Why some Japanese people in Japan lose their japanese accent when they get to advanced English?

Question

I like language exchange with someone from japan, but i noticed some of them even in japan whom i talked to by voice chat, have this american accent even in japanese. Is it that they try so much to sound American and do'nt even care about their own language? But then, why would they forget their accent IN japan. it's not like they live in America. And also, why would they even do that, maybe they hate their culture? Actually some japanese i've talked to in the chats say they just hang out with Americans and do'nt like japanese.. strange.. very strange.. anyways, whatever..

Guys who posted already: But i mean When they speak in japanese, they have an American accent.

Answer 1

I'm not Japanese and I only speak for myself. However, when I learned to speak German I would want to learn to speak it properly. It is possible to speak many languages with an American accent. By learning how to speak the language as spoken by native speakers, you both learn how to speak it properly and honor the native speakers of the language. You do not give up anything of yourself as a language spoken with an accent from another language is technically wrong.

Answer 2

First of all the Japanese are generally perfectionists. They want to master anything to perfaction. This goes for pronunciation of languages. This is probably the primary reason.

The Japanese think they had been kind of humiliated in the global stage just because few of them spoke proper Japanse in the past. So I guess the younger generation is struggling to overcome that stereotype conception.


Secondly, the English the school kids learn is American English. The learning materials are also mostly in American English.

Another reason is that some yung people think it's cool to behave and talk like Americans. American culture has a big influence over this small iland country after all.

Answer 3

Well, as you say you mean when they're actually talking Japanese!! I'd say they were being twits!
; )

Seriously though, some people think it's "cool" to speak with a foreign accent! It's just like some people in England try to sound 'American' too - but at least it's all the same language...!

To put it bluntly, some people in the world believe that only Hollywood actors get laid. Therefore, if they style their hair like a Hollywood actor, and put on the accent of a Hollywood actor, they will also get laid...!!

The Japanese people you're referring to think that an American accent when speaking Japanese will make them more popular with Japanese members of the opposite sex - because it makes them seem more well-travelled, and therefore more worldly-wise! And also that it will appeal to those few Americans (of the opposite sex!) who actually speak Japanese fluently enough to notice a fake American accent!!

It also makes them seem more 'hard' / 'cool' to their friends..!

Answer 4

It's natural to want to speak like a native in a foreign language as being mistaken for a native speaker is quite a compliment for any polyglot. Why would there be a connection between them wanting to speak without a Japanese accent and hating their own culture or nation? There's no reasonable connection.

Maybe they like the extra emphasis on particles, it seems pretty harmless to me.

Answer 5

Not only Japanese do that.. you might as well try other nationalities to speak with..and for sure they are young.. they been developed at the early age. but if you talk with older Japanese people, however they live in other countries for long and speak English they still have Japanese accent..