Yes, it's the pay day today. :-) Nothing fancy but since I got some extra, I thought I'd abuse my wallet a little bit. I bought this geeky stuff. An electronic dictionary. If you click the photo, the whole thing will appear. This dictionary is great becasue it's got English-Japanese, Japanese-English, English-English, Thesaurus, English-French, French-English, French-French, and other dictionaries. 17 dictionaries on this small thing. This dictionary's got the voice. It speaks expressions indicated on the display. Electronic dictionaries are essential for people who work for a foreign company. I saw a lot of colleagues with this thing. Why? I am not sure but it's safe to say we, Japanese, have this reputation that we are not good at foreign languages. I am sure there are many who are good at speaking them. But it's no surprise we suck at speaking foreign languages including English. There are reasons for it. I am not a linguist so I will keep it short. 1. an island country. 2. Japanese language is nowhere close to other languages (well, Korean might be close but), 3. English learning system here is not the greatest compared to northern European countries'. I am no exception. I too had struggled from learning English for a long time. I think confidence is another issue, too. Since we are afraid of making mistakes, we can never be good. However, this electronic dictionary gives us confidence. We can feel ease with this. If we went to another country without the electronic dictionary, we'd be uncomfy. Okay, that's exagerrating a little bit but you know what I mean. Of course, the first thing I did is to look up dirty words like every high school kid would do, and made it speak. :-) I love when this French guy in my dictionary says "What the fuc* is he doing here?" in French. Speak dirty to me... okie, I am having fun with this. Only if there was a real French person to speak things to me closely. :-) Until then, this is a good substitute. YOu have a fantastic day/night!
I don't call it that much of a wallet abuse if your purchase is good for the brain and enrichment of your life. Oh, did you get a new Coach wallet yet? :D
KOBE WAS THE BOMB!!!! I am so sad to be checking out of my upgraded room tomorrow morning. I can't wait to upload photos (but I will have to wait because I was stupid and didn't bring the camera cable). Merde!!!!!!
qu'est-ce qu'il fout ici? LOL!
anyway, swear words in québec french usually involve religious items. so, tabarnak, which comes from tabernacle, is the equivalent to fuck.
Does your new dictionary offer "read between the lines" translations? For example what's the translation for "Steve wants to assist Shigeki with his oral exam?"
Happy payday!!!
Cool!
Couldn't you book this to your expense account? It sound as though it would be useful when you have to travel on business!
You are so funny. I would have made the dictionary talk dirty to me too. :)
I am laughing at Steve's comments. I wonder what that will translate to.
I must be a geek in the closet. I would LOVE that!!
For Raph
You're in deep dodo with the catholic church in Quebec. I hear?? they are trying to get rid off religious swear words.
Angry Quebecois
"Hostie! Toi, mon tabarnac de ciboire de St Sulpice, tu me fais chier en christ!"
The church has their work cut out for them. :-)
i'm at a total loss as to why you would need the boost of confidence of an electronic gadget for your english.
i've said once, and i'll say it again. you speak english beautifully. your diction is quite good and your elocution is excellent. you have an accent, but so does everyone who learns english as a second language (except kids who seem to be able to keep both flawlessly accent free)
you should hear me slaughter french. It's sad to see my dad flinch (he grew up speaking french, was taught by jesuit priests in french up to about grace 11). yes, i am scary.
Better have the French guy say Fuck Me. Now that's HAWT.
paul
I think it's human nature to always know, among the first phrases to learn, the dirty words in any foreign language. It's really funny whenever I ask foreigners if they know any Tagalog word, and no surprises, they would know how to speak terms for curses, sex organs, sex acts and the like in the local language. :-)
Hi GaijinGirl,
Well, it was definitely an abuse because I didn't really have to buy one but I wanted one. :-) But I will live. Well, when I go to Coach, I always get the same wallet for two. I stock the second one. So I do have a Coach wallet already. :-) I am using it. You have a fantabulous weekend!
Hi Raph,
I wonder how Quebec French would sound like. I hear it's different but I am sure I'd notice the difference as I am no where close to being fluent. But nice to know how to say "fuck" in Montreal. I will say it when I have to :-) You have a fantabulous weekend!
Hi Steve,
Hahahaha. I am afraid not, Steve. But thankfully, my brain is capable of reading between lines :-) You have a fantabulous weekend!
Hi Hanuman 1960,
Well, I have this benefit thing that my company supports computer related purchase. I am trying to submit the form to get the money, hopefully. but I cannot charge it to my business account unfortunately. My boss is very very micro managing. :-) You have a fantabulous weekend!
Hi Cesar,
Am I? huh... Well, I could be very desperate or pathetic that's why I did it? hehehe. You know what the Steve's comment will be translated to. You are not that pure for sure. :-) You have a fantabulous weekend!
HI Maggie,
Well, you don't have to be in the geeky closet at all. You can come out and be proud of yourself. :-) hahaha. Well, some people would hate you for being a geek but it's all about how proud you are. Okie, I have heard the similar thing in a different concept... You have a fantabulous weekend!
Hi Naomi,
Well, I wouldn't need a speaking dictionary for English actually. I am very comfortable even though my speaking has a weird accent. However, I would need a speaking dictionary for French actually. My French skills are no where close to my English. That's why. :-) Jesuit Priest? That's very liberal, no? :-) You have a fantabulous weekend!
Hi Paul,
I thought it would be but then, Fuck me in French doesn't really sound sexy after all. What's up with that? Considering it's the sexy language.... You have a fantabulous weekend!
Hi Mark,
Oh yeah, I think I did that quite a lot when I was in junior high. :-) That's so interesting that many are interested in learning those terms instead of general basic stuff. :-) You have a fantabulous weekend!
Electronic dictionaries are cool! Y has a Chinese-English one, but all the instructions are only Chinese, so I find it quite hard to use (eg: for looking up rude words in Chinese!) Merde indeed!!