Ethnography: Sumimasen すみません

 

    

    The book "sumimasen" is a short elementary level book for beginner Japanese learners. The story follows multiple people through the day having to use the word sumimasen and other phrases. The two places the story takes place at is in a work office and on the bus.  When the word sumimasen is used it usually in the context of apologizing, thanking or excusing yourself. The book also includes other words like ohayou/ohayougozaimasu. The word ohayou is use as greetings for in the morning, When the main character leaves at the end she also uses osakini because she has to leave quick.  

    Using the word sumimasen is used frequently among Japanese culture and would be used getting someone's attention or apologizing for something. There are also words like sumimasen in English but don't seem to be as frequently used, but are still used a lot. It seems sumimasen is used in a wider range of situations as in English more specific terms are used rather then just one. When greeting others in Japan there are many terms used based on what time of the day it is. English has similar greeting with good morning and good afternoon. Even though English has those terms I don't think there used quite as much then in Japanese.     

    Overall, I think the book is good and well written for people just starting to read hiragana with some kanji included. I would like to see the books be longer in the future, such as the higher level books. I think the drawings were very good and allowed the reader to understand the situations better. I think that the interactions between co-workers are also interesting. It was particular interesting when the co-workers said sumimasen when thanking one of the workers for bringing cookies. Which is why I think this is a good book.