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10 Asking a favour

One Step Further ACTIVITIES

Here are some more responses from the Ibunka Survey RQ WKH WRSLF RI LQWURGXFLQJ RQHVHOI :H FDQ VHH WKDW most responses fall into two basic patterns:

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SURVEY

LOOKING FOR PATTERNS

CULTURAL PATTERN A: Ask favors directly In some cultures, it is considered respectful to ask favors from friends and acquaintances in a direct manner.

CULTURAL PATTERN B: Ask favors indirectly In other cultures, hinting at one’s problem and waiting IRU IULHQGV DQG DFTXDLQWDQFHV WR R΍HU WKHLU KHOS LV considered respectful.

Read through the Ibunka Survey responses below. Highlight in one color the words and phrases that hint at Cultural Pattern A: Ask favors directly , and in another color the parts that show Cultural Pattern B: Ask favors indirectly. You can work and discuss this in pairs or small groups.

I think Japanese people tend to change their style depending on two things: what we're FXPNSL KTW FSI \MT \J WJ FXPNSL +TW J]FRUQJ I can ask a family member or close friend for anything directly, but if the person I need a favor from and I have a less intimate relationship, I carefully consider the timing and how I should communicate even the smallest request -DSDQHVH IHPDOH SURMHFW PDQDJHU KDV OLYHG LQ WKH 8. 1

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I think that Americans have no qualms about XF^NSL ST YT WJVZJXYX KWTR TYMJWX 8T NS F \F^ NYX VZNYJ JFX^ YT FXP KTW MJQU .K YMJ^ HFSƍY IT NY TW \TSƍY IT NY YMJ^ \NQQ QJY ^TZ PST\ MTSJXYQ^ .S YMJ HFXJ TK /FUFSJXJ UJTUQJ . KJJQ . MF[J YT FQ\F^X GJ cautious -DSDQHVH PDOH VWXGHQW OLYHV LQ WKH 86 2

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Living in Japan, I have had some unpleasant experiences with people who give gifts as an NSINWJHY \F^ TK FXPNSL KTW KZYZWJ KF[TWX .Y KJJQX VZNYJ ZSHTRKTWYFGQJ YT RJ )UHQFK PDOH WHDFKHU OLYHV LQ -DSDQ 3

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In Japan, I have noticed that sometimes when colleagues ask me for a favor there is an unspoken J]UJHYFYNTS YMFY . IT \MFY NX WJVZJXYJI &QYMTZLM YMJ phrasing of the question may make it sound like there’s a choice, the subtext is that I am expected to do it, regardless of MT\ . RNLMY KJJQ FGTZY NY &DQDGLDQ PDOH WHDFKHU OLYHV LQ -DSDQ 4

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I have the impression that Japanese people tend to avoid asking directly for help, perhaps because it makes them accountable YT YMJ UJWXTS \MT MJQUJI %ULWLVK IHPDOH ELRORJLVW OLYHV LQ -DSDQ 5

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