September 29, 2007

Respect for characters


Over the last few years I've tried to learn what I can of the Chinese and Japanese languages. I want to read Han Shan in the original. I want to read Ryokan in the original. Of course, learning these at the same time has a number of drawbacks in making progress with either.

Spoken Chinese (Mandarin, or Pu tong hua, the common language) is "tonal" in the sense that the pitch (high, rising, falling, falling-then-rising) determines meaning, so just saying "ma" isn't enough ... it's how you say it that counts. Japanese, on the other hand, isn't a tonal language (whew), but its complex grammar and multiple syllabaries (hiragana and katakana, as well as kanji) make it one of the more challenging languages to learn.

This semester I am trying something a little more formal. I'm taking a Japanese class at night, and it's a small class where real participation is expected. Active learning, like ... standing up in front of class and speaking.

The format of the class is not unlike aikido, not unlike zen. Something gets presented, and then you demonstrate your understanding in front of everyone. Then something else gets presented, and so on.

In aikido, the instructors show an attack and its defense, a series of complex movements, about 3 or 4 times, and then you pair up and "do it."

In zen, the teacher presents a koan and, one on one with him, face to face in interview, you demonstrate (or not) your understanding.

In Japanese class, the teacher presents sounds, characters, words, and sentences, and then you stand up in front of class and respond. Very intense. I like it.

This brings me to an issue of attitude, and something I've wanted to write about since I left Japan. In class the other night, our teacher said that stroke order in writing Japanese characters is important for several reasons, one of which is ... respect for the character being written.

Such a comment couldn't be made in America, not without a snicker from students or a smirk by the teacher to let everyone know he or she was "in on it." In Japan, one can see kiosk vendors, parking lot attendants, salespeople, etc., doing their jobs with an attitude that's hard to put into words ... hmm, what's the opposite of "cynical?"

As an American, I find that so different. It's refreshing.

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