The "Valid/Invalid Reasons for Learning Japanese" phenomena v0.65b
By qwertyytrewq
Version History
v0.5 Document written and made public
v0.6 Glossary added
v0.65 "Learning language to learn language" reason added
INTRODUCTION
In this report, I will:
1) Explain the circumstances of a "why are you learning x language" conversation event.
2) Identify valid (high culture) and invalid (low culture) reasons for learning Japanese, as deemed by society.
3) Explain the psychology of Japanese high culture-consumers and their negative view of Japanese low culture-consumers.
1. THE CONVERSATION
People learn languages for many reasons and for many combinations of reasons. Let's be clear on the outset: should the language learner deem that the benefits of learning a language outweighs the cost (time, effort and money) of learning a language, then any reason for learning a language is valid, even learning a language for the sake of learning it.
Evidently however, some reasons are more valid than others. Should your inquisitor find out your reason(s) for learning a language is what he deems as "invalid", then he/she will generally react negatively, covertly and overtly. On the overt side of things, he may express regret, disappointment, disheartening, pity or at best, apathy. Covertly, at worst, he may hate you, what you stand for and everything you hold dear.
There are several options available when asked the question "why are you learning Japanese"?
1) Honestly:
1a) Complete honesty: You explain your reasons for learning Japanese, both the valid (if applicable) and invalid reasons. The conversation now has the potential to be awkward.
1b) Partial honesty: You explain your reasons for learning Japanese, however you only inform them of your valid reasons. The conversation continues as normal.
2) Dishonestly:
2a) Complete dishonesty: You explain your "valid" reasons for learning Japanese, when in reality, you personally don't care about those valid reasons. The conversation continues as normal.
2b) Troll honesty: You explain your "invalid" reasons just to see how your questioners would react. Laughs may ensue.
Partial honesty and Complete dishonesty involves various degrees of deception. In Japanese, we call this phenomena 本音 (honne, your private true self) and 建前 (tatemae, your public face).
By being dishonest or partially honest about your intentions for learning Japanese, you are hiding your true self ("I am learning Japanese for, in your opinion, invalid reasons") and presenting a facade to the public ("I am learning Japanese for, what society deems to be, valid reasons"). Among otakus (people who have a substantial interest in Japanese culture, often sub-culture), this is informally known as "hiding your power level."
This begs the question: what are the valid and invalid reasons for learning Japanese?
2. VALID AND INVALID REASONS FOR LEARNING LANGUAGES
INVALID (BAD) REASONS FOR LEARNING JAPANESE
1) Japanese animation (anime)
2) Japanese comic books (manga)
3) Japanese video games
4) Japanese girls/women
5) Japanese guys/males
6) Japanese porn
7)
8)
9)
10)
VALID (GOOD) REASONS FOR LEARNING JAPANESE
1) Japanese drama (TV shows)
2) Japanese movies
3) Japanese books
4) Japanese career/jobs/money
5) Japanese food
6) Japanese fashion
7) Japanese architecture
8) Japanese tea ceremonies
9) Japanese art (traditional)
10) Japanese ikebana (flower arranging)
11) Japanese shodo (calligraphy)
12) Japanese martial arts
13) Japanese friends/family
14) Learn another language
IN DISPUTE
1) Japanese music
2) Japanese guys/males
Note: The table above is based on the views of mainstream society in general and may differ on the individual level.
3. THE JAPANESE LANGUAGE "ELITIST"
Everyone lives in society so we must to various degrees, conform. When a white monolingual person, maybe xenophobic, who has never been out of the country asks you why you are learning a foreign language, you "hide your power level" so that the conversation flows smoothly, so that you do not get a negative response, and it is generally more convenient to do so.
However, the special case is if your inquisitor is also a fellow Japanese language learner. In particular, this Japanese language learner has devoted him or herself to only or mainly the "valid" reasons (for whatever reason) and when faced with a Japanese language learner who is learning it for "invalid" reasons, reactions may vary considerably. We will focus on the Japanese language learner who reacts negatively.
Generally, this Japanese language learner places him or herself above other Japanese language learners. This is because his interests lie in valid reasons only, not invalid (such as anime). Just like his interests, he is educated, sophisticated, prestigious, and cultured. When faced with someone who likes "less noble" "low Japanese culture" (anime, manga etc) he may react with disappointment, regret, and/or pity, but never hate. This is because he indulges in "high culture" (bonsai, calligraphy, etc) and he does not want to associate himself with what he considers to be the lower class of Japanese language learners, or in general terms, plebeians. In turn, this means that he retains his respectful place in general society, where he gains the benefits of learning a language but without the negatives (association with "lower class" Japanese language learners). From this vantage point, he feels superior.
This mentality conflicts with the rule at the top of this document: any reason for learning Japanese is valid.
Worth noting also is that many "high culture" Japanese language learners learned Japanese for "low culture" in the first place but "graduated" to high culture after watching 9,000 episodes of anime. This means that they are hypocrites who deny the experiences they enjoyed from newer language learners.
4. RECOMMENDATIONS
I would like to reiterate this general principle: should the language learner deem that the benefits of learning a language outweighs the cost (time, effort and money) of learning a language, then any reason for learning a language is valid, even learning a language for the sake of learning it.
With this in mind, here are the recommendations:
1) While it is not necessary that Japanese language elitists praise "low culture" language learners, they should not discourage them.
2) It is up to the individual to gauge the specific situation and to determine whether it is in his or her own interests to engage in honne and tatemae (hiding power levels).
3) Japanese language learners should always remember the general rule and to ignore non-constructive negative feedback whether it is from Japanese language elitists or the general public.
4) Should one lose their way in the sea of negativity, take a visit to All Japanese All The Time (AJAAT) for moral support and guidance.
Further reading
"You're studying Japanese?! You must love anime!/be an otaku!/etc.!"
http://forum.koohii.com/showthread.php?tid=8906&page=4
The Discouragement Thread
http://forum.koohii.com/search.php?search_id=1571248467
6. GLOSSARY
High culture - Interests and hobbies that are deemed to be sophisticated, educated and/or cultured (EG. ikebana, tea ceremonies). Often but not always correlating to a "valid" reason for learning Japanese.
Honne (本音) - Your true internal private thoughts and/or feelings. See tatemae.
Invalid (reason for learning Japanese) - A reason for learning Japanese (usually a low culture interest like anime, manga) that often invokes a negative response from those who learn of it.
Low culture - The opposite of high culture. Interests and hobbies that are deemed to be mainstream (EG. anime, manga). Often but not always correlating to an "invalid" reason for learning Japanese.
Otaku - One who has a deep interest in a particular hobby.
Tatemae (建前) - The "face" that you present to the public and the "face" that you want other people to see you as. One's tatemae (public) thoughts and feelings are often different from one's honne (private) thoughts and feelings.
Valid (reason for learning Japanese) - A reason for learning Japanese (usually a mid to high culture interest like Japanese friends or job/career) that often invokes a positive or a non-negative response from those who learn of it.
By qwertyytrewq
Version History
v0.5 Document written and made public
v0.6 Glossary added
v0.65 "Learning language to learn language" reason added
INTRODUCTION
In this report, I will:
1) Explain the circumstances of a "why are you learning x language" conversation event.
2) Identify valid (high culture) and invalid (low culture) reasons for learning Japanese, as deemed by society.
3) Explain the psychology of Japanese high culture-consumers and their negative view of Japanese low culture-consumers.
1. THE CONVERSATION
People learn languages for many reasons and for many combinations of reasons. Let's be clear on the outset: should the language learner deem that the benefits of learning a language outweighs the cost (time, effort and money) of learning a language, then any reason for learning a language is valid, even learning a language for the sake of learning it.
Evidently however, some reasons are more valid than others. Should your inquisitor find out your reason(s) for learning a language is what he deems as "invalid", then he/she will generally react negatively, covertly and overtly. On the overt side of things, he may express regret, disappointment, disheartening, pity or at best, apathy. Covertly, at worst, he may hate you, what you stand for and everything you hold dear.
There are several options available when asked the question "why are you learning Japanese"?
1) Honestly:
1a) Complete honesty: You explain your reasons for learning Japanese, both the valid (if applicable) and invalid reasons. The conversation now has the potential to be awkward.
1b) Partial honesty: You explain your reasons for learning Japanese, however you only inform them of your valid reasons. The conversation continues as normal.
2) Dishonestly:
2a) Complete dishonesty: You explain your "valid" reasons for learning Japanese, when in reality, you personally don't care about those valid reasons. The conversation continues as normal.
2b) Troll honesty: You explain your "invalid" reasons just to see how your questioners would react. Laughs may ensue.
Partial honesty and Complete dishonesty involves various degrees of deception. In Japanese, we call this phenomena 本音 (honne, your private true self) and 建前 (tatemae, your public face).
By being dishonest or partially honest about your intentions for learning Japanese, you are hiding your true self ("I am learning Japanese for, in your opinion, invalid reasons") and presenting a facade to the public ("I am learning Japanese for, what society deems to be, valid reasons"). Among otakus (people who have a substantial interest in Japanese culture, often sub-culture), this is informally known as "hiding your power level."
This begs the question: what are the valid and invalid reasons for learning Japanese?
2. VALID AND INVALID REASONS FOR LEARNING LANGUAGES
INVALID (BAD) REASONS FOR LEARNING JAPANESE
1) Japanese animation (anime)
2) Japanese comic books (manga)
3) Japanese video games
4) Japanese girls/women
5) Japanese guys/males
6) Japanese porn
7)
8)
9)
10)
VALID (GOOD) REASONS FOR LEARNING JAPANESE
1) Japanese drama (TV shows)
2) Japanese movies
3) Japanese books
4) Japanese career/jobs/money
5) Japanese food
6) Japanese fashion
7) Japanese architecture
8) Japanese tea ceremonies
9) Japanese art (traditional)
10) Japanese ikebana (flower arranging)
11) Japanese shodo (calligraphy)
12) Japanese martial arts
13) Japanese friends/family
14) Learn another language
IN DISPUTE
1) Japanese music
2) Japanese guys/males
Note: The table above is based on the views of mainstream society in general and may differ on the individual level.
3. THE JAPANESE LANGUAGE "ELITIST"
Everyone lives in society so we must to various degrees, conform. When a white monolingual person, maybe xenophobic, who has never been out of the country asks you why you are learning a foreign language, you "hide your power level" so that the conversation flows smoothly, so that you do not get a negative response, and it is generally more convenient to do so.
However, the special case is if your inquisitor is also a fellow Japanese language learner. In particular, this Japanese language learner has devoted him or herself to only or mainly the "valid" reasons (for whatever reason) and when faced with a Japanese language learner who is learning it for "invalid" reasons, reactions may vary considerably. We will focus on the Japanese language learner who reacts negatively.
Generally, this Japanese language learner places him or herself above other Japanese language learners. This is because his interests lie in valid reasons only, not invalid (such as anime). Just like his interests, he is educated, sophisticated, prestigious, and cultured. When faced with someone who likes "less noble" "low Japanese culture" (anime, manga etc) he may react with disappointment, regret, and/or pity, but never hate. This is because he indulges in "high culture" (bonsai, calligraphy, etc) and he does not want to associate himself with what he considers to be the lower class of Japanese language learners, or in general terms, plebeians. In turn, this means that he retains his respectful place in general society, where he gains the benefits of learning a language but without the negatives (association with "lower class" Japanese language learners). From this vantage point, he feels superior.
This mentality conflicts with the rule at the top of this document: any reason for learning Japanese is valid.
Worth noting also is that many "high culture" Japanese language learners learned Japanese for "low culture" in the first place but "graduated" to high culture after watching 9,000 episodes of anime. This means that they are hypocrites who deny the experiences they enjoyed from newer language learners.
4. RECOMMENDATIONS
I would like to reiterate this general principle: should the language learner deem that the benefits of learning a language outweighs the cost (time, effort and money) of learning a language, then any reason for learning a language is valid, even learning a language for the sake of learning it.
With this in mind, here are the recommendations:
1) While it is not necessary that Japanese language elitists praise "low culture" language learners, they should not discourage them.
2) It is up to the individual to gauge the specific situation and to determine whether it is in his or her own interests to engage in honne and tatemae (hiding power levels).
3) Japanese language learners should always remember the general rule and to ignore non-constructive negative feedback whether it is from Japanese language elitists or the general public.
4) Should one lose their way in the sea of negativity, take a visit to All Japanese All The Time (AJAAT) for moral support and guidance.
Further reading
"You're studying Japanese?! You must love anime!/be an otaku!/etc.!"
http://forum.koohii.com/showthread.php?tid=8906&page=4
The Discouragement Thread
http://forum.koohii.com/search.php?search_id=1571248467
6. GLOSSARY
High culture - Interests and hobbies that are deemed to be sophisticated, educated and/or cultured (EG. ikebana, tea ceremonies). Often but not always correlating to a "valid" reason for learning Japanese.
Honne (本音) - Your true internal private thoughts and/or feelings. See tatemae.
Invalid (reason for learning Japanese) - A reason for learning Japanese (usually a low culture interest like anime, manga) that often invokes a negative response from those who learn of it.
Low culture - The opposite of high culture. Interests and hobbies that are deemed to be mainstream (EG. anime, manga). Often but not always correlating to an "invalid" reason for learning Japanese.
Otaku - One who has a deep interest in a particular hobby.
Tatemae (建前) - The "face" that you present to the public and the "face" that you want other people to see you as. One's tatemae (public) thoughts and feelings are often different from one's honne (private) thoughts and feelings.
Valid (reason for learning Japanese) - A reason for learning Japanese (usually a mid to high culture interest like Japanese friends or job/career) that often invokes a positive or a non-negative response from those who learn of it.
Edited: 2013-02-04, 11:52 pm
(Obviously I was joking though).
