Bennie -
You did not mention whether the partner would be speaking
Japanese or English, or, if he or she speaks Japanese, how fluent
he or she is. Is the audience Japanese or not? Who is doing the
translating? All of these factors matter in a situation of this
type, especially in Japan.
Edwin Reischauer, the former United States ambassador, had a
favorite ploy when speaking before a Japanese audience. When
speaking in his official capacity, he always addressed the
audience in English, even though he speaks fluent Japanese,
because he was the official representative of the United States,
and our language is English. During the speech, however, his
translator, with whom he had worked for many years, would
deliberately hesitate over the translation of a word, at which
point Ambassador Reischauer would lean over, and supply the
correct Japanese word in a stage whisper. It never failed to
elicit laughter from his Japanese audience, who were all of
course aware that he spoke their language. This gambit worked so
well because of the context, which means everything in Japan.
What is funny in one situation might not be funny in another; for
instance, there are circumstances under which correcting the
translator would not be considered funny at all.
In other words, the partner should be very careful. Unless
the person has been to Japan before, and knows the audience well,
a short, dignified speech might be the best course of action.
Ann C. Davidson
Biddle Law Library
University of Pennsylvania
adavidso@oyez.law.upenn.edu
Opinions expressed are my own, not those of my institution.
> One of our Partners is doing a short talk for the grand opening
of our
> library in Japan and has asked it I know an Library Jokes.
Well!
> obviously I don't know any and was hoping some of you did.
Thanks in
> advance.
>
> Bennie Braxton
> Sughrue, Mion, Zinn, Macpeak & Seas
> bbraxton@ix.netcom.com
>
>
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