Q-Eng

>This is a true story of a professor at my university. It’s an old story.



This is a true story about a professor





>An professor from europe was an authority in his field.



The professor, who was from Europe, was an authority in his field.





>He had also studied as a professor at a famous university in America before.



He had studied as a professor or he had taught as a professor?



>It had passed only a short time after he came to Japan.

This happened only a short time after he came to Japan.



>He had learned Japanese, but was not a good speaker in Japanese yet.

Your sentence is fine as written, but I think it sounds better to put "not" and "yet" together:



He had learned Japanese, but was not yet a good speaker of the language.

("of the language" to avoid using "Japanese" again so soon).



> and learned to pronounce the word again and again.

so he practiced pronouncing the words over and over again.



>“Um, perfect. I correctly memorize it!”

"Um, perfect. I've correctly memorized it!"





>Then he went out for shopping the thing to an department store.

Then he went out to buy the item at a department store.



>Getting to the department of the things he wanted, he said the word he >had memorized perfectly to the young sales woman there.

When he arrived at the correct department, he said the word he had memorized perfectly to the young sales woman there.





>She looked very confused with a red face as a beat.

with a face as red as a beet.



>He was sure that his pronunciation must had had something strange, >and said the word again more clearly and more loudly to her.

He was sure there must have been something strange about his pronunciation, so he said the word again more clearly and more loudly to her.



>S.w. ”......I’m sorry, Sir. Would you stay here and give me some time?”

Or: Would you wait here just a moment?



>The young sales woman went to an elder sales woman, her boss, and they came back >soon together.

The young saleswoman went to get an elder saleswoman, her boss, and they soon came back together.



>He thought the elder sales woman could understand him, so he said it again.

could >>> would



>Then the elder sales woman politely bowed him without being upset and being surprised, >and replied to him in a calm voice, “I’m quite sorry, Sir, but I don’t have what you want.”



politely bowed to him without being upset or surprised



>The professor was dumbfounded at watching at the pronunciation of the word.

was dumbfounded to see the pronunciation





>Therefore he couldn’t buy it.

This sentence is correct and will be understood, but more natural English would be: "Therefore, he had been unable to buy it."





>Any expert was a beginner when he started it.

Every expert is a beginner when he starts out.



>An expert as 100% has been made up of many mistakes as 99% and >some correct answers as 1%.

Hmm. I'm not sure I understand exactly what you want to say, even reading the Japanese. Are you talking about how experts begin in their learning? I read it as something like:

Even experts can be formed from a starting ratio of 1% right to 99% wrong.



>Don’t afraid of making many mistakes!

>And then you’ll be a professor as an authority in your field some day?



Don't be afraid of making mistakes, and maybe someday you'll be an authority in your field as well!



Well done! Many of your sentences were perfect! I corrected for style as well as grammar.



Your professor sounds like a wonderful person.

はじめまして。

面白いですね。　私もときどき日本語の言い間違いをして恥をかいた、という外国人の話を聞きます。　ある外国人女性、旅館で布団の用意をしてもらいたくて「おとこをください」。もちろんこれは「お床」なんですが。　

私のメルトモだったアメリカ人は「あなたは、息子さんを産んだ後、また刑務所に戻りましたか」と書いてきて私をびっくりさせました。彼は「事務所」つまりまた会社に戻ったか、と聞きたかったということが、後でわかりました。　

それからおすし屋さんのカウンターで大声で「まぐろはありません！（きっぱり）」と言っておすし屋さんや他のお客さんを驚かせてしまったイギリス人。最後に「か」をつけるのを忘れてしまったんですね。（「まぐろはありませんか」）

「あなたはきらいです」とパーティーで女性に言いまくってすっかり嫌われてしまったインド人。

（「あなたはきれいです」と言いたかった。）

そういう私も英語では赤っ恥だらけの人生です。　なるべく英語はしゃべりたくない、書きたくない、ひっそり自己満足だけで勉強していたい。

仕事で英語を話さなければならないときは、日本語を話すときとうってかわって、ささやくような声になってしまう私です。生徒には"Don't be afraid of making mistakes" と言っておきながら。笑　

Hmm, I should remember this story! I always worry too much about making mistakes with my Japanese... Great story!

>I want to imitate the sentence “Genius is one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration.
>I want to say “To be an expert we make many mistakes”.

Someone I knew a long time ago once said to me, "The road to success is paved with failure." （成功の道は失敗で作りました。） It may be a famous saying, but I'm not sure who said it originally. ^^

anyaさん

Thank you very much for your many pieces of advice! I imagine it took you to correct my poor English.

１．日本語でもよく解らなかった部分を書き換えました。
　　I changed the sentences that confused you (and me).

>An expert as 100% has been made up of many mistakes as 99% and >some correct answers as 1%.
Hmm. I’m not sure I understand exactly what you want to say, even reading the Japanese. Are you talking about how experts begin in their learning? I read it as something like:
Even experts can be formed from a starting ratio of 1% right to 99% wrong.
↓
エジソンは天才は99％の努力からつくられると言った。
そう、達人も99％の努力からつくられる。
たくさんの間違いがたくさんの正解を連れてくるのだ。
Thomas Edison said, “Genius is 99% perspiration.”
Yes, I agree with him, an expert is 99% perspiration.
Making many mistakes gives getting correct answers.
　　
”get"の代わりに　”carry" "lead"　を考えたのですが。何か良い言葉はありますか？

どうでしょうか？お手数ですがもう一度添削をお願いします。

2. How do you think about my title in English?
「一字違いが命取り」　 "Only a small mistake makes a big difference."
Is it ok, or strange?

3．
＞The young saleswoman went to get an elder saleswoman, her boss, and they soon came back together.
　
”Get"! I didn't think it. Um, you added only one word, and the meaning of my sentence became clearly. Certainly only a one letter change makes a big change.

4.
>>Therefore he couldn’t buy it.
>This sentence is correct and will be understood, but more natural English would be: “Therefore, he had been unable to buy it.”

Do you use "have been able to " more frequently than "could" in everyday expressions? Is "could" a little rigid?

5.
>Well done! Many of your sentences were perfect! I corrected for style as well as grammar.

I really thank you!　Please don't hesitate and correct my journals! Many your advices have put my fear in writing English away. Of course I have made many mistakes like my professor, but writing English becomes easier and happier.

>エジソンは天才は99％の努力からつくられると言った。
そう、達人も99％の努力からつくられる。
たくさんの間違いがたくさんの正解を連れてくるのだ。
Thomas Edison said, “Genius is 99% perspiration.”
Yes, I agree with him, an expert is 99% perspiration.
Making many mistakes gives getting correct answers.
　　
”get”の代わりに　”carry” “lead”　を考えたのですが。何か良い言葉はありますか？

Ah, so stripmahjong had it exactly right. He recognized that you were quoting Edison (and I put a quote from Edison in my profile today, after reading your entry, but... I didn't put 2 and 2 together!).

"getting correct answers" is good. But you mentioned "lead", and that would be a good word instead of "gives" in your sentence. So, "Making many mistakes leads to getting correct answers."

>2. How do you think about my title in English?
「一字違いが命取り」　 “Only a small mistake makes a big difference.”
Is it ok, or strange?

Not strange. I understood it easily and never thought it strange. You could also say, "Small mistakes can make a big difference". Maybe stripmahjong has other suggestions....

>Do you use “have been able to ” more frequently than “could” in everyday expressions? Is “could” a little rigid?

No. This is a matter of past tense and.... I don't know what the proper term is... I'll call it "deep past tense". What you wrote is perfectly fine, acceptable, and clear in meaning. What I wrote is just a bit more polished. It uses one more tense, the past tense referring to a deeper past event.

How to explain...

On Saturday, I went to the store to buy some peanuts, but there were no peanuts in stock, so I couldn't buy any. Then on Sunday, I read in the paper that there was a recall on peanuts because of a problem with Salmonella, so I realized that was the reason why I had been unable to buy them.

In the above, Sunday is in the past, and Saturday is in the deep past.
I'm talking about Sunday (past) and I say that on Sunday I realized why I couldn't buy peanuts on Saturday (deep past), so I am talking about a deep past event (Saturday) from the perspective of a past event (Sunday).

I can just use "couldn't" or "was unable" for both past events.

"I couldn't buy peanuts on Saturday/I was unable to buy peanuts on Saturday."
"I realized on Sunday why I couldn't buy peanuts on Saturday/I realized on Sunday why I was unable to buy peanuts on Saturday." That's absolutely good English and commonly used.

But now... if I just say,

"I realized on Sunday why I couldn't buy peanuts," that may mean I couldn't buy peanuts on Sunday... maybe I'm at the store on Sunday when I realize the reason I can't buy peanuts.

But if I say,
"I realized on Sunday why I had been unable to buy peanuts", in this case it is clear I am referring to a time *before* Sunday, or at least before I realize the reason... an earlier time when I tried to buy peanuts but couldn't. I'm talking about a deeper past event there, and that is clear just from "I had been unable to" without my adding "on Saturday" or some other word pointing to a prior time.

Are you sorry you asked? Honestly, many native speakers would probably want to take me out and shoot me for going into all this, because what you wrote to start with was fine.

hiroisoraさん
はじめまして。
まあ、同じような年齢、同じ関東、同じ30年ぶりの英語。なんという共通点。とても親近感がわいてしまいました。
私もむか～～し、3か月ほどですが、日本語教師養成講座なる物を受けましたが、あまりの面倒くささに挫折いたしました。日本語がこんなに面倒なものだとは知りませんでした。英語より大変ですよね。例外の塊のような気がしました。

しかし、もったいないですね。こんないいネタがたくさん。このまますぐ日記に出来ますね。ぜひ日記にして、読ませて下さい。
楽しみにしています。

anyaさん
1.>stripmahjong

???　ストライプマハジョング？？？　What is it? I can't find it in my dictionary!
strip・・・・裸？　細長い一片？
mahjong・・・マージャン？
裸のマージャン？細長いマージャン？
自分で笑っちゃいます。（未亡人！魔法瓶！）


2.＞This is a matter of past tense and…. I don’t know what the proper term is… I’ll call it “deep past tense”.
　
I've remembered back and understood it!
過去と過去完了の事ですね。
Yes, I studied at school already. Thank you.
Your explanation is very useful for me when I will use English.

3.折角のコメントなのですが、意味がわかりません。
I'm very sorry I can't understand what you say.

>Are you sorry you asked? Honestly, many native speakers would probably want to take me out and shoot me for going into all this, because what you wrote to start with was fine.

あなたが頼んだことを、あなたは謝るの？本当に、たくさんのネイティブスピーカーが私を連れ出してこれ全部を　all this(?) 私に向けてくるの。なぜなら、あなたが最初に書いた事は正しいから。

>Are you sorry you asked? Honestly, many native speakers would probably want to take me out and shoot me for going into all this, because what you wrote to start with was fine.

こんな長々しい説明を読むと頼んだことを後悔しているのでしょう。私が書いた事を読んだら、「もういいのよ！この人を庭に連れて射殺しよう！」と思うネイティブスピーカーが少なくないはずです。　最初からあなたが書いた事は正しいのに論文まで書いて...

1.>stripmahjong

???　ストライプマハジョング？？？　What is it? I can’t find it in my dictionary!
strip・・・・裸？　細長い一片？
mahjong・・・マージャン？
裸のマージャン？細長いマージャン？
自分で笑っちゃいます。（未亡人！魔法瓶！）

こんな言葉を見付けるために特別な辞書が必要なのです。（笑）いえ、これは多分stripmahjongが作り上げた言葉で、裸のマージャンに近いです。strip poker というゲームでは負けるごとに服一着を脱ぐ、ということです。

anyaさん
＞Ah, so stripmahjong had it exactly right. He recognized that you were quoting Edison (and I put a quote from Edison in my profile today, after reading your entry, but… I didn’t put 2 and 2 together!).
　
Ha,ha,ha!
"Stripmahjong!" It's Dave! I see, I see! I laughed at myself!

Thank you for your explanation, and your translation into Japanese.

Hi! Dave!

Thank you for your comment.
Yes, your comment is what I want to say.

And then what's the meaning of "stripmahjong"?

Ha! I didn't understand you didn't know what I meant by "stripmahjong". Yes, Dave! It's his ... "name", so I blame him. :D ("Dave" is also the name of my pet dove. Someone named him "Dave the Dove" at the animal shelter I adopted him from, and I was never able to change the name for some reason. Dave's wife is Sakila.)

Anyaさん

I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I had forgotten his name "stripmahjong", because when I saw his strange user's name(or handle?), my brain stopped to read it, and said, "It's strange. I can't read it, so I do ignore it!". Therefore, I used his another name, and had forgotten his handle.



I will call him "stripmahjong" from now on, because I will call your pet "Dave" with respect, who(which?) had a hard background, reached at your warm home, and leads a happy life with his wife and your family.

>Are you sorry you asked? Honestly, many native speakers would probably want to take me out and shoot me for going into all this, because what you wrote to start with was fine.

I think you're very good at explaining English, actually! I wish I was that good at it... Sometimes I have a lot of trouble explaining English because I never really thought about how it was constructed until I started studying Japanese a few years ago. I think I could learn a lot about English from you, too, haha. XD

>And then what’s the meaning of “stripmahjong”?

anyalettaさんの説明は正しかった。　実は、私は麻雀が大好きです。　インタネットで「strip mahjong」はいつも私の名前です。　「strip mahjong」は・・・んんん・・・日本語で言葉が知りませんが、英語で「inside joke」だということです。　「inside joke」は「友達しか分かれない冗談」のことです。　＾＿＾

anyaletta's explanation was correct. Actually, I love mahjong. On the internet, my name is always "strip mahjong." "Strip mahjong" is...hmm...I don't know how to say it in Japanese, but in English it's called an "inside joke." An "inside joke" is a joke that only your friends can understand. ^_^

>Yes, Dave! It’s his … “name”, so I blame him. :D

それは大丈夫です。　私はプロのいたずら者ですから。　いないときでも、いたずら出来ます！　^_~

That's okay. I'm a professional trouble maker. Even when I'm not here, I can cause trouble! ^_~

>(“Dave” is also the name of my pet dove. Someone named him “Dave the Dove” at the animal shelter I adopted him from, and I was never able to change the name for some reason. Dave’s wife is Sakila.)

I also have a pet bird (a cockatiel). His name is not quite as catchy, though. It's just "Frank," haha.

Oh, earth-riseさん、how kind of you to want to pay such respect to Dave the Dove, who... yes... has had troubled times in his life, but now he is "in pig heaven" as we say (why do we say that Dave?). He is a happy bird, in a happy relationship, and ... he gets to fly around all day and do as he pleases (which mostly involves courting the lovely Sakila), so he really is living the good life.

But I think stripmahjong had the name Dave first, so ... we don't want to usurp it from him.

"Frank" the cockatiel, eh? Sure... I'll see your cockatiel and raise you one Senegal parrot. (Or does that imply I have a cockatiel? I don't. I babysat two of them once though - Zagnut and ... Hermestra I think her name was. That's actually how I warmed my husband up to the idea of getting a parrot.)

>but now he is “in pig heaven” as we say (why do we say that Dave?)

Err...because pigs always like to eat a lot, so when someone is getting a lot of something that they like, they are like a pig in heaven, where it is assumed that pigs would be allowed to eat however much they want? O_o

私でもその文章の意味が分からなくて、日本語で書けません。（笑）

I would write that sentence in Japanese, but even I'm not sure what it meant, haha.

>But I think stripmahjong had the name Dave first, so … we don’t want to usurp it from him.

I don't mind either way. ^_^ 私もデーヴザドーヴを尊敬しますから。

>“Frank” the cockatiel, eh? Sure… I’ll see your cockatiel and raise you one Senegal parrot.

I fold. T_T

stripmahjongさん

Could you explain the followings?
XD
I fold.

You asked Dave to explain "I fold", but it's part of a context I introduced so I feel responsible to explain the context first.

Dave learned I have doves, and said he had a cockatiel. Doves are common, easy birds to handle. A cockatiel is a more intelligent, and a more challenging pet. I pretended we were playing poker, and said

"I’ll see your cockatiel and raise you one Senegal parrot."

(Oops, now I'm in trouble because I don't actually play poker so I'm not sure how to explain this accurately.)

When people bet money in poker, they sometimes say "I'll see you (I'll match the money you've put in) and I'll raise you (and I put in additional money and challenge you to match me, because I have very good cards!).

So, I was trying to make a kind of bird & poker joke. Because a Senegal parrot is a bigger bird and even more challenging than a cockatiel.

Just a moment, please!

I've struggled to understand comments by native speakers!



うーん。あーす、奮闘中！



anyaさんの

＞ I’ll see your cockatiel and raise you one Senegal parrot.

ここも分からない。

　

I've spread my wings by guessing, and have been flying around with my heavy dictionaries! For a wile I will not be able to fold my wings and speak my words. I wonder if the bird, Earth, might really get to two native speakers with Dave the Dove, and fold her wings by them?

StPaul のコメント：
あーす san,



You have several people in your talk.

I have not seen this kind of long conversation here at smart.fm.



Have a nice Sunday.



St. Paul

すみません、あーすさん！

説明してみます。

> XD

これは英語の笑っている顔文字です。　「X」のことは閉じた目で、「D」のことは大きい笑顔です。
This is an English laughing "smiley." "X" is closed eyes and "D" is a big smile.

普通笑顔：
Normal smiles:
:)
=)

とてもうれしい笑顔、笑っている笑顔：
Very happy smiles, laughing smiles:
:D
=D

とても笑っている笑顔：
A "smiley" laughing really hard:
XD

私も「XD」を始めて見た時に、分かりませんでした。（笑）
I also didn't understand what "XD" was the first time I saw it, haha.

＞ I’ll see your cockatiel and raise you one Senegal parrot.
＞ I fold.

うーん・・・　私の日本語ではっきり説明できないかもしれませんけど、してみます！　＾＾；
Hmm... I'm not sure if I can explain this clearly with my Japanese, but I'll try! ^^;

anyalettaさんも上に英語で説明しました。　他の説明し方をしてみます。
anyalettaさん also explained above in English. I'll try explaining in a different way.

>I also have a pet bird (a cockatiel). His name is not quite as catchy, though. It’s just “Frank,” haha.
>“Frank” the cockatiel, eh? Sure… I’ll see your cockatiel and raise you one Senegal parrot.
>I fold. T_T

この会話には、「see」と「raise」と「fold」は普通の意味を使っていません。　この会話はポーカーの会話の真似です。
In this conversation, "see", "raise" and "fold" are not using their normal meanings. This conversation is an imitation of a poker conversation.

ポーカーには、誰か金を賭けます。　他のプレイヤーたちも同じほど（？）金を賭けないといけません。　これは「seeing」だということです。　他のプレイヤーたちはその金を賭けないと負けます。　この「負ける」ことは「folding」といいます。
In poker, someone bets some money. The other players also have to bet the same amount of money. This is called "seeing." If the other players don't bet that money then they will lose. This "losing" is called "folding."

誰かもっと金を賭けたいなら、出来ます。　これは「raising」だということです。
If someone wants to bet more money, they can. This is called "raising."

で、私とanyalettaさんはポーカーをするとそうぞうしてください。　でも、金の代わりに私たちは飼っている鳥で賭けます。　＾＾
So, please imagine that anyalettaさん and I are playing poker. However, instead of money we are using our pet birds to bet with. ^^

>I also have a pet bird (a cockatiel). His name is not quite as catchy, though. It’s just “Frank,” haha.

これは私の初めての賭けです！　フランクザおかめいんこを賭けました！
This is my first bet! I've bet Frank the Cockatiel!

>“Frank” the cockatiel, eh? Sure… I’ll see your cockatiel and raise you one Senegal parrot.

anyalettaさんはデーヴザドーヴで私の賭けを「see」しまして、他の鳥で「raise」します！
anyalettaさん "sees" my bet with Dave the Dove and "raises" it another bird!

>I fold. T_T

私は鳥が一匹しか飼っていません！　残念だけど、anyalettaさんの「raise」を「see」出来ません。　だから「fold」します。
I only have one bird! Unfortunately, I can't "see" anyalettaさん's "raise," so I "folded."

・・・分かりますか？　＾＾；