> It seems less like a language thing than it's being made out to be, and more of a cultural thing? Yes. I think when you're speaking English in the United Sta

> It seems less like a language thing than it's being made out to be, and more of a cultural thing? Yes. I think when you're speaking English in the United States, the cultural lens comes from specific context that depends on the conversation. If you're talking with a coworker, it depends on the culture of the company you both work for. If you're talking with a stranger in a bar, it'll be different depending on whether you're gulping martinis at a hotel bar or beer at a punk show. If you're talking with your next-door neighbor, it will depend on whether you both live in a gated community in Plano or a condo in Miami or a co-op in Portland. I wonder if the article is missing something similar. Do Japanese teenagers who are best friends say, "That party was a little bit quiet, I'm not unhappy that we left" or do they say, "That party SUUUUUCKED! I'm so glad we got the fuck out of there!" Is it the whole language, or is it certain contexts in Japanese society?