Interresting bit of Japanese.
Posted by Mathieu Jobin Wed, 18 Oct 2006 08:33:00 GMT | no comments
I remember about 2 years ago I was reading an article about bonus and rewards in a company. And how this is the worst management idea ever. As it might push your people in the butt for a bit, in the long term, you might lose core element of your team. Why? because there is no difference between a Bonus and a Punishment. And as much as the winner is happy to go home with his bonus, everyone else feels punished as they did not received it. And this is BAD.
Of course in Japan, there are also companies with bonus system. No one escape to the temptation. but where is this interresting bit I found? In the language. shoubatsu (賞罰 / しょうばつ) in Japanese means both rewards and punishment. I found that very interresting that early in the conception of the language they thought of this concept as one single thing.
It remembers me also the verb kiku (聞く / きく) means both to hear/listen and to ask. How many people asks questions and actually never listen to the answer? How common is that. Well, if you ask for something you algo gotta listen. In Japanese this is again one single meaning. So in english, instead of saying "May I ask you something?" You could say instead "May I listen something from you?" Which might sound a bit weird but should in fact communicate better more what you are about to do.
just thought It might be interresting to share.
