Mastering The Art Of Indirect and Non-Verbal Communication

By KC king

The conventional wisdom on Japan says that, here, indirect expression is usually the preferred form of expression. Mostly, this has been said by Westerners; the Japanese themselves have been rather tight-lipped and vague on the matter. However, unnecessary though it may be, indirect and non-verbal communication is practiced by Japanese people in their dealings with Westerners. As a foreigner, you may want to prepare yourself in advance. By simply familiarizing yourself with some of the cultural points discussed below, you’ll be not communicating your ideas in no time at all.

Expressing ‘No’

The most important thing to remember is that ‘no’ is rarely expressed as ‘no’. Rather, the Japanese person may use phrases such as:

Kangaete mimasu. I’ll pretend to think about it.

Zensho shimasu. I’ll pretend to see what I can do about it.

Hai. I understand (that your idea is stupid).

Wakarimashita, ga… I understood what you said, but… (man, was it a load of rubbish) [Incomprehensible gibberish.] You can’t understand this, so it doesn’t really matter what I say.

Baka! To hell with this indirect expression crap!

* Be especially careful if the Japanese speaker says ‘Yes’ or ‘Hai’. This often indicates only that the person has understood what you have said, or that the person has not understood what you have said. It does not imply agreement except in instances when it does, and no further indication will be given to let you know which is the case.

A Few Situations

Jim is a 30-year-old American working for a Japanese trading company in Ginza. One day, his boss tells him that the new color copier is not working out as well as everyone had expected. What does his boss mean by this?

Answer: Jim’s request for vacation time during the busy holiday season has been turned down. Also, he is fired.

Norm and Setsuko have been dating for ten months. One night, over dinner, Setsuko tells Norm that she forgot to return the videos that they had rented a week before. What is she really saying?

Answer: Setsuko is indicating that she is three months pregnant.

Rebecca asks the sales clerk at the department store if a larger size of a particular dress is available. The clerk tells her that she isn’t sure, but she will check in the back. What does the clerk mean to say?

Answer: The clerk is not a clerk at all. Rebecca had mistaken another customer for an employee of the department store.

Jennifer an English teacher, is invited to a small party by some of her students. At the party, she is told that she looks very different in casual clothes. What are the students suggesting?

Answer: The students are on to the fact that Jennifer lied about having a master’s degree when she applied to the English school.

Quincy is looking for a new apartment. He finds an ad for an apartment locating service, and calls for more information. The real estate agent tells him that finding an apartment in his price range will be difficult. What’s the real message?

Answer: The real estate agent is saying that she is pregnant.

Gerry’s coworker mentions that it might rain that evening. What should be inferred from this statement?

Answer: The Bay Stars defeated the Carp.

Mr. Kawasaki, the president of Okanenai Company, announces at the monthly meeting that sales have been slower than expected, but the company is still on stable financial ground. What can Victor assume?

Answer: The president of the company is Mr. Kawasaki.

Attending his first karate lesson, Andy is surprised when the instructor asks him to wax a car, paint a fence, paint a house and sand a floor, instead of introducing him to basic maneuvers. Why would the instructor ask him to do this?

Answer: The instructor understands that karate comes from here [the mind] and here [the heart], not here [the hands].

Roy and Judy are American tourists visiting Japan for the first time. After entering one of the small restaurants along the street, some little fellow comes up and begins jabbering away at them. What is the little fellow trying to say?

Answer: Who the hell knows? This never would have happened if they had gone to Hawaii, like Roy suggested, where at least people can talk English, for Christ’s sake.

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