Japanese not understanding Japanese

[frannyo 2]

I sometimes find it curious how sometimes Japanese people can't read place names and the like. You would think that if a place had an unusual name, they would put the furigana next to the name or something so that it was readable but there seems to be tons of instances when people don't know how to pronounce something. When they can't say something, where do they "find out"?

[jgraves 0]

Peoples' names and Place names are notorious for having multiple (and often anti-intuitive) readings.

 

There are huge dictionaries dedicated to both (see one of the many "jinmei jiten" for people and "chimei jiten" for places)

[BagOfCrisps 24]

But what do they do if they don't have these huge dictionaries with them? Just guess or ask someone or just continue not knowing?

 

It must be frustrating.

[tsondaboy 0]

There was a news caster just now in the news that was not able to read some kanji. The guy next to him had to read them for him to save his ass. Soooo funny

[gerard 6]

It's kind of like English names and places. Some people might mispronounce 'Greenwich' ... or my last name for example, which is 'Zvdkghe'. Kanji tend to have multiple pronunciations and even using a dictionary won't necessarily tell you the right one. Usually of course, they CAN read places and names but it's sometimes confusing. First names can be particularely difficult since parents sometimes want to give their kids creative or unusual names.

[misorano 1]

How about Thai names?

It's kind like throwing the alphabet magnets at the fridge and what sticks...

[scouser 4]

Tell us more about those Thai names, sounds interesting!

[cheeseman 1]

I find that lots of older Japanese have a real problem with all the foreign words coming into Japanese as katakana.

[taguchi 0]

Not only older Japanese.

[brit-gob 9]

The middle east languages and the way they look has always fascinated me. It all looks just so similar.