Hello Khirano-san, I think maybe I would naturally say きらの as an American (except I say ら funny, as all Japanese know), and maybe けらの as in Italian. I am sorry if I do not put Hiragana together properly. Also, there is choice of emphasis. Cyr-ano is one way. T-rano is another. Kir-ano-san is melodic and gentle to me. Not sure if the same to Japanese.
- Dennis -----Original Message----- From: Dennis E. Hamilton [mailto:dennis.hamil...@acm.org] Sent: Saturday, June 18, 2011 18:57 To: 'ooo-dev@incubator.apache.org' Cc: 'Kazunari Hirano' Subject: OT: Orcmido-san [ ... ] If I were to attempt to pronounce Khirano, I would have the "h" be silent, with the Khi- as in kick. (If I was Italian or maybe elsewhere in Europe, someone might say Kee- as in keen.) Then -rano as ran+oh. Do either of those sound pleasant to you and not make unpleasant word? Regards, - Dennis -----Original Message----- From: Kazunari Hirano [mailto:khir...@gmail.com] Sent: Saturday, June 18, 2011 18:20 To: ooo-dev@incubator.apache.org; dennis.hamil...@acm.org Subject: Re: Native Language vs l10n [ ... ] [OT] === Japanese "-san" usage === "-san" is written "さん" in Japanese Hiragana. If you read Japanese emails, you will see "さん" in almost every mail. "-san" is very useful postfix to a name in Japanese society, in Japanese communication, among or between Japanese persons. You can show politeness, friendship and respect to a person you are talking to by calling his/her name with "-san." In Japan when you meet someone for the first time, it is "safe" to call him/her "Last name + san." And you can keep using it all the time when you talk to him/her. You also can use "-san" the same way in business communication. "Last name + san" is very useful in Japan. Suppose I meet for the first time a Japanese whose last name is "Fujisawa" and first name is "Shuhei." My last name is "Hirano" and my first name is "Kazunari." When I introduce myself to him, I say "I am Hirano Kazunari." I don't say "I am Kazunari Hirano." He may introduce himself "I am Fujisawa Shuhei." Then I may say "Nice to see you, Fujisawa Shuhei san, where are you from?" You see, "-san" is a very flexible postfix. My neighbors call me, "Hirano-san." If they call me, "Hirano Kazunari san" or "Kazunari san," it's ok, no problem, I am fine with it. My mother calls me "Kazunari!" I say "Yes, Mom! I'll be right over there very quick!" :) My aunts call me "Kaz." My old friends call me "Nari." My friends from school call me "Hirano." "Khirano" is my nickname/UserID/account name for Internet, email or online community world like here. It's OK that you call me "Hi Khirano" or "Hi Khirano san" in "writing." But in real-life conversation it may be difficult to pronounce "Khirano." Even me don't know how to pronounce "Khirano." :) Can you pronounce "orcmid," Dennis san? I find your id and full name here. http://people.apache.org/committer-index.html orcmid, Dennis E. Hamilton. I may write emails to you starting with: "Hi orcmid san" "Hi Dennis san" "Hi E. san" "HI Hamilton san" :) But you see, "orcmid" doesn't sound to me, I think, or does it sound? How about "E.", does it sound, "ee period"? :) "Dennis san" and "Hamilton san" sound good, don't they? :) I thought I can call you in writing "Hi Dennis" since we are working together in this incubator project and getting to know each other, and we can be frank. If I meet you somewhere on the earth, I greet you "Hi Dennis," is it OK? :) Thanks, khirano
