people have to suffer through it, then you should too. Hopefully Yoda makes it more fun and interesting.

Instead of “This is a pen” we’re going to learn “it is a pen.” This phrase is a lot simpler, and builds you up to “This is a pen.” First, let’s look at the vocab we’ll need in order to say “it is a pen.”

Pen: Pen
It is: Desu (pronounced dess)

Now, let’s go back to Yoda. How would he say “It is a pen?” That’s right, he’d say “Pen it is.” The same goes for Japanese. If you just took the vocab from the above, how would you say “it is a pen” in Japanese, using Yoda grammar?

English: It is a pen
Yoda: Pen it is
Japanese: Pen desu

You can replace “Pen” with anything you want now! “Neko desu” (it is a cat). “Inu desu” (it is a dog). You’re only limited now by vocabulary, which is easy to look up. This pattern applies to past, negative, and past negative tense as well.

It was = deshita
It is not = ja-arimasen
It was not = ja-arimasen deshita

So, we can just throw nouns before all of those grammar points, and make sentences.

English: It was a cat
Yoda: Cat it was
Japanese: Neko deshita

English: It is not water
Yoda: Water it is not
Japanese: Mizu ja-arimasen

English: It was not Koichi
Yoda: Koichi it was not
Japanese: Koichi-san ja-arimasen deshita

There you go – you’re already on your way to speaking Japanese, using Japanese grammar! That wasn’t too hard, was it? If you’re ever confused about Japanese grammar, just think of Yoda and his sexy bod.

Makes me wonder though… how does the Japanese version of Yoda talk when he gets dubbed? “desu pen”? Does he switch to English style grammar? I sure hope so.