Brad Nelson
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Post by Brad Nelson on Dec 12, 2019 14:16:56 GMT -8
That’s interesting, Mr. Kung. It makes perfect sense that due to the relative isolation of islands that different languages would spring forth. The interesting case in New Guinea is that tribes separated by no more than a couple miles of jungle would have completely different languages. As the author noted, these were not cousin or derivative languages. They were completely different.
As soon as anyone becomes networked to others (out of need or just the accident of history), it would seem you’re going to need a common language, especially if you want to do business or if you want to increase in rank in the bureaucracy if some larger federation springs forth. In the case of the New Guinea tribe studied by the author, he surmises that there were so many languages in New Guinea because they acted as a way of self-identity.
That makes sense in that the author came to discover that even this supposed common language amongst the tribe was further sub-divided and each person had sort of his own version…or at least thought the words that he used for some things was the correct ones and that others were mistaken. Language also seemed to be personally owned.
That’s interesting. It’s not news to say the sub-cultures (geeks, for example) can quickly create their own in-group jargon. But such jargon has impact and meaning only because it is shared. I don’t think it would have meant anything to a geek to have his own special word for something if the others didn’t agree on it. But that tribe in New Guinea seemed to have taken “personal identity” to the level of almost having one’s own personal language. Odd, but that’s what he described.
I think the differences were on words here and there, not the basics of it or the syntax. But it seemed to be often the case that someone had the right word for some bird, tree, or thing and thought everyone else was wrong. And quite a few other people had the same opinions about their own supposed correct form of a word.
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Brad Nelson
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עַבְדְּךָ֔ אֶת־ הַתְּשׁוּעָ֥ה הַגְּדֹלָ֖ה הַזֹּ֑את
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Post by Brad Nelson on Dec 12, 2019 14:18:18 GMT -8
I’ve suspected the same.
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Brad Nelson
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עַבְדְּךָ֔ אֶת־ הַתְּשׁוּעָ֥ה הַגְּדֹלָ֖ה הַזֹּ֑את
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Post by Brad Nelson on Dec 12, 2019 14:34:03 GMT -8
Here’s a list of book on Amazon by Lynn S. Hightower. This first book in the series is Alien BluesThe second book in here series is titled Alien EyesBook three is Alien HeatBook four is Alien RightsReviews are mixed. They might not be everyone’s cup of tea. I looked for any book by Hightower in my online library and nothing came up. Still, if something would have come up I would have given it a try.
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Post by timothylane on Dec 12, 2019 14:36:37 GMT -8
It would be interesting to compare this view of the relationships between gaijin and Japanese to what missionaries, especially long-term ones, encounter. Elizabeth has a younger brother (well, she's the oldest sibling so both brothers and her sister -- who was born in the Rohwer internment camp in Arkansas -- are younger) who preaches in Japan, and seems to have actual friends, not merely church members.
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Post by kungfuzu on Dec 12, 2019 15:04:16 GMT -8
I personally know that friendships can develop between Japanese and gaijin, but several factors make it difficult.
1. Most gaijin do not stay very long in Japan.
2. From the time Japanese start work, they are pushed to spend a lot of time with company colleagues in order to develop bonds. This leaves less time for others.
3. The commute times in Japan can be between 1 and 2 hours each way, which also limits time for other things.
4. Most gaijin do not learn to speak Japanese well enough to get close to Japanese.
5. Most Japanese do not speak a foreign language well enough to get close to a foreigner.
6. The Japanese have learned to hide their feelings and emotions very well and it can take a long time to get to know them. As with most people, childhood friendships are perhaps the most firm. Old school ties are also very important.
I suppose much of the above could be said about most other nationalities, but it certainly holds true for the Japanese.
My suggestion for getting close to a Japanese is to go out drinking with them, a lot.
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Post by timothylane on Dec 12, 2019 15:29:16 GMT -8
Well, several of those concerns wouldn't be a problem for Jack and Cathy Garrott. As a missionary kid, he knows Japanese, and no doubt many of his flock know English. He also lives there long-term, occasionally coming back to visit relatives (which is how I met him, of course). As a Southern Baptist, he's probably not very likely to go drinking with them, but dining together is a reasonable likelihood.
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Post by timothylane on Dec 12, 2019 15:44:41 GMT -8
Incidentally, one thing to note about American-Filipino relations is that MacArthur developed a love of the people when he was there, and they reciprocated it. (Perhaps it was simply because it was so unusual for a white to treat them as of equal worth.) After the war, after an election there which was thought to have a few irregularities, MacArthur noted that it was probably about as honest as an Indiana election.
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Post by kungfuzu on Dec 12, 2019 20:09:49 GMT -8
MacArthur's father was, I believe, the first or second Governor General of the Philippines after the USA took it from Spain. I think young Douglas might have spent some time there during this period. In any case, the fact is he had a soft spot for the Philippines from a young age. He accepted the position to run the Philippine Armed Forced after he had retired from the US Army, which was before WWII broke out.
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Brad Nelson
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Post by Brad Nelson on Dec 13, 2019 8:25:52 GMT -8
That’s a good list, Mr. Kung. It helps to understand the situation. What we live here in America is an anomaly. Here we almost intentionally mix the races (the melting pot). I would think the norm in history is racial/ethnic cohesion, the desire to maintain pure and keep the foreigner and his crude and backward ways at a distance (from the point of view of the native).
The embarrassing thing about today is that I totally understand any country wanting to keep American culture out of their systems. Hell, I want the same thing. It’s becoming poisonous.
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Brad Nelson
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עַבְדְּךָ֔ אֶת־ הַתְּשׁוּעָ֥ה הַגְּדֹלָ֖ה הַזֹּ֑את
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Post by Brad Nelson on Dec 13, 2019 8:35:18 GMT -8
Nothing succeeds like a good impression. Is that a saying? Well, let’s make it one.
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Post by artraveler on Dec 13, 2019 12:07:33 GMT -8
My suggestion for getting close to a Japanese is to go out drinking with them, a lot. Growing up in the south where finding a minyam might involve drafting an unwilling jewish neighbor. Most of my childhood friends, a smaller number every year, are Christian. One is even a Baptist minister. He was the one voted most likely to be arrested-- go figure. However, Israelis have a reputation as being hard core, distant, clannish, and aggressive. Funny, they describe southerner the same way. At any rate copious quants of alcohol, in almost any culture even the Mormons, does tend to drop barriers.
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Post by artraveler on Dec 13, 2019 12:14:18 GMT -8
I think young Douglas might have spent some time there during this period Douglas learned people skills from his mother at his birthplace, Little Rock Arkansas. The house they lived in is open for tours and sits in the middle of MacArthur Park.
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Post by kungfuzu on Dec 13, 2019 13:26:59 GMT -8
I know one particular man who got drafted into a minyam.
"You'll do, especially with the nose. Put on the yarlmulke and let's get on with it!" was how he was jocularly drafted.
I have attended several Seder celebrations and as a youngster I recall having to sit at the table and read the four questions from a book.
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