Why do Japanese say "hmm" so much

[randal]

Originally posted by: Train

Originally posted by: Phoenix86

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: pontifex
you watch too much tv

Umm, I'm talking real life here.

I hear it everyday.

Try counting the "umms" "uhhs" and "ahhs" for someone (native english speaker) giving a speech.

my S.O. is a speech professor, she will bitch slap you for using any of those in an actual "speech".

Agreed, that is terrible form. Anybody who has ever taken a speech class or given any sort of professional presentation knows that it is MUCH better to be completely silent than to hmmmm & haaaaa while talking.

 

[Sex Smurf]

Originally posted by: spidey07
I've always wondered. Its like every other word is "hmm" and then they go off to the multiples "hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm...hmm, hmm"

Any clues?

Is it just a way of acknoledgement?

They are not saying "hmm" it's "un". There are also variations of "un". You can stretch it out like "un~n" and that would mean you don't agree. But you will normally hear the listener do a series of "un. .. un. . .un. . .hai. . .un. . .so da nee. .. " In the Japanese culture it's just a courtesy to the speaker to hear that you are paying attention to them.

"Un" + head nod is usually what you will see.

 

[mwtgg]

Originally posted by: Train

Originally posted by: Phoenix86

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: pontifex
you watch too much tv

Umm, I'm talking real life here.

I hear it everyday.

Try counting the "umms" "uhhs" and "ahhs" for someone (native english speaker) giving a speech.

my S.O. is a speech professor, she will bitch slap you for using any of those in an actual "speech".

So uhh, do you like know what I'm like, I dunno, like talking about?

 

[Otaking]

un un !

Sex Smurf tte iu touri! It's defintely not a "uh, um" in English.

 

[0roo0roo]

u mean like mr garrison from southpark?

 

[Kaieye]

anno...?

 

[andylawcc]

O RLY?

 

[Linux23]

Originally posted by: Sex Smurf

Originally posted by: spidey07
I've always wondered. Its like every other word is "hmm" and then they go off to the multiples "hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm...hmm, hmm"

Any clues?

Is it just a way of acknoledgement?

They are not saying "hmm" it's "un". There are also variations of "un". You can stretch it out like "un~n" and that would mean you don't agree. But you will normally hear the listener do a series of "un. .. un. . .un. . .hai. . .un. . .so da nee. .. " In the Japanese culture it's just a courtesy to the speaker to hear that you are paying attention to them.

"Un" + head nod is usually what you will see.

we have a winner.

 

[Xylitol]

Cause they dont know enough english
When thety say "hmm" they're thinkin of a word that they have in their pocket
english diciotnary in their pocket

 

[Siddhartha]

Originally posted by: spidey07
I've always wondered. Its like every other word is "hmm" and then they go off to the multiples "hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm...hmm, hmm"

Any clues?

Is it just a way of acknoledgement?

They are probably still think in Japanese and the hmmmm sound they make covers the time it takes them to translate from English to Japanese, decide what to say next, then translate it from Japanese to English, and then say it.

You probably have noticed than GWB from time to time will have noticible pauses when he talks. He is doing something similar except he has trained himself not to make a noise when he is doing it. But from time to time George will cover a pause with an ummm sound.

 

[Bullhonkie]

It's because they don't typically make eye contact during a conversation. So to acknowledge to the other party that they're still listening, they'll make verbal cues. Hm, um, hai, etc.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Sex Smurf

Originally posted by: spidey07
I've always wondered. Its like every other word is "hmm" and then they go off to the multiples "hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm...hmm, hmm"

Any clues?

Is it just a way of acknoledgement?

They are not saying "hmm" it's "un". There are also variations of "un". You can stretch it out like "un~n" and that would mean you don't agree. But you will normally hear the listener do a series of "un. .. un. . .un. . .hai. . .un. . .so da nee. .. " In the Japanese culture it's just a courtesy to the speaker to hear that you are paying attention to them.

"Un" + head nod is usually what you will see.

Thank you.

So its more of a "you know what I'm sayin'?" "Do you understand what I'm saying?" "Are we clear", etc. and also a way of in English "yes, right, of course, I'm right there with you, I agree."

acknowledgement and reaching agreement in some form.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Bullhonkie
It's because they don't typically make eye contact during a conversation. So to acknowledge to the other party that they're still listening, they'll make verbal cues. Hm, um, hai, etc.

Damn, you know you're right about that as well.

Weird culture clash as in when I'm speaking with anybody my eyes are always on theirs - to look away is impolite/weak.

If I hear anymore about "nemiwashi" or "kaizen" or "hoshen" I may explode.

 

[Ninjja]

americans say um all the time.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Ninjja
americans say um all the time.

This is much different and I believe Sex Smurf's (aka smurfette) has hit the nail on the head.

It's very similar phonetically (sp?) to...

hun
un
uhn
hmm
uhm

Imagine a group of americans taking 8 seconds of doing nothing but "uh-huh" in unison and you'll know what I'm talking about.

Just trying to understand the culture/language.

 

[Crescent13]

Originally posted by: zoiks
hmm..hmm..hmm...hmm..ahh..ahh..ahhh.ahh.

lol

 

[RU482]

this thread sent me looking for a link to that Crash Test Dummies song

nevermind, that's mmm mmm mmm mmm