"necoandjeff" <spam@schrepfer.com> wrote in message
news:wej4d.24257$E85.3663@newssvr29.news.prodigy.com...
> "Musashi" <Miyamoto@Hosokawa.co.jp> wrote in message
> news:7Si4d.2463$Nh1.276@newssvr16.news.prodigy.com...
>
> > > But none of this changes the fact
> > > that it is still far more likely (and thus a safe assumption) that
such
> a
> > > person (whether from Africa, Europe, North America, etc.) will be able
> to
> > > communicate in English as an alternative to Japanese. In other words,
> once
> > > it has been determined that the person cannot speak Japanese, making
the
> > > assumption that they can communicate in English is a safe one.
> >
> > Ah, now that's still an assumption.
> > Japanese people tend to assume that if a gaikokujin does not speak
> Japanese,
> > then
> > that person must speak English.
>
> Right. But my point is that that is a perfectly reasonable assumption to
> make, if for no other reason than that, except in rare circumstances, the
> vast majority of non-Japanese who decide to travel to Japan had better be
> prepared to communicate in either Japanese or in English. Again, this
> doesn't change the fact that plain old good manners requires that you ask
> the person if they speak English before proceeding to speak to them in
> English.
>

Yes you are right. Regardless of where a person is from, if that person does
not speak
to some extent either Japanese or English, then Japan would be a very
difficult country
in which to get around. In fact maybe close to impossibe.

> Note, I am making the assumption here that these imaginary scenarios are
> taking place in Japan. If your point is that Japanese who are in Rome, for
> example, shouldn't make the assumption that the average Italian on the
> street can speak English, I agree with you 100%. They may have no
> alternative other than to seek out someone who can speak English (assuming
> they can't speak Italian themselves) but they should always ask if someone
> speaks English and not simply assume that they do.

No no we are talking about only in Japan.
That's why this is all about 外国人 and 英語。