The term “lost in translation” usually refers to that of dialect no longer making sense when transferring from one language to another. Many phrases and ideas are lost, but what happens when one’s sanity is lost? Dave Barry, a comedic writer, explicitly shared the frustrations he encountered when taking a trip to Japan to write a book. In “Dave Barry Does Japan”, Barry exemplifies the need for patience when faced with the challenge of trying to communicate with people of a different language through the duration of his trip. Barry argues Japanese people should be more familiar with the English language. When experiencing a miscommunication in a Japanese restaurant playing English music he exasperatedly thought, ”HOW CAN YOU NOT UNDERSTAND ENGLISH…?” Barry is expressing how anomalous he thinks it is that a Japanese worker can listen to English music all day and still not comprehend common English phrases. By Barry keeping this thought a thought, he properly demonstrated patience even when challenged to do otherwise. Instead of yelling and making a scene he decided to accept that there was a misunderstanding and chose to act appropriately, conveying the best way to keep composure is to be patient.…show more content… Barry explains, “The important lesson for the English speaking visitor to learn is… in Japan, English words do not necessarily mean anything.” When on a trip to a place speaking a foreign language, it is reasonable for the visitor to have some idea of the common sayings of the native language rather a thousand year old established country learn the visitor’s language. By having knowledge that the visitor is ignorant it is easier for the foreign country to practice patience towards the visitor and their possible
