Comments on: Eating sideways, writing sideways http://www.numenware.com/article/372 Religion. Brain. Dogen. Language. Japan. Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:14:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Japanese http://www.numenware.com/article/372#comment-234 Japanese Tue, 09 Aug 2005 07:03:28 +0000 http://www.numenware.com/article/372#comment-234 You are both right. I’m a Japanese and have never heard of the word “Yoko Meshi”. Well, I probably have but at least never knew the meaning. Whatever it is, it’s not included in the “Kojien” dictionary (3rd ed.) and this business jargon may never make it. Similar to the term “Ita meshi” - “dine out at an Italian restaurant”. My theory for Japanese being a poor learner of foreign languages is that we have been taught by Japanese teachers who are themselves poor speakers of foreign languages (Hopefully it will change in the future). Thank you for reading my poor English. You are both right. I’m a Japanese and have never heard of the word “Yoko Meshi”. Well, I probably have but at least never knew the meaning. Whatever it is, it’s not included in the “Kojien” dictionary (3rd ed.) and this business jargon may never make it. Similar to the term “Ita meshi” - “dine out at an Italian restaurant”. My theory for Japanese being a poor learner of foreign languages is that we have been taught by Japanese teachers who are themselves poor speakers of foreign languages (Hopefully it will change in the future). Thank you for reading my poor English.

]]> By: Bathrobe http://www.numenware.com/article/372#comment-155 Bathrobe Fri, 06 May 2005 04:43:46 +0000 http://www.numenware.com/article/372#comment-155 Sorry, you’re dead wrong. Yoko-meshi exists and is used. I lived in Japan, I speak Japanese, and I’ve heard it from native Japanese speakers. ‘The dominant nuance is of trying to talk with foreigners while eating, while another meaning is apparently simply “Western foodâ€?.’ Well, it’s both! Because when you go out with those foreign clients and have Western food, you have to deal with unfamiliar language, unfamiliar food, and unfamiliar customs all at the same time. It really is an horribly uncomfortable situation that you hope will end as soon as possible! Sorry, you’re dead wrong. Yoko-meshi exists and is used. I lived in Japan, I speak Japanese, and I’ve heard it from native Japanese speakers.

‘The dominant nuance is of trying to talk with foreigners while eating, while another meaning is apparently simply “Western foodâ€?.’

Well, it’s both! Because when you go out with those foreign clients and have Western food, you have to deal with unfamiliar language, unfamiliar food, and unfamiliar customs all at the same time. It really is an horribly uncomfortable situation that you hope will end as soon as possible!

]]> By: Vincent Henderson http://www.numenware.com/article/372#comment-142 Vincent Henderson Tue, 19 Apr 2005 18:14:37 +0000 http://www.numenware.com/article/372#comment-142 Note that LanguageHat has <a href="http://www.languagehat.com/archives/001850.php">pointed out</a> that another of the words, the russian example, that Safire bases his argument on doesn’t exist either. Note that LanguageHat has pointed out that another of the words, the russian example, that Safire bases his argument on doesn’t exist either.

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