Foreigners who speak the Language

Trevor Leggett was head of the Japanese Department of the BBC.

This is one of his broadcasts to Japan

Zubari on Foreigners who speak the Language

I had an experience a bit similar in Japan when I was escorting a BBC director who was there on a visit. He wanted to go into an ordinary Densha, so we got in about 11am in the morning. Opposite us, in the half-empty carriage, were three schoolgirls.

They began talking about us, and one of them said that we had very long heads – unlike the Japanese mainly round head. She remarked how funny the foreigners look – almost like horses.

As they were giggling, I leant across and said in Japanese, “Tadashii reigi wo shiranai ñNihon no ojosan wa Nihon no haji desu ne.”

They looked absolutely stunned. Then they hastily jumped to their feet and went away to the other end of the carriage, where they sat, absolutely silent.

That was a few years ago, and l think that Japanese now realize that some foreigners can understand Japanese.

The situation is quite different in Britain. I assume that foreigners will understand English, and we are careful what we say in front of them.

© Trevor Leggett