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From: ishimaru <ishimaru@c.hamamatsu-pc.ac.jp>
Subject: Re: the word "gaijin" is as negative as "foreigner"
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Xref: glinda.oz.cs.cmu.edu sci.lang.japan:40899 sci.lang:72113

SAITO, Muneo wrote:

> 
> I have to admit that we Japanese have kind of "oniwa soto, fukuwa uchi"
> concept.  This leads to give a slight negative connotation to "gaijin" that
> literally means "sotono-hito."

This is your perception.  Not me.  

> 
> After all, the way of speech and context determines the level of negative
> connotation.

I agree with you.  When I was in US, I have heard
"alien student" or foreign student", so often.  I did not
percept any prejudice outof it.   Maybe, I am stupid enough
not to percept negative connotation.  To me, just a  matter
 of context under which the term is spoken.  

If somebody feels unpleasant to hear "gaijin", that is the
matter of his perception or personality about the term.  
Talker has to pay attention to what kind of person he faces,  
And the same token to the listener.$B!!(J

In a future, maybe we will not need the terms such as  gaijin,
gaikokujin, foreigner, or alien because such categorization or
distinction will be meaningless in our everday life to communicate
each other.

-- 
Kiyoto Ishimaru
Dept. of Comp. Sci.
Hamamatsu Polytechnic College
Norieda 693
Hamamatsu 432
JAPAN
phone:053-441-4444
e-mail:ishimaru@c.hamamatsu-pc.ac.jp
