STORY INFO
Six Syllables
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Author
Scott Christenson
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Categories
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Danh mục
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Update
1 year ago
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Part Chapter
1/??
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Reads
63
Content
In Japan, everyone says “Itadakimasu” before each meal. It's an unquestioned tradition. There are many such rituals in Japan: the aisatsu greetings for good morning and good night, bowing to superiors, the proper way to use chopsticks, that go back so far in Japanese history, people can’t imagine it being any other way.Everyone except for our son Kenji. He likes to make his own rules and has long ago decided uttering six syllables before eating is an inefficient waste of everyone's time.<...
Outstanding reviews
I think you're onto something. A lot of languages seem to be tied to a specific country and culture, and so you get a big "monoculture". On the other hand, English being a lingua franca, gets into all sorts of places and makes it easier for different cultures to mix. Add the fast pace of art and tech developments and there's new things being coined all the time. Interesting to think about!
A child with a quirk. Not too far off base
Thanks for reading
Thanks for reading
Thats a good point, to explain this childs reasoning. At this age one of my children was pretty much at war with every rule, I think to get attention and act out. She was young for her class and felt a bit frustrated. Not exactly the character in the story, which was more about how some children can test their parents' patience, but in the long run everything tends to work out.
At war with every rule makes sense. I just wondered why this one word was the only thing the child was at war with. Something must have triggered it.
I'll think of an "origin story" for this... yes, its an unanswered question in the story. Thx for your feedback, as a teacher it sounds like you have a radar for figuring out children's behavior! I hadn't fully thought this through.
Hey Scott,I loved the way you zeroed in on so mango great things for this story. There was the cultural significance of a ritual-it reminded me of saying “bless you” when one sneezes. I get so offended when someone doesn’t and I am the person in the quiet movie theatre who says it loud and proud. I also loved the advice you included about changing just 5% of one’s self in order to maintain the piece. What an interesting idea. Plus, the middle finger compromise was perfectly explained. Nice work on this one!!
Thanks so much for reading my story for a few weeks ago. Yes, I guess it would be similar to "bless you".. those little courtesies make us feel like we're all connected and in this together.
So this is totally embarrassing but I always thought that Itadakimasu was five syllables (that the final u was silent), so now I'm aware I must have been pronouncing it wrong all this time. Drats.I loved the character of Misako and the fiesty-ness of Kenji. Both have their heads on straight and dance to the beat of their own drum. I like that. At the end of the story Kenji has learned to compromise, but doing what is expected of him but making it tolerable for himself, and frankly, figuring that out is going to take him far in life.
You're so right, it usually pronounced with just a hiss for the s at the end. Only when people are trying to speak very formally would they said the "su" or when parents are teaching little children. When I worked in a japanese office, the entire good morning "ohayo gozaimasu" just became liked a hissed single syllable "uuuss". Japanese are really creative with shortening words. and combining them too into new expression.
Phew!
Phew!
Happy to hear you enjoyed it. Took a jumble of real stories and characters and melded them all together with this. Yeah didn't want to overcomplicate it by making it a half story, but that's a big part of the resistance to doing everything in "the way" in japan. Its like if you say any word except Itadakimasu or gochisosama ppl in japan would look at you as if you're totally insane. They are creative with a lot of the new teen slang though.
I wondered two things: what does "itadakimasu" translate to in English (is it anything like "bon appetit" in French?), and when was flipping the bird adopted in Japan?There's something in both of our stories for these prompts about the functionality of rituals: their usefulness in restoring a sense of balance. However, your contribution is far more readable.Thanks for sharing.
Itadakimasu literally means something like “i am receiving “ but Bon appetit would be about the exact same thing. And yes you have a good point, my half japanese daughter said something about giving ppl the bird once but japanese might do something more subtle to something they were opposed to that i couldnt really find the right words for.
Scott, interesting story. I learned a bit about Japanese culture. Thanks for the good read. LF6
Kenji is stubborn, but only about one thing. It seems that he's revolting against tradition, yet it's only this one particular tradition. Maybe it's his way of not conforming. A small rebellion. A symbolic act.Interesting tale, Scott. Enjoyable.Cheers!
First draft of a slightly experimental story about parenting, any comments or suggestions would be extremely helpful.I read a story in "Visit from the Goon Squad" in which the narrator was two sisters, and thought I'd give a plural POV narrator a try, even though it can be awkward at times. This is not a true story, but is informed by various recollections of being a parent in Japan of multicultural children.
Ha Ha,Good ending!
Made me laugh, loved the compassion and pragmatism of the characters, bravo!
I really like your insight on this: English being a lingua franca, gets into all sorts of places and makes it easier for different cultures to mix. Add the fast pace of art and tech developments and there's new things being coined all the time. Another insight about English from a friend who was Czech: You can speak English very badly and people will understand you because they are used to bad English. If you try to speak Czech and mispronounce one word, people will throw up their hands and walk away.
I really like your insight on this: English being a lingua franca, gets into all sorts of places and makes it easier for different cultures to mix. Add the fast pace of art and tech developments and there's new things being coined all the time. Another insight about English from a friend who was Czech: You can speak English very badly and people will understand you because they are used to bad English. If you try to speak Czech and mispronounce one word, people will throw up their hands and walk away.
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