Ibunka! - Unit 1 / OSF 1

1 Introducing Yourself

One Step Further ACTIVITIES

Here are some more responses from the Ibunka Survey on the topic of self-introductions. Let’s examine them for underlying cultural trends. We can see that the language in many responses hints at two basic patterns.

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SURVEY

LOOKING FOR PATTERNS

CULTURAL PATTERN A: Blend in In this cultural pattern, some people have a tendency to speak about things they have in common with others. Introductions are rather formal and standardized. When introducing themselves, people tend to downplay their strengths and qualities. It is common WR KHDS SUDLVH RQ RWKHUV DQG WR GHȵHFW RU HYHQ UHMHFW the praise directed at oneself or one’s family.

CULTURAL PATTERN B: Emphasize uniqueness In this cultural pattern, when introducing themselves, people have a tendency to focus on what makes them VSHFLDO RU GL΍HUHQW Attitudes towards self-praise are varied, with people LQ VRPH FXOWXUHV EHLQJ PRUH DVVHUWLYH WKDQ RWKHUV However, speaking positively about one’s own family LV JHQHUDOO\ DFFHSWHG

Read through the Ibunka Survey responses below. Highlight in one color the words and phrases that hint at Cultural Pattern A: Blend in, and in another color the parts that suggest Cultural Pattern B: Emphasize uniqueness. You can work and discuss this in pairs or small groups.

Here in Japan, I've always found it remarkable how formal the greetings seem. Folks are bowing and using all these MTSTWNƳH UMWFXJX . It's kind of interesting. I prefer a QFNI GFHP HFXZFQ FUUWTFHM . $PHULFDQ PDOH SURIHVVRU OLYHV LQ -DSDQ 1 .S /FUFS . KTZSI NSYWTIZHYNTSX KJQY more formal, or sometimes rigid, than in the US, where NY YJSIX YT GJ [JW^ HFXZFQ FQRTXY KWTR YMJ GJLNSSNSL IJUJSINSL TS YMJ XNYZFYNTS FSI players involved). $PHULFDQ PDOH MRXUQDOLVW KDV OLYHG LQ -DSDQ 2 . STYNHJI YMFY /FUFSJXJ UJTUQJ QNPJ YT RJSYNTS YMJNW FLJ \MJS NSYWTIZHNSL YMJRXJQ[JX They also sometimes mention their blood type! 6ZLVV PDOH SURJUDPPHU OLYHV LQ -DSDQ 3 When I was living in the US, I used to J]UQFNS RTWJ FGTZY R^XJQK from the beginning, to RFYHM YMJ FYRTXUMJWJ FWTZSI RJ (TRUFWJI YT /FUFSJXJ UJTUQJ . YMNSP &RJWNHFSX UQFHJ RTWJ NRUTWYFSHJ TS asserting individuality 1N[NSL NS F KTWJNLS HTZSYW^ . KTZSI TZY YMFY I didn't PST\ RZHM FGTZY R^XJQK 8NSHJ YMJS . MF[J HTRJ YT PST\ R^XJQK GJYYJW &QXT . YMNSP YMFY NS Japan, we tend not to tell people about ourselves in a good way, for fear of appearing boastful. -DSDQHVH IHPDOH RɝFH ZRUNHU KDV OLYHG LQ WKH 86 4 In Japan, R^ /FUFSJXJ QFSLZFLJ FGNQNY^ MFX TKYJS GJJS HTRUQNRJSYJI , even if I only said "Hajimemashite" or "Watashi no namae wa ~ desu", and even when I was a total beginner. I found it a bit annoying at the beginning, but now that I am used to it, I just respond with a “Thank you!”. More tiresome are HTRRJSYX TS FUUJFWFSHJ QNPJ >TZ MF[J F GNL STXJ TW >TZ MF[J XZHM QTSL QJLX 9MJXJ FWJ HTRRJSYX YMFY \TZQI GJ YFPJS FX outright NRUTQNYJSJXX NS +WFSHJ JXUJHNFQQ^ HTRNSL KWTR XYWFSLJWX .Y RFPJX TSJ KJJQ TGOJHYNƳJI FSI STY WJXUJHYJI . It is sort of like when UJTUQJ MJWJ NS /FUFS XJJ F HFY FSI J]HQFNR PF\FNN . FR STY F HFY )UHQFK PDOH WHDFKHU OLYHV LQ -DSDQ 5

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