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The Japanese or Japanese?

English translation: Japanese People

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:The Japanese
Selected answer:Japanese People
Entered by: Charlesp

14:47 Dec 20, 2004
English language (monolingual) [Non-PRO]
Medical - Certificates, Diplomas, Licenses, CVs
English term or phrase: The Japanese or Japanese?
The Japanese have a lifestyle habit of sitting directly on the floor like Seiza (sitting straight) and Agura (sitting cross-legged) as endemic sitting styles.
Mitsuko
Local time: 16:57
Japanese people
Explanation:
I would prefer the term "Japanese people." "The Japanese" sounds a bit derogratory, or sterotyping, like "the Americans always do such and such..."
Selected response from:

Charlesp
Sweden
Local time: 09:57
Grading comment
Thank you veryone.
I would like to use Japanese people.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +19The Japanese
CMJ_Trans (X)
5 +2Japanese people
Charlesp
3alternatively....
Charlie Bavington


  

Answers


5 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +19
The Japanese


Explanation:
as a proper noun, the word requires an article.

CMJ_Trans (X)
Local time: 09:57
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Nesrin: "Japanese" on its own would refer to the language.
1 min
agree  Konstantin Kisin
3 mins
agree  Jane Gabbutt
5 mins
agree  George Rabel: 1
5 mins
agree  Neil Phillipson: no article 'the' = adjective
7 mins
agree  Marian Greenfield
7 mins
agree  RHELLER
8 mins
agree  jccantrell
27 mins
agree  conejo
37 mins
agree  T Crotogino: "The Japanese" is probably the way to go here, but is should also be pointed out that there are several other problems with this sentence, both in terms of grammar and content.
39 mins
agree  Kirill Semenov
2 hrs
agree  Louisakr
2 hrs
agree  Clauwolf
3 hrs
agree  Asghar Bhatti
6 hrs
agree  Amal Al-Arfaj
8 hrs
agree  Kardi Kho
9 hrs
agree  humbird
9 hrs
agree  Pawel Gromek
16 hrs
agree  Özden Arıkan
16 hrs
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33 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +2
the japanese or japanese?
Japanese people


Explanation:
I would prefer the term "Japanese people." "The Japanese" sounds a bit derogratory, or sterotyping, like "the Americans always do such and such..."

Charlesp
Sweden
Local time: 09:57
Native speaker of: English
Grading comment
Thank you veryone.
I would like to use Japanese people.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  T Crotogino: While I can appreciate your objection, I do not think that merely changing this text to "Japanese people" will eliminate the rather stereotypical nature of this sentence. Based on my 2+ yrs living in Japan, most homes have some Western-style chairs.
9 mins
  -> yea, but it is essentially correct. At least at home. Of course in offices people sit in chairs, but I think it would be correct to say that most people don't have any chairs at home. And the text was meant to explain something in a sensitive way.
agree  Jonas Teixeira (X): Yes, referentially your suggestion would be more appropriate.
9 mins
agree  Charlie Bavington: if the asker insists that this is the structure they require then yes, I agree this sounds slightly better.
1 hr
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
the japanese or japanese?
alternatively....


Explanation:
It might sound less stilted to say something like:

"It is Japanese custom/tradition to sit directly on the floor..."

Charlie Bavington
Local time: 08:57
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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