2005-12-21

Audioblog for 2005-12-21 "Skit"

Listen to my audio recording of the blog entry "Skit" on 2005-12-21.

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Skit 寸劇

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2005-12-20

Audioblog for 2005-12-20 "Liberia"

Listen to my audio recording of the blog entry "Liberia" on 2005-12-20.

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Liberia リベリア

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2005-12-19

Audioblog for 2005-12-19 "Party"

Listen to my audio recording of the blog entry "Party" on 2005-12-19.

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Party パーティー

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2005-12-16

Audioblog for 2005-12-16 "Liberal Arts"

Listen to my audio recording of the blog entry "Liberal Arts" on 2005-12-16.

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Liberal Arts 教養教育

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2005-12-15

Audioblog for 2005-12-15 "Snow"

Listen to my audio recording of the blog entry "Snow" on 2005-12-15.

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Snow 雪

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2005-12-14

Audioblog for 2005-12-14 "Parents"

Listen to my audio recording of the blog entry "Parents" on 2005-12-14.

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Parents 保護者

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2005-12-13

Audioblog for 2005-12-13 "Judaism and a 10 Hour Day"

Listen to my audio recording of the blog entry "Judaism and a 10 Hour Day" on 2005-12-13.

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10 Hour Day 10時間の日

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2005-12-12

Judaism ユダヤ教

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2005-12-09

Audioblog for 2005-12-09 "Smile"

Listen to my audio recording of the blog entry "Smile" on 2005-12-09.

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Smile ニコニコ

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2005-12-08

Audioblog for 2005-12-08 "Violence Against Women"

Listen to my audio recording of the blog entry "Violence Against Women" on 2005-12-08.

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Violence Against Women 女性に対して暴力

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2005-12-07

Audioblog for 2005-12-07 "Trevor III"

Listen to my audio recording of the blog entry "Trevor III" on 2005-12-07.

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Trevor III トレバー三世

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the Trev Report 2005-12-07

Hello and welcome once again to your monthly Trev Report, wherein you will find some facts about the life and times of Trevor Lalish-Menagh. And now, on with the show!

Trev's Lovelife
---------------
Signe is working hard four days a week now at two jobs. She really likes the work, but it is keeping her busy. Every week she has to stay overnight one night in another town, since the commute is over two hours. She seems to really be enjoying it though. We have been busy almost every weekend either going to events or visiting with friends. I think we are going to have a pretty good holiday season here.

Trev's Thanksgiving
-------------------
We have been going to all sorts of get-togethers recently. On the Saturday after Thanksgiving, Signe and I attended a large Thanksgiving feast held in the capital of Shimane, Matsue. There were over two hundred people there, foreigners and Japanese alike. The event was held by Mike and Nina and the proceeds went to buy food and supplies for small minority villages in Vietnam. We watched a video of a group of Shimane JET participants going to Vietnam to help. It made me feel as if I should be doing more in the world, but perhaps one day I will.

Trev's Acting
-------------
Since I am a local TV star with my own monthly English conversation show, I thought I would try out for a part in a film project being done by some of the high school ALTs. The theme is six high school friends in an international school. The goal is to use simple English to show Japanese high school kids what a foreign school is like. I am trying out for the part of a high school student, but I am not really an actor, so I don't think I will get the position. Only time will tell.

Trev's Art Group
----------------
The JET Art Group Shimane, or JAGS, has started to prepare once again for the annual show in June. I will once again assume the role of treasurer for the group as we try to raise enough money to hold the event again this year. I really had a good time last year, especially during the event. I was there to set up and tear down the event at the Shimane Art Museum, and it was a great experience. With any luck this tradition will continue on long after I have left Shimane.

Trev's Friends
--------------
Winter is the season for get-togethers with friends, hanging out under blankets, watching movies, and playing games. Signe and I are both going to be in Japan for the holidays and we are looking forward to hanging out with everybody here this winter season. There are a few parties we are going to for sure, a Hanukkah party, a Christmas party, etc. We haven't decided on what to do for New Years' though. We are thinking about going to Kobe or the sand museum in Nima. It is still up in the air.

Trev's Work
-----------
Work has been busy this month. November is the month for culture festivals and school open houses, so I have been to the open house presentations for both local elementary schools and the junior high school culture festival. I have also been teaching English at the local elementary schools once a month, as well. I love teaching at elementary schools because the kids are very energetic and unafraid of talking with me. My junior high school days are also nice, but they are missing the interaction with the students I get at elementary schools.

Trev's Human Rights
-------------------
Yesterday, like I did last year and the year before, I was transformed into a human rights worker for a day. I drove all around town visiting businesses, schools, and post offices handing out pamphlets about human rights and free apples to people. I do this every year because from December 4th to December 10th is Human Rights Week in Japan. It is a time when schools and businesses take some time out of their week to teach and learn about human rights, like being nice to others and sexual harassment. One thing that is emphasized in Japan about human rights is being respectful of foreigners. Japan is a very homogenous society, and many people, especially in the country, don't ever see foreign people. It is important to educate Japanese to be polite to foreigners. For example, I was handing out pamphlets in town and some people got off a bus and just started taking pictures of me without asking first. I consider that rude, and I think anyone would think the same if a total stranger came up to you and took your picture but said nothing to you. I'm not a monkey! Japanese people tend to not grasp this concept.

Trev's Computers
----------------
Things are going AOK on the computer front. I have a news ticker program on my work computer, so I can see the latest news when I am sitting at my desk. I played the Civilization IV Demo and it was really fun, I might get it one day. I have been in a game playing mood lately. I try to jump on Achaea, which is a MUD or text-based multiplayer role playing game, whenever I can, but I make sure not to commit myself to anything that will take too much time away from real life.

Trev's Studies
--------------
I continue to study for the Foreign Service Written Exam. I am currently reading up on U.S. history, but my essay writing skills are seriously lacking. I recently wrote an article on free speech for the Shimane JET news letter, The Black Taxi, but I think it was sub-par. I really have to practice my writing skills a lot more, but that is only one thing I have to do. There is so much I sometimes feel overwhelmed. I am also working some on my Japanese, learning kanji from flashcards and the such, but it is not taking a front seat these days.

Trev's One-Point Japanese Lesson
--------------------------------
So you want to learn some Japanese? That's great! Let's review how to conjugate verbs.

In polite speech, Japanese verb conjugation is relatively easy. In the polite form all verbs end in -masu (-masu is sometimes pronounced -mas, the last u can fall silent), thus this is sometimes revered to as the -masu form. Let's look at the four tenses using the verb tabe-masu (to eat):

Present positive tense: tabe-masu
Present negative tense: tabe-masen
Past positive tense: tabe-mashita
Past negative tense: tabe-masen deshita

There is no future tense in Japanese, so when talking about future events we use the present form, usually with some indication of time:

konban, ramen o tabe-masu.
I will eat ramen tonight.

Try conjugating these verbs yourself: nomi-masu (to drink), shi-masu (to do), iki-masu (to go), ki-masu (to come), kaeri-masu (to return).

Keep up your studies! Japanese is a rewarding and fun language to study.

That's it for this time. Be sure to check out the Trev Report blog at http://www.trevreport.org/blog/ where I post daily kanji to study, and a small journal in both Japanese and English. You can also listen to my blog by clicking on the "audio recording" links at the site. And, finally, if you have some free time, drop me a line. I always like hearing from you.

Until next time,
trv

--
Trevor Lalish-Menagh
jumex@trevreport.org
www.trevreport.org
011-81-854-76-3021

Posted by jumex at 14:02 0 Comments links to this post

2005-12-01

Audioblog for 2005-12-01 "Articles"

Listen to my audio recording of the blog entry "Articles" on 2005-12-01.

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Posted by jumex at 18:20 0 Comments links to this post

Articles 記事

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When Can You Omit "that"? ｢Ｔｈａｔ｣は必要がある場合

｢Ｔｈａｔ｣は必要がある場合

この問題がとてもめちゃくちゃですよ。始めに２つの｢that｣の使い方がある: 関係詞と接続詞です。

関係詞の「that」
｢that｣ほ関係詞の場合､この問題は分かりやすいです。

1. 「that」は主語の場合、いつも「that」がいります。

2. 「that」は目的語の場合、「that」を使わなくてもいいです。実は、使わないことのほうがいいです。

(o) He is the man that lives next door to us.
(x) He is the man lives next door to us.
(o) All that glitters is not gold.
(x) All glitters is not gold.
(o) The man that you spoke to yesterday is my teacher.
(o) The man you spoke to yesterday is my teacher.

接続詞の「that」

1. 名詞語句「that」は動詞の目的語の場合
「tell」、「hear」、「believe」、「wish」、「know」などの「ソフト」動詞がある文章で、ほとんどに「that」を使わないです。しかし、「confirm」、「recognize」、「announce」などの「ハード」動詞は主節の文章で「that」を使わない場合は珍しいです。
(o) I know that you are my friend.
(o) I know you are my friend.
(o) She recognized that she was wrong.
(?) She recognized she was wrong.

① 受け身系の文章で「that」を使わない場合は珍しいです。
(o) We are informed that the midterm exam has been postponed.
(x) We are informed the midterm exam has been postponed.

② 「there」がある文章で「that」を使わない場合は自然です
(?) I don't think that there'll be time to visit the museum.
(o) I don't think there'll be time to visit the museum.

③ 2つの従属節は動詞の後である文章で2番目の節は従属節が分かるために2番目の「that」は必ずに必要があります。
(o) They knew he had no gun but that he pretended to have one.
(x) They knew he had no gun but he pretended to have one.

④ 従属節の初めての言葉は副詞ではない場合、副詞は従属節の部分を分かるために「that」がいります。
(o) They knew that in those days people had been very poor in that area.
(x) They knew in those days people had been very poor in that area.

2. 名詞語句「that」は主語の場合
名詞語句「that」節は主節の主語のとき、絶対「that」が必要があります。
(o) That your brother is a bore is undeniable.
(x) Your brother is a bore is undeniable.

3. 名詞語句「that」節は虚辞「it」がある文章の場合
「it is ～ that …」の文章で非公式のことによく「that」を使わないです。
(o) It's odd that he didn't know it.
(o) It's odd he didn't know it.

4. 名詞語句「that」節は補語の場合
「that」節は主節の補語のことで非公式のことによく「that」を使わないです。
(o) It seems that the baby is asleep.
(o) It seems the baby is asleep.
(o) The truth is that he didn't know it.
(o) The truth is he didn't know it.

5. 名詞語句「that」節は名詞の同格語句の場合
「that」節は名詞の同格語句の場合、必ずに「that」がいります。
(o) The belief that rates will rise soon is making everyone panic.
(x) The belief rates will rise soon is making everyone panic.

6. 名詞語句「that」節は前置詞の場合
「that」節は前置詞のとき、たいてい「that」は必要があるけど、「～ except that …」の文章で「that」がいりません。
(o) He resembles his father in that he is fond of music.
(x) He resembles his father in he is fond of music..
(o) I forgot everything except that I wanted to go home.
(o) I forgot everything except I wanted to go home.

7. 副詞語句「that」節
「such that」と「in order that」の「that」は必要があります。「so that」のは非公式のことによく「that」を使わないです。
(o) Diana was such a pretty woman that everyone loved her.
(x) Diana was such a pretty woman everyone loved her.
(o) The hardness of diamond is such that it cuts glass.
(x) The hardness of diamond is such it cuts glass.
(o) She studies hard in order that she will pass the exam.
(x) She studies hard in order she will pass the coming exam.
(o) She studies hard so that she will pass the coming exam.
(o) She studies hard so she will pass the coming exam.
(o) She studied hard, so that she passed the exam.
(o) She studies hard, so she passed the exam.
(o) She studied so hard that she passed the exam.
(o) She studies so hard she passed the exam.

8. 「that」節は形容詞の補語の場合
「that」節は形容詞の補語のとき、ほとんど「that」がいらないです。しかし、あまり言わないが、書けることの「ハード」形容詞を使う文章で「that」を使わない場合は珍しいです。
(o) I am happy that she accepted my proposal.
(o) I'm happy she accepted my proposal.
(o) I'm surprised that she accepted my proposal.
(?) I'm surprised she accepted my proposal.
(o) I am sure that she will accept my proposal.
(o) I'm sure she'll accept my proposal.
(o) I am afraid that she won't accept my proposal.
(o) I'm afraid she won't accept my proposal.
(o) She is anxious that her son (should) succeed.
(?) She is anxious her son (should) succeed.

When Can You Omit "that"?

The issue you are asking is really a messy one. First of all, please know there are two sorts of sub clauses led by "that": relative clauses and conjunctive clauses.

Relative that
In the case 'that' is a relative, the problem is rather easy. [1] When "that" stands as the subject in a sub clause, never omit 'that'. [2] When "that" stands as the object in a sub clause, you can omit 'that' and the omission is even preferable.
(o) He is the man that lives next door to us.
(x) He is the man lives next door to us.
(o) All that glitters is not gold.
(x) All glitters is not gold.
(o) The man that you spoke to yesterday is my teacher.
(o) The man you spoke to yesterday is my teacher.

Conjunctive that
(1) Nominal that-clause as the object of a verb
When conjunctive that-clauses are used as the object of a 'soft' verb like 'tell', 'hear', 'believe', 'wish', 'know', etc., 'that' omission is quite common. But when the main clause verb is a 'hard' verb like 'confirm', 'recognize', 'announce', 'inform', etc., that omission is rather rare.
(o) I know that you are my friend.
(o) I know you are my friend.
(o) She recognized that she was wrong.
(?) She recognized she was wrong.
[1] That omission is rare when the sub clause is in passive constructs.
(o) We are informed that the midterm exam has been postponed.
(x) We are informed the midterm exam has been postponed.
[2] That omission is natural when the sub clause is a 'there' construct.
(?) I don't think that there'll be time to visit the museum.
(o) I don't think there'll be time to visit the museum.
[3] When two sub clauses coordinately follow a verb, the omission of the second 'that' should be avoided to make it clear that the second sub clause is a subordinate clause.
(o) They knew he had no gun but that he pretended to have one.
(x) They knew he had no gun but he pretended to have one.
[4] That omission should be avoided when the sub clause does not start with an adverbial to make it clear that the adverbial belongs to the sub clause.
(o) They knew that in those days people had been very poor in that area.
(x) They knew in those days people had been very poor in that area.
(2) Nominal that-clause as a subject
When a nominal that-clause stands as the subject of a main clause, 'that' can never be omitted.
(o) That your brother is a bore is undeniable.
(x) Your brother is a bore is undeniable.
(3) Nominal that-clause in 'expletive it' constructions
In the construction of , 'that' is often omitted in informal speech.
(o) It's odd that he didn't know it.
(o) It's odd he didn't know it.
(4) Nominal that-clause as a complement
When a that-clause is used as a complement in a main clause, 'that' is often omitted in informal speech.
(o) It seems that the baby is asleep.
(o) It seems the baby is asleep.
(o) The truth is that he didn't know it.
(o) The truth is he didn't know it.
(5) Nominal that-clause as an appositive to a noun
When a that-clause is used as an appositive to a noun, 'that' cannot be omitted.
(o) The belief that rates will rise soon is making everyone panic.
(x) The belief rates will rise soon is making everyone panic.
(6) Nominal that-clause as a prepositional object
When a that-clause is used as the object of a preposition, 'that' usually cannot be omitted. But 'that' in can be omitted.
(o) He resembles his father in that he is fond of music.
(x) He resembles his father in he is fond of music..
(o) I forgot everything except that I wanted to go home.
(o) I forgot everything except I wanted to go home.
(7) Adverbial that-clauses
The 'that' in and cannot be omitted. The 'that' in is often omitted in informal speech.
(o) Diana was such a pretty woman that everyone loved her.
(x) Diana was such a pretty woman everyone loved her.
(o) The hardness of diamond is such that it cuts glass.
(x) The hardness of diamond is such it cuts glass.
(o) She studies hard in order that she will pass the exam.
(x) She studies hard in order she will pass the coming exam.
(o) She studies hard so that she will pass the coming exam.
(o) She studies hard so she will pass the coming exam.
(o) She studied hard, so that she passed the exam.
(o) She studies hard, so she passed the exam.
(o) She studied so hard that she passed the exam.
(o) She studies so hard she passed the exam.
(8) That-clauses as adjective's complement.
When a that-clause is used as the complement of an adjective, 'that' mostly can be omitted. But in the case when the adjective is a 'hard' one (that is, not often used in speech), that omission is rare.
(o) I am happy that she accepted my proposal.
(o) I'm happy she accepted my proposal.
(o) I'm surprised that she accepted my proposal.
(?) I'm surprised she accepted my proposal.
(o) I am sure that she will accept my proposal.
(o) I'm sure that she'll my proposal.
(o) I am afraid that she won't accept my proposal.
(o) I'm afraid she won't accept my proposal.
(o) She is anxious that her son (should) succeed.
(?) She is anxious her son (should) succeed.

Original post at http://www.englishforums.com/English/WhenCantWeOmitThat/bxqzx/Post.htm by paco.

Translated into Japanese by Trevor Menagh (jumex) ath http://www.trevreport.org/.

Posted by jumex at 16:10 0 Comments links to this post

The Holiday Season 休み季節

The Holiday Season

November and December are known as the holiday season in many western countries because there are many different holidays during these months like Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Years.
In the U.S., Thanksgiving is a time for family to get together and celebrate the beginnings of life for Europeans in America. The first Thanksgiving was a feast of thanks for the Indians for teaching Pilgrims how to grow food and survive the winter in America. Now we often gather together and have a big meal, usually serving turkey or ham as the main course.
Hanukkah is the eight day Jewish Festival of Lights. Long ago in Jerusalem, the Greeks made the Jews worship Greek Gods, but many Jews didn’t want to, so they fought the Greeks. After many years of fighting, the Jews beat the Greeks and returned to Jerusalem. When they came back they had a celebration and wanted to light the menorah (a candelabrum used to light the temple), but there was only enough oil for one night. Amazingly, the oil lasted for eight nights, so now we celebrate Hanukkah by lighting candles in a menorah every night for eight nights.
In Japan, especially in big cities, Christmas time is a time for love and dating. This is not the case in most western countries. In the West, Christmas, much like Thanksgiving, is a time for family and friends to come together and spend time with each other. Every country has different traditions, but the most common ones are the Christmas tree, opening presents, and a Christmas Eve dinner.
New Years is also very different in Western countries. Unlike Japan, New Years is a time for big parties with your friends. It is a night where you can do whatever you like and going on dates and to dances are very popular. You could say that in the West, Christmas is like a Japanese New Years, and New Years is like a Japanese Christmas.
Whatever you do this holiday season, make sure you have a good time doing it!

休み季節

感謝祭やハヌカーやクリスマスやお正月などのような休みがあるのでたくさんの西洋諸国で11月と12月は｢休み季節｣と言います。
アメリカで感謝祭は家族と一緒に昔のエウロパ人はアメリカに来る命がはじめることを祭ります。始めての感謝祭はインディアンはアメリカへ来たエウロパ人に食べ物を育ったり、寒い冬を生けたり、仕方を教えるの感謝する大きな夕食でした。このごろ、家族と一緒にたいてい七面鳥か豚肉がある大きな夕食を食べます。
ハヌカーは8日のユダヤ光祭。昔々、イェルザルムでギリシャ人はユダヤ人にギリシャの神様を崇拝させました。しかし、たくさんユダヤ人はギリシャの神様を崇拝したくなかったのでギリシャ人と戦争しました。何年後、ユダヤ人はギリシャ人に勝ったから、イェルザレムに帰りました。帰るとき、大きな祭がありました。メノラーと言う本枝の大燭台に火を付けたかったです。でも、油は少ないので、一晩だけ使えたけど、その油は奇跡的に8晩で使えました。そして、今、ハヌカーのために祭り方は8晩でメノラーのろうそくに火を付けます。
日本で、特に都会で、クリスマスは日付やラブラブの時間です。しかし、西洋諸国でそのことは全然違います。西洋諸国でクリスマスは感謝祭のような家族や友達と集める時間です。別な国は別なクリスマス伝統があるけど、一番普通なのはクリスマス木やプレゼントをあげることやクリスマスの前晩で特別な夕食を食べます。
西洋諸国でお正月も全然違います。日本と違い、お正月は友達と一緒に大きなパーティーがある時間です。その夜は何でもできるの時間です。日付に行くこととダンス・パーティーに行くことはとても人気です。西洋諸国でお正月は日本のクリスマスのようです。クリスマスはお正月のようです。
今年の安も季節でぜひ楽しい時間を過しましょう！

ワンポイント英会話

• Happy Holidays! (ハッピー・ハロディズ！) 幸せな休み時間を過しましょう！


• Merry Christmas! (メリー・クリスマス！) クリスマスおめでとう！


• Happy Hanukkah! (ハッピー・ハヌカー) ハヌカーおめでとう！


• Happy New Year! (ハッピー・ニュー・イエヤ) お正月おめでとう！


• The Holiday Season is upon us! (ザ・ハロディ・シソン・イズ・アポン・アス！) 休み季節に来た！

Posted by jumex at 16:03 3 Comments links to this post