obama teaches japanese

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Reply #26 - 2009 January 22, 5:20 am
Tobberoth Member
From: Sweden Registered: 2008-08-25 Posts: 3364

I still don't see it. Just because Obama speaks in a clear voice, he should be a particularly good resource? Everyone who is paid to speak speaks well, have you ever heard an audiobook where the person didn't have a clear voice?

As for the level of vocabulary, it's political propaganda. When I study Japanese I hardly look for speeches by Japanese politicians and I find it really odd that Japanese people would do the opposite.

I would call it a bad source, the speech is directed at Americans and Americans only. It expects the listener to be an American, have American values.

I think igordesu is hilarious as well. Killing babies? It's about removing fetuses. A fetus can't even feel anything yet, it's more tragical to step on an ant than to destroy a fetus. A communist? You obviously haven't ever been in contact with any form of leftist government if you can call obama a communist.

Reply #27 - 2009 January 22, 6:43 am
shamano Member
From: Brazil Registered: 2008-02-24 Posts: 16

@Tobberoth:

you see; learning a language to a fluent level is all about understand the culture involved. If you wanna be literate then you gonna have to learn not just the words, but also the culture and values, even if you not absorb it. Its a very important part of this. Many people struggle with other languages because they refuse to learn the culture and be a part of it.

p.s.: I'm not saying that if you wanna learn Korean, for example, you have to eat dogs and stuff, just that to become fluent you have to think like a native or something like this....

Reply #28 - 2009 January 22, 6:51 am
tokyostyle Member
From: Tokyo Registered: 2008-04-11 Posts: 720

igordesu wrote:

BABY KILLER.  COMMUNIST.

Why are you even here?  Japanese society supports baby killing way more than Obama ever will.  Similarly the government here is far more socialist than Obama will ever be.

I probably shouldn't even mention how Christmas, which is rarely spelled out in full, is only about eating cake and buying designer hand bags ...

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Reply #29 - 2009 January 22, 7:06 am
nac_est Member
From: Italy Registered: 2006-12-12 Posts: 617 Website

Tobberoth wrote:

I still don't see it. Just because Obama speaks in a clear voice, he should be a particularly good resource?

I think the main reason is that most of the Japanese are madly in love with Obama, as far as I've seen. I don't know exactly why it is so, but that would explain the matter.

Reply #30 - 2009 January 22, 7:19 am
Jasta Member
From: 大阪 (B) Registered: 2006-08-09 Posts: 40

igordesu wrote:

Lol.  Even if I wasn't basing what I believe on faith, I still wouldn't give the guy a chance.  BABY KILLER.  COMMUNIST.  I mean, even an atheist could be against those values?

Please keep your bigoted remarks to yourself. "Even an atheist...". Sure happy to be one whenever I read your posts.

Reply #31 - 2009 January 22, 7:21 am
Tobberoth Member
From: Sweden Registered: 2008-08-25 Posts: 3364

shamano wrote:

@Tobberoth:

you see; learning a language to a fluent level is all about understand the culture involved. If you wanna be literate then you gonna have to learn not just the words, but also the culture and values, even if you not absorb it. Its a very important part of this. Many people struggle with other languages because they refuse to learn the culture and be a part of it.

p.s.: I'm not saying that if you wanna learn Korean, for example, you have to eat dogs and stuff, just that to become fluent you have to think like a native or something like this....

That isn't true. Yes, you have to understand culture to speak fluent Japanese, for example you have to know it's proper to say 失礼します when entering someones house etc. What you do not need to understand, are political values. How do I know? Because Brittish people speak English fluently and they do not have the same culture and values as Americans.

I do not need to know how Japanese people view the contents of Asou Tarous speeches to become fluent in Japanese. Likewise, Japanese people don't have to understand how Obama means for the US to "lead the world" to speak fluent English.

Reply #32 - 2009 January 22, 7:25 am
thelooseteeth Member
From: North Carolina Registered: 2008-08-11 Posts: 12

Jasta wrote:

igordesu wrote:

Lol.  Even if I wasn't basing what I believe on faith, I still wouldn't give the guy a chance.  BABY KILLER.  COMMUNIST.  I mean, even an atheist could be against those values?

Please keep your bigoted remarks to yourself. "Even an atheist...". Sure happy to be one whenever I read your posts.

I'm gonna have to echo the sentiment that your comments are borderline offensive. I am an atheist.  I support the legality of abortion. Please consider other's feelings before you start on an ALL-CAPS rampage.

Reply #33 - 2009 January 22, 7:37 am
EnjukuBlack Member
From: 泉州 Registered: 2009-01-11 Posts: 108

Thank Divinity - we finally have a communist in office! It's about time our president thinks about someone other than himself and his rich, right-wing friends.

That said, I would echo that the Japanese seem to have latched on to Obama as a paragon of change and possibility - something that is sorely lacking in their own politicians.

Reply #34 - 2009 January 22, 8:18 am
ファブリス Administrator
From: Belgium Registered: 2006-06-14 Posts: 4021 Website

Seriously, igordesu, what on earth was that all about? Even if you elaborated on your opinions, it still wouldn't have any place in this topic, as nestOr pointed out.

Unfortunately, I'm going to close this thread, and my excuses to those that answered on topic.

Nothing wrong with the topic itself, but please understand I don't have time to monitor topics and moderate individual posts until it gets back on track.

Topic closed