I recently started work at an English teaching company in Nagoya. There are a bunch of Japanese staff and they all speak English to some level. To most of them I speak in English and some in Japanese. I use keigo given I am new and they tend to use keigo as well I think due to the fact that I am a foreigner and they want to be nice/respectful.
This is all fine, but there are also two other foreigners there who have good Japanese (one is american and one is french/canadian). The American is actually my boss. In English I generally use casual and friendly English as they are about my age and nice guys. We joke around and have a good time. I don't feel any vibe of they are senior and I am new, except perhaps slightly with the American because he is such an experienced teacher (this is more my awe coming out of his awesome teaching skills than him being overbearing or anything).
Now, I have spoken Japanese with them a little bit, but I am not so sure what to use. I realise there is no real set answer here and since we are outside the culture we can just decide to use what we want. But anyway, do I use Japanese of the same tone as my English, which is to say friendly and casual? Or do I assume the Japanese mode of respect? As to do otherwise may not be speaking above my station in English, but it is in Japanese.
It doesn't really matter much, either way I'm sure they won't be offended, but I'm interested to see what you all think. I am using keigo as it is a bit of a gray area and it feels more Japanese like to me which is the language I am trying to learn/speak after all.
As another example. If you meet another foreigner in a Japanese speaking environment, do you use keigo or not? In English I would treat them like a friend more or less as I greatly value honest and open communication. In Japanese I would use keigo to be respectful.
This is all fine, but there are also two other foreigners there who have good Japanese (one is american and one is french/canadian). The American is actually my boss. In English I generally use casual and friendly English as they are about my age and nice guys. We joke around and have a good time. I don't feel any vibe of they are senior and I am new, except perhaps slightly with the American because he is such an experienced teacher (this is more my awe coming out of his awesome teaching skills than him being overbearing or anything).
Now, I have spoken Japanese with them a little bit, but I am not so sure what to use. I realise there is no real set answer here and since we are outside the culture we can just decide to use what we want. But anyway, do I use Japanese of the same tone as my English, which is to say friendly and casual? Or do I assume the Japanese mode of respect? As to do otherwise may not be speaking above my station in English, but it is in Japanese.
It doesn't really matter much, either way I'm sure they won't be offended, but I'm interested to see what you all think. I am using keigo as it is a bit of a gray area and it feels more Japanese like to me which is the language I am trying to learn/speak after all.
As another example. If you meet another foreigner in a Japanese speaking environment, do you use keigo or not? In English I would treat them like a friend more or less as I greatly value honest and open communication. In Japanese I would use keigo to be respectful.


