"EeeehhhhHHHHHH?????"
Most languages have ways of communicating without "real" words. For instance, English has "hafta," "wanna," "gonna" and the like which are slurred word combinations. In addition, many people around the world recognize sounds such as "uh-huh" and "uh-uh" as yes and no.
Similar noises made by speakers of Japanese really make me laugh. Many times, instead of "yes" or "right," people will use a grunt that sounds like something they'd use if they were punched in the stomach - "unh."
To say "Really??" or "What?" they use a very long and rising-in-intonation "eeeehhHHHHH???"
My favorite, though, is the "ooooohhhh." Whenever I say something even slightly interesting to them (or, perhaps, they're pretending it's interesting), I get this long "oooohhhh." Reminiscent of a sitcom soundboard or an infomercial actor.
Doesn't matter if this is in English or Japanese:
"Where are you from?"
"America."
"Ooooooohhhhhh."
"How old are you?"
"26."
"Ooooooohhhhhhhh!"
If you're relating a story to them - whether it's something that happened when you went to the grocery store, or something that traumatized you when you were seven, these noises are made while you speak. It's not done to be interrupt or be rude in any way. In fact, just the opposite. It's done to show that the listener is paying attention and is interested in the story.
So there have been times when I have been the listener to a story by someone who is Japanese, and I am not giving said grunts. On several occasions, the speaker has stopped and asked if I was still there mentally and not bored. Each time I replied honestly, "Of course I'm interested. What happened next?"
I've frequently started laughing at the reaction of who I'm speaking to. Which gets them to laugh too. Again, I'm not sure if they're being fake just to be polite and laughing just because I am, or if they realize how humorous their noises actually are. I'm guessing it's a 50/50 split.
Similar noises made by speakers of Japanese really make me laugh. Many times, instead of "yes" or "right," people will use a grunt that sounds like something they'd use if they were punched in the stomach - "unh."
To say "Really??" or "What?" they use a very long and rising-in-intonation "eeeehhHHHHH???"
My favorite, though, is the "ooooohhhh." Whenever I say something even slightly interesting to them (or, perhaps, they're pretending it's interesting), I get this long "oooohhhh." Reminiscent of a sitcom soundboard or an infomercial actor.
Doesn't matter if this is in English or Japanese:
"Where are you from?"
"America."
"Ooooooohhhhhh."
"How old are you?"
"26."
"Ooooooohhhhhhhh!"
If you're relating a story to them - whether it's something that happened when you went to the grocery store, or something that traumatized you when you were seven, these noises are made while you speak. It's not done to be interrupt or be rude in any way. In fact, just the opposite. It's done to show that the listener is paying attention and is interested in the story.
So there have been times when I have been the listener to a story by someone who is Japanese, and I am not giving said grunts. On several occasions, the speaker has stopped and asked if I was still there mentally and not bored. Each time I replied honestly, "Of course I'm interested. What happened next?"
I've frequently started laughing at the reaction of who I'm speaking to. Which gets them to laugh too. Again, I'm not sure if they're being fake just to be polite and laughing just because I am, or if they realize how humorous their noises actually are. I'm guessing it's a 50/50 split.
posted by David at 9:46 PM
4 Comments:
yes: un (that is the actual japanese word, i can prove it to you with my jap101 book lol)
whhhhhhaaaaaaaaat?: areeeeEEEE???
i do agree they're very expressive and tend to exaggerate sometimes
don't feel like loggin in, but you know who this is
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"Unh" as "yes" is not just a Japanese reaction. I say that (I am from Taiwan) all the time and I have seen it in Korean and Japanese movies too. I think it's an asian thing.
When T and I first started dating, I said "unh" all the time in response to his questions. To me it's a natural reaction of "yes", but he got very confused and frustrated. One day he finally got very mad at my "unh" and asked why I made that noise all the time because he couldn't fingure out whether I was saying yes or no or whatever. I showed him that the correct way of saying "unh" is nodding my head dramatically at the same time, meaning a huge "yes". He finally got it and now he says "unh" sometimes because it's such an easy and lazy way to say "yes" (without even opening the mouth).
Charlotte
Haha I love that ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! thing. The primary school kids are the best.
Also, cool for allowing anonymous comments and stuff. Cheers!
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