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RandallBrown11/07/20243 repliesview on HN

> They sometimes modify their English pronunciation to sound "more Japanese" when they start English classes in school

I saw a video where an American was trying to order a McFlurry at McDonalds in Japan and the worker couldn't understand "McFlurry" pronounced in English so they had to pronounce it in what (without context) would sound quite racist.


Replies

huehehue11/07/2024

For the curious, it would be something like "makku-fu-ruri"

This was my experience in Japan as well. So many words we're used to saying in English use mouth shapes that the Japanese language does not, so you really have to tweak how you say things to align with what's available.

"Coffee" is a fun one for the tired westerner

qingcharles11/07/2024

I've also had this happen in France and German-Swiss, so I don't think this is unique to Japan! :)

sjburt11/07/2024

How is this any different from going into a Panda Express and trying to order in Mandarin?

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