Quality (Perfection) Versus Quantity

The other day I was shopping at the Navy Exchange on base. Surprisingly, the cashier was a Japanese man who had a cheery disposition and great customer service. (It was a surprise that he had great custumer service in the NEX, not that he was Japanese.)

Towards the end of our brief encounter, I expressed my appreciation with an emphatic "arigato gozaimasu," (thank you very much) in Japanese.

The cashier, looking pleasantly surprised, asked in English, "Ohhh! Do you speak Japanese?"

Quickly, I laughed slightly, shook my head almost apologetically, as I blurted out in English, "Ohhh, nooo! I only know a few words."

Then he said, "Oh, really?! You have perfect pronunciation!"

Not wanting to ruin the moment, I beamed, and said, "Really?! Thank you!" in English...and consciously forced myself not to say it again in Japanese. I'm almost certain he misheard me, but I didn't want to confirm it one way or the other. Nevertheless, it made my day to think I might have mastered at least one phrase of Japanese perfectly. And it's only taken me 2 1/2 years.

I never knew my general "quality versus quantity" philosphy would apply to foreign language, but it seems it unwittingly has. That's what I tell myself anyway, so I don't feel bad I haven't taken the time to learn more. But I still maintain that "arigato gozaimasu" and "gomen nasai" (I'm sorry) will get you very far in Japan. Then if you have perfect pronunciation like me, just interject with a quick "wakarimasen" (I don't understand) to head off any further conversation, i.e., awkward misunderstandings and wasted breath.

Come to think of it, I've been having to do this more and more.