tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714063.post7425838360041520882..comments2023-10-09T00:45:55.603+09:00Comments on Shisaku: Tentative Notes Upon the Hatoyama Government's Statement on Non-Interference in U.S. Strategic PlanningMTChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04626942240117432624noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714063.post-33207054427017766872010-01-27T17:38:28.165+09:002010-01-27T17:38:28.165+09:00In Swedish you would express both shades of meanin...In Swedish you would express both shades of meaning with the exact same language. Makes me wonder if any officials in the Stockholm embassy ever considered asking commentators to add a clarifying parenthetical remark every time they referred to the tune in question.<br /><br />I realize now I should have tried becoming a diplomat. Of course, it would have meant having to learn French. And table manners. Oh well.Jan Morenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06834641501438709866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714063.post-71258636851472818932010-01-27T15:26:45.709+09:002010-01-27T15:26:45.709+09:00Herr Morén -
If this is so then you would really...Herr Morén - <br /><br />If this is so then you would really not want to hear about the generations of officials who would go apoplectic when anyone referred to the <i>Kimigayo</i> as "the national anthem <b>of</b> Japan" rather than "the national anthem <b>for</b> Japan" at international athletic and diplomatic events until the passage in August 1999 of the "Law on the National Flag and the National Anthem" clarified that the white thing with the red dot in it was an official symbol.MTChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04626942240117432624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714063.post-53728988408752734962010-01-27T14:01:28.828+09:002010-01-27T14:01:28.828+09:00I do not know which is more disquieting: that the ...I do not know which is more disquieting: that the communication and understanding between governments can hinge on the parsing of such seemingly trivial linguistic differences; or that there's entire ministries full of presumably bright people devoting their whole careers to the proper generation and parsing of such minuscula.<br /><br />Or maybe I'm just jealous that I can't spend my workdays playing with words.Jan Morenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06834641501438709866noreply@blogger.com