I think... often the issue stops being about language and it becomes about culture. I intentionally speak german with a stronger accent than what I would normally do, because otherwise people assume I'm german, and things go hilariously wrong. The interesting part is, when I chat in english with a german, because we're in a neutral space, or rather, we're *both outside* of our normal language, there seem to be less misunderstandings and cultural weirdness (these still happen of course, but a lot less).
I think not everyone is the same either. Folks who just dont speak any foreign language seem to not understand as much as someone who has been trying to convey something in a foreign language. I think also some folks are a lot more used to interacting with non-native, and different cultures. They seem to be a lot more attentive to what's going on, and they take a moment to think further when i say or do something they would naturally find weird.
The interesting thing as well is, I think you would probably don't feel at ease if you were back in a french speaking environment for a long time. You've picked too many japanese cultural elements to be franco francais ; heck maybe you felt attracted to Japan because you had some personality traits that make you feel better thete than in your country of origin. I certainly feel that way about germany! As I joklingly tell my friends, I'd rather be the guy with french tendencies in germany than the guy with german tendencies in france! I wonder if there's something similar for you?
I actually did try the purposefully bad accent thing for a while, but it's feels like lying and I'm terrible at lying and I get right back to my normal way of talking and I can't stop thinking that people are all "hey that dude was faking an accent earlier wtf is wrong with him" and social anxiety stocks through the roof. So yeah that did not work for me.
Besides I might pass German (if I could still speak it, man that stuff has left me) but I'm pretty confident no Japanese person looks at my face and goes "oh yeah dude's Japanese" anyway. Ethnostate and all that. I used to get all offended and righteous about people talking to me in English, what if I was born here man? I do feel sorry for the white-looking people born and raised in Japan, but they're pretty few and far in between, and right now I kinda prefer people (correctly) assume I'm not one of them.
Also, people don't even talk to me in English at all anymore. Like never, unless I'm in some bumfuck inaka where gaijin are a thing you see on TV and that's it. Pretty sure I act Japanese enough for it to show immediately.
From what I heard from natives, many of them find "reading the air" as hard as us gaijin.
The best thing to do, when possible, is to do like me and mainly deal with older Japanese. Apparently, as soon as they hit their mid-to late-60, they lose all their inhibitions and start talking straight, almost like Westerners. I've been to delightful alcohol-free lunch parties where these lovely grandpas and grannies kept slamming each other over politics and other shit. Lovely people, all of them.
Interesting post once again :)
I think... often the issue stops being about language and it becomes about culture. I intentionally speak german with a stronger accent than what I would normally do, because otherwise people assume I'm german, and things go hilariously wrong. The interesting part is, when I chat in english with a german, because we're in a neutral space, or rather, we're *both outside* of our normal language, there seem to be less misunderstandings and cultural weirdness (these still happen of course, but a lot less).
I think not everyone is the same either. Folks who just dont speak any foreign language seem to not understand as much as someone who has been trying to convey something in a foreign language. I think also some folks are a lot more used to interacting with non-native, and different cultures. They seem to be a lot more attentive to what's going on, and they take a moment to think further when i say or do something they would naturally find weird.
The interesting thing as well is, I think you would probably don't feel at ease if you were back in a french speaking environment for a long time. You've picked too many japanese cultural elements to be franco francais ; heck maybe you felt attracted to Japan because you had some personality traits that make you feel better thete than in your country of origin. I certainly feel that way about germany! As I joklingly tell my friends, I'd rather be the guy with french tendencies in germany than the guy with german tendencies in france! I wonder if there's something similar for you?
Hah, got you to talk to me in Angliche.
I actually did try the purposefully bad accent thing for a while, but it's feels like lying and I'm terrible at lying and I get right back to my normal way of talking and I can't stop thinking that people are all "hey that dude was faking an accent earlier wtf is wrong with him" and social anxiety stocks through the roof. So yeah that did not work for me.
Besides I might pass German (if I could still speak it, man that stuff has left me) but I'm pretty confident no Japanese person looks at my face and goes "oh yeah dude's Japanese" anyway. Ethnostate and all that. I used to get all offended and righteous about people talking to me in English, what if I was born here man? I do feel sorry for the white-looking people born and raised in Japan, but they're pretty few and far in between, and right now I kinda prefer people (correctly) assume I'm not one of them.
Also, people don't even talk to me in English at all anymore. Like never, unless I'm in some bumfuck inaka where gaijin are a thing you see on TV and that's it. Pretty sure I act Japanese enough for it to show immediately.
From what I heard from natives, many of them find "reading the air" as hard as us gaijin.
The best thing to do, when possible, is to do like me and mainly deal with older Japanese. Apparently, as soon as they hit their mid-to late-60, they lose all their inhibitions and start talking straight, almost like Westerners. I've been to delightful alcohol-free lunch parties where these lovely grandpas and grannies kept slamming each other over politics and other shit. Lovely people, all of them.
PS Fuck onomatopoeia.