In the May 18, 2010 Daily Yomiuri, we had the following headlines:
METI eager to wield ax at corporate tax
Further corporate effort needed for full recovery: Trimming fat pays off
Ministry counting on taxis as cut in patrol budget bites
In this day’s paper, we have several phrases referring to cutting spending, also called “spending cuts”. There are a number of idioms in English that have similar meanings, and we will look at some of them now.
First, both companies and government agencies have budgets that set the level of spending allowed for their departments and groups. When the budget size needs to be reduced from the previous year, we say that the budget has been cut. Or, that we need to cut our spending to remain in budget.
We look at “cut” as “being cut by a knife”. The harder we push down with the knife, the deeper the cut will be. A big, deep cut is a slash. In this way, if we have to reduce our spending by 30 or 40%, we might say that we are facing deep cuts, or that we have to slash our spending by 30%.
Keeping with the “knife” analogy, someone preparing meat for cooking will remove the fat from the meat. This is called trimming, or trimming the fat. This idiom differentiates between necessary spending and unnecessary spending. Spending on unimportant items is called fat, so if we only keep the important items, we are cutting the fat or trimming the fat.
On the other hand, if we cut too deep, we go from fat to meat. That is, we reduce spending for items that are needed by the department. When we cut into the meat, we endanger the healthy operation of the department. We can also cause “pain” to the department, which can be called “a bite”. The above headline, “Ministry counting on taxis as cut in patrol budget bites” uses “bites” to indicate that the cuts in spending are starting to hurt the normal operations of the local police patrols.
Finally, we can switch from using a knife to using an ax (or “axe”). An ax is used to chop, or break up, wood into smaller pieces. To “axe” a project means “to eliminate, stop or discontinue” it. To “wield” is to “carry, swing or use”. Therefore, the above headline “METI eager to wield ax at corporate tax” indicates that the METI agency wants to use the “axe” (their administrative powers) to “chop”, or eliminate specific taxes that corporations are now forced to pay. That is, METI wants to quickly begin eliminating specific corporate taxes.
As you read the English newspapers, try to find more examples of “cost or spending cuts” in the stories.
━━━━━━━━━━━━
※Unfortunately, this story is original to the Daily Yomiuri press, and they chose to print it only in the paper version of their newspaper. It is not available online to non-subscribers.
＜文例＞
Heard that you're not feeling well.
Sorry to hear about your sickness/accident.
Sorry you're feeling under the weather.
I am so sorry for what you are having to go through.
You are feeling down and so am I with you not around.
＜文例＞
You are too special to be sick.
The place just isn't the same without you.
I pray all the happiness surrounds you.
Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you during your recovery.
Your health and happiness mean a lot to me.
Hope this happy get-well note adds sunshine to your day and shows you that you're thought of in a special way.
３．アドバイス
療養中のアドバイスを書いても
思いやりが伝わります。
＜文例＞
Snuggle up, get lots of rest, and very soon you'll feel your best.
Take it easy, take it slow, and take it one step at a time.
Here's a wish to say take good care of yourself.
Just hang in there.
Just give things a little time.
４．早く元気になってください
hope, wish, mayなどを使って
「早く元気になって欲しい」という思いを伝えます。
＜文例＞
Get well soon/quickly.
Feel better soon/quickly.
I'm hoping you get well soon.
Hope you are feeling better soon.
Hope you get back real soon.
Hope today finds you feeling much better.
Wishing you speedy recovery.
Wishing that each day brings you strength and a happier, healthier you.
Wishing you everything that helps you feel better each day.
Wishing you a restful today, and better and brighter tomorrows.
Making lots of feel-better wishes for you.
May each new day find you feeling better.
ニュースの英語を解説する" In the News"シリーズ
第7回の本日は"Crumble"です。
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In the news Part.7 － Crumble
In the May 23, 2010 Japan Times, we had the following story:
Will an Android turn out to be king of the ring?
This is actually a reprint of an article from The Times, under the title:
Which smartphone will be the king of the ring?
The Japan Times newspaper editors are making a play on words, using the word “Android” to mean “someone who is part machine and part human”, and connecting it to a boxing match. That is, a boxer that wins a boxing match is the king of the boxing ring. A champion boxer is also called “The King”.
The article itself mentions the rivalry between RIM’s Blackberry and Apple’s iPhone. The main focus of the story is that while the Blackberry has been the dominant brand of personal digital assistant (PDA) and a major brand in the smartphone market, Apple’s iPhone has gained a large portion of the market.
It’s not until the end of the article that the author gets around to mentioning Google’s Android. According to the article, in April, after 1 year on the market, Android phones outsold the iPhone.
In the U.S., when we have just two competing brands, the one that is cheaper, even if it has lower quality, pushes the more expensive brand out of the market. We see this with VHS video tapes beating out Betamax, and Bluray versus HD-DVD. The author of the story is trying to predict whether Blackberry, iPhone or Android will cause the other companies to go out of business.
Most of this is easy to understand. It’s the last paragraph that needs explanation. “Many industry experts expect that in five years’ time Android will be the world’s dominant mobile platform, just as Google dominates internet search. Perhaps, finally, someone has found the perfect recipe to make BlackBerry and Apple crumble.”
“Crumble” has two meanings. First is “to collapse, to fall apart”. The second is “a dessert made using fruit, butter, flour and sugar”. The writer is trying to make a joke, saying that Android has the right approach (recipe) to defeat both the Blackberry product and the Apple company. Since there are many different recipes for making the crumble dessert, there is no one perfect recipe, which is why the author uses the wording “finally, someone has found the perfect recipe (for making) crumble”.
However, because Google is unlikely to win the smartphone competition, the author’s joke fails to be funny.
As you read the English newspapers this week, try to find other examples of wordplay in the articles.
Women in the Workplace Series – “(Gender-Specific) Language”
In the modern workplace, it is not a surprise to have significant numbers of males and females working together. In fact, according to the New York Times, in the United States, this year women outnumbered men in the workforce for the first time.* In Western companies in particular, women are as comfortable working within positions of power as they are in supporting positions – however, that is not to say that they do not face difficulties or discrimination. One type of discrimination is verbally-based, in that sometimes women are spoken to in such a way that is sexist and/or sexual in nature (à la sexual harassment).
In the United States, in order to avoid the ever-present threat of lawsuits, there is an effort made by many companies to be as p.c. (“politically correct”) as possible when dealing with either gender in the workplace. Many terms that people use in order to be p.c. are gender-neutral, meaning they do not refer to either gender in particular. Some examples are below:
Instead of “policeman” we can say “police officer”
Instead of “chairman” we can say “chairperson”
Instead of “businessman” we can say “businessperson”
Instead of “salesman” we can say “salesperson”
Instead of “housewife” we can say “homemaker”
As you can see, in many cases we substitute the word “man” with the word “person”. Some examples in which we avoid the mention of gender altogether are if we simply refer to a person, male or female, as a “nurse” or “actor” or “singer” instead of “male nurse” or “actress” or “songstress”. A doctor is a doctor, period – and what that means is that it doesn’t matter what the gender is, only the position!
Words like “secretary” or “assistant” or “receptionist” are commonly used to describe positions that are so commonly held by women that they are considered by some to be feminine by association. But similar to the word “nurse,” there can be male secretaries, just as there are male nurses.
Another way to avoid gender-specific language is to use passive form when speaking.
For example: “He will do the upgrade by the deadline” [gender specific]
“The upgrade will be done by the deadline” [passive]
Also, indefinite pronouns can be used, in that instead of using “his” or “her” or other forms of gender-specific pronouns, we can use words like “somebody’s” or “someone”, etc.
For example: “An employee who has done his best” [gender specific]
“Someone who has done their best” [indefinite pronoun]
Something else that is very common is the use of the phrase “his or her”. This is commonly used in lieu (“instead of”) simply using the word “him”.
For example: “If anyone has any suggestions for the new advertisement, his input would be greatly appreciated.” [gender specific]
“If anyone has any suggestions for the new advertisement, his or her input would be greatly appreciated.” [using his or her]
The use of “girl” (女の子) to refer to Western women in the workplace would likely result in a serious complaint or even a lawsuit. DO NOT DO THIS under any circumstances! To be clear, I will give you some examples:
“Get the girl to send this fax.”
“Get the ○○ (secretary' name) to send this fax.”
“The girls in our office are very efficient.”
“The staff in our office are very efficient.”
This all can seem very complicated, but if someone wishes to show the utmost (“highest”) respect for a person in a business situation, these practices should at least be considered. Perhaps no one makes sure to follow each rule, but the basic ones which are more commonly used (such as gender-neutral terms) would be very useful. There are many people, male and female, who do not have a concern for this kind of issue, but as we say in English, “It is better to be safe than (to be) sorry!” This means that it is best to take care with the language we use than to risk offense!
Extra notes:
Sometimes things can differ given the context or situation. I am from the South, and in the South it is not unusual for a person to call someone “baby” or “honey” or “sweetheart” even if they are not a friend or family member. So, sometimes a male may call a female these words (or vice versa) and the other person will not be offended. But it depends on the situation and the people involved. As it is true with many things, it is not always WHAT you say but HOW you say it! If you are not sure, don’t say it! Again: It is better to be safe than sorry!
Use of ma’am and sir: In the United States, this is more common for Southerners than for Northerners, and we use these words as a sign of respect for elders or those above us in the workplace (i.e. our bosses). It can create a good impression if you are to use “ma’am” with females and “sir” with males.
ニュースの英語を解説する" In the News"シリーズ
第6回の本日は"Capping"です。
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In the news Part.6– Capping
In the May 23, 2010 Japan Times, we had the following headline:
Gold falls, capping top weekly drop in 5 mths
On May 8, the MSNBC website used the following headline:
Icy crystals foil attempt to cap oil leak
First, “mths” is just an abbreviation for “months”,
A cap is a kind of hat that we can wear on top of our heads. One of the more common kinds of caps is the baseball cap.
When we use the word “cap” symbolically, it is usually with the meaning of “something that is on top of something else”. We can see this use in the MSNBC online article above. (To) “cap oil leak” means “to block the oil leak to make it stop”. In other words, “capping the oil leak” is the same as “plugging the oil leak”, or “stopping the oil leak” with some kind of machine.
The first headline, “Gold falls, capping top weekly drop in 5 mths” is a little more difficult to explain, because the Daily Yomiuri is using “cap” in a reversed sense of “putting something under something else”. That is, the price of gold has been going down for the last week, creating the biggest decrease in gold price for the last 5 months. However, the gold price is starting to increase again, indicating that the fall in prices has stopped for the time being.
Normally, if we want to describe a decline that has stopped, we use “bottomed out”. Bottom out means “to reach the lowest point before increasing again”. So, it would have been more understandable to write the headline as “Gold falls, bottoming out biggest weekly drop in 5 mths”.
Why would the Daily Yomiuri use cap top to mean bottom out? If we just look at the price of gold, it is going down before starting to go back up, so bottom out would be correct. On the other hand, if we subtract the current price of gold from the highest price that we saw recently, then we get a graph of “loss of profit from gold” relative to the highest price. This graph will look like it’s going up before starting to return to 0. In this case, the loss of gold price is being capped (reaching a peak then going back down), but only because we turned the graph upside down.
As you read the English newspapers this week, try to find other examples of stop, cap and bottom out.
※Unfortunately, this story is original to the Daily Yomiuri press, and they chose to print it only in the paper version of their newspaper. It is not available online to non-subscribers.
＜文例＞
Working with you was a pleasure.
I want you to know how deeply you've touched my working life.
Thank you! I've learned a lot from you.
Thank you for being the special person you are.
You've been great.
You've made a great impact on our team. Thank you.
２．同僚が去っていくことに対する感想
「寂しいです」という気持ちを示します。
＜文例＞
It won't be the same without you.
Things won't be the same without you.
Now that you're leaving, thing won't be the same again.
You'll be missed.
I'm going to miss you.
I sure am going to miss you around here.
You'll always be remembered in a very special way.
３．祈りの言葉
Wish や May を使って
「～しますように」と退職後の幸せを祈りましょう。
＜文例＞
Good luck!
Good luck and happiness always.
All the best for your new venture!
I wish you the very best in all that you do!
Wish you all the best in whatever you do.
Wish you a world of happy new beginnings.
Wish you achieve whatever you have set out to do.
I want you to know how I wish for you all that your heart desires.
I will always be wishing the best for you.
Here's wishing that happiness, success and good luck be with you... always.
As you leave to take a new road, here's wishing you opportunities and success.
May all your dreams come true.
May good luck follow you wherever you go.
May success follow you wherever you go.
May happiness and good fortune be yours in life's continuing journey.
May you taste success and nothing else.
４．さようなら
シンプルですが「さようなら」の一言も大事です。
＜文例＞
Good-bye!
Just to say "good-bye."
Good-bye and good luck!
Some things are better left unsaid... "Good-bye" is one of them.
It's not easy saying good-bye to you.
Good-bye and hugs as you go on your way.
Many, if not all, workplaces come with a dress code, which is a set of rules regarding the clothing which is deemed (decided) to be acceptable or not acceptable for the workplace. A dress code is put in place to maintain appropriateness and professionalism in a working environment. However, depending on the workplace and/or the management within a company or business, dress codes may be stricter or more lax. One observation that foreigners make of Japanese is the fact that most businessmen and businesswomen can be seen wearing black suits. Also, it is somewhat rare to see someone wearing a grey or a tan suit or brightly colored shoes. It brings to mind the uniformity, not only of businesspersons in Japan but in businesses in general. There is an “order” to things that must be maintained in order to avoid distractions in the workplace, thus dress codes are created and enforced.
However, there have repeatedly been allegations of sexual discrimination in regards to requirements of dress, in that many companies/businesses have separate dress codes specific to each gender (gender-specific dress code). Many people feel that dress codes should be universal (i.e. applying to both genders equally), and that creating separate ones for males and females is unfair. When one takes into consideration the changing styles and trends in fashion nowadays, sometimes acceptable styles of clothing can overlap between genders, meaning that what may have once only been suitable for females is now acceptable fashion for males. One big dress code issue in the United States is earrings: in many businesses, women are allowed to wear them but men or not; in some cases, men may be allowed to wear one earring but not two. Another issue is hair: for example, men may be allowed to sport (wear) a very short hairstyle or a shaved head, but some companies may not prefer, or in fact allow, women to have the same types of hairstyles. Another issue is some companies’ requirement to wear a tie; this requirement can be directed to men but can exclude women. Some men who do not enjoy wearing a tie could feel that this is unfair discrimination, in that women are not required to wear a tie as well.
Another issue in regards to “dress” in the workplace is connected to dress codes but not as directly. Rather, it is about behavior in the workplace in regards to dress—in particular, female dress. The “dress” referred to here is not dress as in an article of clothing, but rather a person’s whole appearance. Female dress is a very important consideration for women in the workplace; this is important because often people form opinions of others based on how they are dressed. This is an unfair thing to do, for as one saying in English goes “the clothes don’t make the person”. However, judgment based on appearance is part of the reason why there are dress codes in companies/businesses. It goes without saying that if a woman is dressed in a sexy way, there are many people who will make assumptions about her (i.e. form opinions). Growing up in Louisiana and attending high school, there was a rather strict dress code, I believe, in part, to restrict sexuality to some degree. However, there were ways in which people were able to find a way around it in order to express themselves.
Dealing with someone in violation of the dress code can be a difficult situation at times, in particular if you are not a superior to the person in violation. Also, it can be difficult if you are both at the same level professionally. Also, another issue is appropriateness, both in terms of an employee’s dress and in terms of a person’s reaction to it. If there is a woman who is dressed nicely, or if there is a woman who is dressed sexily, a person’s response is important and can determine future interaction. In order to avoid offense or a lawsuit, one must be careful with their comments. Two situations that can be examined here is how to compliment someone based on their dress and how to tell someone they are in violation of the dress code/dressed inappropriately.
Example One: Complimenting Someone’s Appearance
Melanie comes to work wearing a new suit. She also has a nice hairstyle and is wearing makeup. Edward, a colleague, approaches her and offers a compliment.
[Bad Example]
Melanie : Good morning, Edward. How are you?
Edward : Good morning. I’m fine, thanks. How are you?
Melanie : I’m good.
Edward : Wow, what a difference a day makes. You look way better today than Tuesday. You look really hot (i.e. You look sexy)! That suit really flatters your figure.
*Why is it bad?
Do not compliment or comment someone on their body shape. You should not be insulting in comparing them to someone else or to their previous appearance.
[Good Example]
Melanie : Good morning, Edward. How are you?
Edward : Good morning. I’m fine, thanks. How are you?
Melanie : I’m good.
Edward : You look very nice today! Is that a new suit?
Melanie : [smiles] Yes, it is. Thank you.
*Why is it good?
Giving someone a compliment is fine if it is done in a kind way. Edward acknowledged Melanie’s appearance and new suit in a general way.
Example Two: Commenting on Someone Dressed Inappropriately
Bella comes to work wearing a very short skirt. Taylor Black, her colleague, comes up to her to comment.
[Bad Example]
Bella : Good Morning, Taylor.
Taylor : Hey, Bella. Are you going out to party later? That outfit isn’t exactly safe for work.
Bella : …
* “Safe for work” is an expression that refers to things that are appropriate for the workplace.
[Good Example]
Bella : Good Morning, Taylor.
Taylor : Good morning, Bella. Could I talk to you for a moment?
Bella: Sure.
[Taylor takes Bella aside to talk about her dress.] Taylor: I am not sure if you are aware of this, but there is a requirement within our dress code that no mini-skirts are allowed. Were you aware of this?
Bella: No, I wasn’t. I’m sorry.
Taylor: That’s fine, but please be careful in the future.
* Why is it good?
Taking someone aside to chastise them is much better than to verbally confront them in front of others. Also, using phrases such as “Did you know that?” or “Are you aware?” at the beginning of the conversation softens the blow (makes it easier for the person to take).
Please make sure to be delicate (i.e. careful) in chastisement of someone about their dress, as they may feel embarrassed for being singled out because of it. If one is tactful in giving feedback about a situation it can result in much smoother interactions in the future!
ニュースの英語を解説する" In the News"シリーズ
第5回の本日は"As … will tell you"です。
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In the news Part.5 – As … will tell you
In the May 23, 2010 Japan Times, we had the following story:
The villagers of Middle England in a pitch battle with Gypsy Fixer
The story describes a conflict between British natives living in the countryside and Romany Gypsies that are settling on public lands. The Romany are nomadic travelers that don’t have a fixed country to call their own, and are regarded with distrust by the natives of the countries they travel through.
In an attempt to describe the British natives as conservative villagers living in conservative countryside towns, the author writes, “As the plinth on the village green will tell you, this rural spot… (is the) geographical center of the country”.
A “plinth” is a carved stone table that was used to hold a big stone pillar. Plinths were used in England and parts of Europe to mark places that people thought had special meanings or magical properties. Many of these plinths are over 1000 years old, indicating that the people living near them have a lot of old traditions that they follow.
The key sentence fragment here is “as the (subject) will tell you…” Another way to word this is “by looking at (subject) you can see that…”, or “if you look at (subject) you will realize that…” This is a “colorful” way of using a landmark or other symbol to help make a point to the reader.
Examples of this fragment are:
“When you exit the train at Hikari, one look will tell you that you’re not in Tokyo anymore” (that is, Hikari doesn’t have as many people as Tokyo, so the lobby of the train station in Hikari will be smaller, have fewer stores and be less crowded).
“As the research will tell you, changing your eating habits will prolong your life” (that is, I want to tell you to eat healthier food, and I want you to read the research papers yourself to understand why having a healthier diet will be good for you).
“As anyone that has eaten limburger cheese can tell you, tasty food doesn’t always have to smell good” (that is, people that like limburger cheese will ignore the bad smell in order to enjoy the nice flavor of the cheese. This sentence is a variation on “you can’t judge a book by its cover”.)
As you read the English newspapers this week, try to find other examples of these sentence fragments in the articles.
※Unfortunately, this story is original to the Daily Yomiuri press, and they chose to print it only in the paper version of their newspaper. It is not available online to non-subscribers.
Women in the Workplace Series – “Having a Female Boss”
First of all, I would like to start off by saying that it is okay if a person may feel strange about having a female boss. For some people, it is not something they are used to, so at first they may not know how to think or feel about the situation. Regardless of whether or not you are a male or female employee, you may have mixed feelings about the prospect of having a female boss. Even so, it is good to take your boss’ feelings into consideration. On her part, she may also have mixed feelings about being in her position. Sometimes, depending on the company or the employees or the culture she is in, it is not easy being a female boss. To start with, everyday there are many people who promoted undeservingly, regardless of their gender. However, it can sometimes be frustrating for females who are legitimately promoted to face criticism of their placement in their position. They can face comments which range from accusations that they have been placed there based on their physical “merits” to comments that accuse them of incompetence or not being “ready” to lead.
Also, there are stereotypes both in Asia and the West about female bosses: female bosses are tough-as-nails, masculine types who are bitter and/or overly-strict to their employees. I recently re-viewed the originalマクロス series and watched the マクロス film 愛・おぼえていますか。 I thought that it was strange that I had not noticed this stereotype inマクロス before. Misa Hayase, bridge officer of theマクロス, is often viewed unfavorably by male characters such as Hikaru Ichijyo and Roy Focker due to her behavior as a strong female. They make comments stating how they will not/do not want to follow the orders of a woman, or they question why she can’t “just act like a woman”. At other times she is mocked for her behavior, which is perceived as not being womanly enough. Granted, this is an older series, but I thought that it was one that was more well-known and could illustrate my point. Another series I could think of is a British police drama series which I enjoy very much called “Prime Suspect”, starring Helen Mirren. In this series, the main character is a DCI, or Detective Chief Inspector, who faces heavy resistance to her leadership due to her gender. She is a tough-as-nails type who fits the stereotype of a female boss.
This stereotype is often very far from the reality of female bosses; yet, in order to lead and receive respect from employees, sometimes there is a struggle for women bosses to reconcile their femininity and the power needed to command respect from those who may not want to give it. Sometimes, given these pressures, women have to push themselves twice as hard as their male counterparts because any mistakes they make can be more readily criticized and attributed to the fact that they are “just a woman”.
In the West, in the United States in particular, there is an image of women being powerful and able to achieve equality in the workplace, more so than in Japan. Despite this, there still exists what we refer to as “the glass ceiling”, which can apply to women or minorities and refers to the fact that there is an upward limit to their professional advancement that is not openly acknowledged. This situation is universal and not strictly limited to a single society. Nevertheless there are countless women who have made professional advancement with little to no impediments. In such workplaces which function on a meritocracy, advancement solely based on achievement and ability, both women and men are able to ascend equally.
Some people who are unaccustomed to having a female boss may have trouble knowing how to speak to her. Gender issues can introduce a level of tension to verbal exchanges and so it is important to be careful about the manner in which a female boss is spoken to. To start with, it should not be “a big deal” if a person’s boss is female. Focus on the simple fact that your boss is a person in a position of authority. Sometimes it is important to think about the person’s gender, but only in cases which you want to be sure not to give offense based on a person’s gender.
Otherwise, please take care to respect a female boss with equal measure which you would a male boss. There is no language in particular which you need to use, aside from the word “Ma’am” instead of “Sir” when speaking with her, if you are speaking with a Westerner and/or speaking in English. Also, if the person is married, when using their name, you should use the word “Mrs.” (pronounced “missus”) or use “Miss” if the person is not married (Ex. Mrs. Smith, Miss Smith). And most importantly, show respect! If a woman is your boss then she is your boss for a reason, meaning that she has earned her position.
