Re: Geisha(s)!

Conan the Grammarian strikes again.

This may sound extremely picky, but it's an annoyance
for those of us who speak Japanese. In the original
title of this thread, the first questioner wrote
"Geishas". Japanese words do not get an "s" added to
them to make them plural; it's understood by context.
The plural of "Geisha" is "Geisha". This is still the
case even when speaking in English. You can meet one
Geisha, or you can see many Geisha walking down the
street. You wouldn't see many Geishas. Similarly, you
could meet a samurai, or you could go drinking with
many samurai, but you'd never run into several
"samurais".

Minor point, possibly, but it helps you sound like you
know what you are talking about if you can correctly
use the words.

Thanks,

The Asst. Management

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On Apr 29, 2005, at 1:38 PM, Nate Ledbetter wrote:

> The plural of "Geisha" is "Geisha". This is still the
> case even when speaking in English. You can meet one
> Geisha, or you can see many Geisha walking down the
> street. You wouldn't see many Geishas. Similarly, you
> could meet a samurai, or you could go drinking with
> many samurai, but you'd never run into several
> "samurais".

...but you gotta be careful with all those ninjaS!!! :oO

Anyway, you are right (of course).

Let me add that even today in Kyoto, a very hierarchy-conscious city,
you always refer to maiko and/or geiko and the term geisha is used only
to try to attract tourists.

Okini!!

cepo

--- Cepo <cepo@...> wrote:

> Let me add that even today in Kyoto, a very
> hierarchy-conscious city,
> you always refer to maiko and/or geiko and the term
> geisha is used only
> to try to attract tourists.
>
> Okini!!

Oideyasu to you too :)

True enough about "Geisha" not being used in Kyoto.
And of course you never actually *SEE* any--the ones
prancing along in the streets are usually maiko
anyways.

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On Apr 30, 2005, at 12:19 AM, Nate Ledbetter wrote:

>> Let me add that even today in Kyoto, a very
>> hierarchy-conscious city,
>> you always refer to maiko and/or geiko and the term
>> geisha is used only
>> to try to attract tourists.
>>
>> Okini!!
>
> Oideyasu to you too :)
>
> True enough about "Geisha" not being used in Kyoto.
> And of course you never actually *SEE* any--the ones
> prancing along in the streets are usually maiko
> anyways.

Oh, you can see her (MAKOTO) often... ;o)

http://www.chimalabel.com/makotobio.html

cepo