Re: The Japanese Brain

Travers Naran wrote:
Dan Rempel wrote:
Here we go again:

http://tinyurl.com/f5bqo

He's funny. But I'm wondering why he trusts his analog device over,
say, functional MRI that all other linguists have long since adopted
and discovered interested traits in language (e.g., the mandarin-music
connection).

It might depend on exactly what he's using it for. An analog sound is
different than a digital one, and which is better depends entirely on
exactly what you're looking for.

And doesn't he technically disqualify himself as a believer in
nihonjinron if he says Polynessians share the same kind of brain
patterns as Japanese?

Doesn't he also say that it's the language itself and the brain of the
person learning rather than the nationality/ethnicity of who is
learning it? To me this makes sense; there has to be a reason why some
people can speak Japanese and sound like a native after a short period
of time yet others can spend years studying and be fluent in all tested
ways yet sound like they just stepped off the plane with a phrasebook.
In general didn't find his stuff in that particular article to be too
over the top.

John W.

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