Does Hideki speak any English

The LPGA suspended players for Pete's sake.

Wrong! The LPGA did no such thing. What you are referring to is a mere proposal from 2009. It was never implemented and the woman who proposed it resigned in shame. (Not merely because of that embarrassment, but due to overall shoddy performance.)

He does but is more comfortable speaking Japanese. My brother is a member at the Golden Bear Club at Keene's Pointe as is Hideki and has spoken to him and his coach on the range. My brother speaks Japanese so he has used both in conversation.

Someone would have to bring in some stupid ridiculous political slur, calling me a xenophobic, on the WRX page. All because I think a guy should speak some English. What the hell is wrong here.

Out of curiosity, why do you feel he "should speak some English". What's in it for you?

I personally believe it says a lot when people try, but I would also never fault them for making mistakes in syntax or struggling with vocabulary. I understand not wanting to put his proverbial foot in his mouth, given not only his culture but also the ignorance of many American fans.

Someone would have to bring in some stupid ridiculous political slur, calling me a xenophobic, on the WRX page. All because I think a guy should speak some English. What the hell is wrong here.

 

Out of curiosity, why do you feel he "should speak some English". What's in it for you?

More to the point, what's in it for Matsuyama?

The funniest interview was at the end of last year with Peter Kostis. Kostis asked Matsuyama a question and Matsuyama answered in Japanese. As his translator started to talk, Kostis, asked his next question.

 

Kostis asked question after question in English, Matsuyama answered question after question in Japanese and his translator just smiled.

 

Japan has the second lowest English literacy rate in the world because it simply isn't studied seriously in school. The problem is two fold:

 

1. Idioms are too hard to understand and almost 40% of English are idioms. Here's an example:

 

Announcer: Well, Hideki, you really pulled a rabbit out of your hat on 15.

 

Hideki: Uh... a rabbit ???

 

Announcer: You kind of threw up all over yourself on that one hole.

 

Hideki: Uh.. ????

 

Announcer: You must be on cloud nine after the last 6 tournaments

 

Hideki: Cloud nine ??? (thinking to himself, "hmm... spider is kumo and cloud is kumo in Japanese, so maybe he means spider instead of cloud??") Uhhh... sorry...

 

Announcer: Anyway, you really knocked it out of the park today!

 

Hideki: Huh???

 

2. Western people will be merciless in mocking him if he makes a mistake and he doesn't want to be an embarrassment to all of the people in Japan who surrport and follow him on tour.

This post cracks me up for some reason. Uh a rabbit? Haha

Took me 5 years to learn colloquial Spanish, and I still would have struggled in a press conference. Luckily most Latinos simply laugh with you, not at you.

Amazes me everytime the international players speak in Engish. So many of them are incredibly fluent. Hideki will get there.

Too funny when guys crucify a player and aren't ready for the backlash. It's okay to speak a different language than English.

I did notice that JT spoke to he and his caddie in English when they left the 18th green. Something like, "see you tomorrow."

He's had plenty of time. It's ridiculous. They've been saying this for 3 years.

This is just the sort of statement by Americans that earns them love and respect worldwide.........

The funniest interview was at the end of last year with Peter Kostis. Kostis asked Matsuyama a question and Matsuyama answered in Japanese. As his translator started to talk, Kostis, asked his next question.

 

Kostis asked question after question in English, Matsuyama answered question after question in Japanese and his translator just smiled.

 

Japan has the second lowest English literacy rate in the world because it simply isn't studied seriously in school. The problem is two fold:

 

1. Idioms are too hard to understand and almost 40% of English are idioms. Here's an example:

 

Announcer: Well, Hideki, you really pulled a rabbit out of your hat on 15.

 

Hideki: Uh... a rabbit ???

 

Announcer: You kind of threw up all over yourself on that one hole.

 

Hideki: Uh.. ????

 

Announcer: You must be on cloud nine after the last 6 tournaments

 

Hideki: Cloud nine ??? (thinking to himself, "hmm... spider is kumo and cloud is kumo in Japanese, so maybe he means spider instead of cloud??") Uhhh... sorry...

 

Announcer: Anyway, you really knocked it out of the park today!

 

Hideki: Huh???

 

2. Western people will be merciless in mocking him if he makes a mistake and he doesn't want to be an embarrassment to all of the people in Japan who surrport and follow him on tour.

 

This post cracks me up for some reason. Uh a rabbit? Haha

Announcer: you really tattooed that drive on 18.

Hideki: no!!!! That would make me classless

As a Canadian, I'm still learning to speak American. Could be years before I'm ready to speak publicly down there.

 

Its a prō-sess ; )

 

Alex just throw in "bro" and "like" everything third word and never end a sentence in "eh". You'll be fine.

I'm worried I'll get nervous, and instead of saying bro, will say "BROTHERRRRRR" like Hulk Hogan. It's too much pressure.

I understand why he wouldn't want to speak English on camera if he isn't perfectly comfortable. Guys might want him to but many of those same guys will criticize him if he says something that comes off the wrong way. Our media is just brutal when it comes to "instant analysis" about absolutely everything. The "hot take" aspect of our sports culture is absolutely horrible to the point of existing seemingly outside of reality

I speak 2 languages very very well, english and french. I am english and have spoken english my whole life at home. I also went to school in french for several years, and am married to a french canadian. I understand french just as well as english when it comes to listening.

Even despite this, and remember i've been around french my WHOLE life, i have a hard time making jokes in french to my wife's family, i have to think a few seconds longer before making comments that go beyond generic stuff or pause during the sentence. The "slang" aspect is very difficult unless it's your native language. My french is choppy and obviously a second language and i've been speaking it off and on for years.

If i played hockey for the Montreal Canadians, i'd be hesitant to do interviews in french just for fear of trying to be funny and saying something dumb. And i'm probably waaaaayyyy better in french than Hideki is in English

I understand why he wouldn't want to speak English on camera if he isn't perfectly comfortable. Guys might want him to but many of those same guys will criticize him if he says something that comes off the wrong way. Our media is just brutal when it comes to "instant analysis" about absolutely everything. The "hot take" aspect of our sports culture is absolutely horrible to the point of existing seemingly outside of reality

 

I speak 2 languages very very well, english and french. I am english and have spoken english my whole life at home. I also went to school in french for several years, and am married to a french canadian. I understand french just as well as english when it comes to listening.

 

Even despite this, and remember i've been around french my WHOLE life, i have a hard time making jokes in french to my wife's family, i have to think a few seconds longer before making comments that go beyond generic stuff or pause during the sentence. The "slang" aspect is very difficult unless it's your native language. My french is choppy and obviously a second language and i've been speaking it off and on for years.

 

If i played hockey for the Montreal Canadians, i'd be hesitant to do interviews in french just for fear of trying to be funny and saying something dumb. And i'm probably waaaaayyyy better in french than Hideki is in English

This reminds me of the (I think) Japanese baseball player who told reporters after the game that he didn't play well because he had diarrhea. He had no idea why they thought it was funny.

Someone would have to bring in some stupid ridiculous political slur, calling me a xenophobic, on the WRX page. All because I think a guy should speak some English. What the hell is wrong here.

 

Out of curiosity, why do you feel he "should speak some English". What's in it for you?

 

More to the point, what's in it for Matsuyama?

I guess it could make him more marketable in the US, so that would be in it for him. Though i'm sure he already makes quite a nice living.

It's a double edged sword. He could also say something that might come off as cocky or even offensive if it comes out wrong, which would hurt his marketability.

He might also just be a self conscious dude who is scared of speaking a language he isn't fully comfortable with in front of millions of people

I understand why he wouldn't want to speak English on camera if he isn't perfectly comfortable. Guys might want him to but many of those same guys will criticize him if he says something that comes off the wrong way. Our media is just brutal when it comes to "instant analysis" about absolutely everything. The "hot take" aspect of our sports culture is absolutely horrible to the point of existing seemingly outside of reality

 

I speak 2 languages very very well, english and french. I am english and have spoken english my whole life at home. I also went to school in french for several years, and am married to a french canadian. I understand french just as well as english when it comes to listening.

 

Even despite this, and remember i've been around french my WHOLE life, i have a hard time making jokes in french to my wife's family, i have to think a few seconds longer before making comments that go beyond generic stuff or pause during the sentence. The "slang" aspect is very difficult unless it's your native language. My french is choppy and obviously a second language and i've been speaking it off and on for years.

 

If i played hockey for the Montreal Canadians, i'd be hesitant to do interviews in french just for fear of trying to be funny and saying something dumb. And i'm probably waaaaayyyy better in french than Hideki is in English

Yes, the French get that amused look in their eyes when others make attempts to speak the language.

Although, I have heard that there is no more satisfactory language to "curse" someone out in than French.

Perfect english actually, he's just been playing games this whole time

No need for this topic to continue any further.

/thread