A few days ago I exchanged emails with one of our executive members and it was very interesting. His name is Robert. We have several Roberts amongst our male members. Robert must be a popular name.
OzMatch, an Australian and Japanese Matchmaking Agency, is going to hold a Virtual Speed Dating Event this weekend, Saturday and Sunday (28th and 29th November,2020). Each night there will be 10 men and 10 Japanese women.
To join the event, attendees have to create their event name ( it could be a nick name or just a short form of their name). So, Robert and I decided to call him Rob. Then I said to him that our Japanese ladies would call you Lob. Then he said, in Korea, Robert is pronounced lobiter, in Japan lobito, In China his name is Hong Lobito (Red Radish :).
Japanese doesn’t have the R sound
Japanese doesn’t have the R sound. We don’t have the V sound, the F sound, or the TH sound.
So we pronounce Lobaato for Robert, laisu for rice, bejitabulu for vegetable, Bikutolia for Victoria.
If your name starts with R, V or F, you will probably never be called by your correct name by your future Japanese girlfriend or Japanese wife. I am sorry.
The W sound is also difficult for Japanese women
Fifteen years ago I had to go to the Royal Brisbane Women’s Hospital. I asked several Australians how to get to Loyalu Brisbane Oomen’s Hosupitalu. No one understood me.
I do groceries at Coles. Do you know why? If I ask Australian people “Where is Ooluasu (Woolworths)?” No one can answer.
So, if you are joining our Speed Dating this weekend, please do not expect our ladies to pronounce your name correctly. 🙂