Why do American people give their own opinions directly, and why don't Japanese people give their own opinions directly? Before coming to America, I had already learned that Americans give their opinions directly because I was taught that by my teachers. After coming to America, though I was still surprised that this different existance between Americans and Japanese. First, some American people think that some Japanese people who don't give their own opinions don't even have their own thoughts. Second, some Japanese people think that some American people who give their opinions directly aren't polite. These thoughts are wrong.
In Japan, people listen to opinions silently until the other people are finished. To listen to opinions silently pays respect to people in Japan, and this is a Japanese custom. When I was a child, my parents said to me, "listen carefully until the other people are finished because it is polite." In America, if people don't give their opinions, Americans think they don't have anything to say. In school, Americans learn to give their opinions in classes. Most students learn to defend themselves in this way. In Japan, however, students learn some reasons why they don't give their opinions. First, some students are afraid to stop the classes because it will bother the other students. Second, some students are ashamed to give their own opinions because some students may be thought stupid by the other students.
Why do American people give their own opinions directly, and why don't Japanese people give their own opinions directly? Every country has its own customs, so it is natural that this custom deveoped differently in different coutries. Learning about these attitudes is very important because if Japanese people study in America, they can learn about American culture, and if American people study in Japan, they can learn about Japanese culture.
1 comment:
Asuka, I think the reason has to do with American diversity. You know the saying: "America is a country of immigrants"? That means most Americans came here from other countries. Long ago neighbors sometimes spoke different languages. So if you were originally from France and your neighbor was from Germany, you would have to speak very clearly and directly in English to be understood. I think that's why we speak more directly. (I know English people, and Irish people don't do this. They 'suggest' their opinion -- a bit like the Japanese.)
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