he's dumb enough to believe that the daughter of a wealthy Korean businessman speaks no English
She was the daughter of a wealthy Korean businessman when they met, and she spoke no English then. How dumb would that belief be, when correct?
We're still working on a plan, but so far it involves being sent to prison and becoming somebody's bitch.
Fred ,'Just Rewards (2)'
Lost: OMGWTF POLAR BEAR
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§ ita § - Feb 25, 2005 7:44:41 am PST #6543 of 10000
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.
Rick - Feb 25, 2005 7:57:42 am PST #6544 of 10000
She was the daughter of a wealthy Korean businessman when they met, and she spoke no English then.
Why do we think that is true? If it is, then I have misjudged Jin. Insteawd, it is the writers who are dumb. It is possible that she wouldn't be fluent, although her international businessman father probably would have seen to it that she was, but the idea that an educated and prosperous young Korean would understand no more English than what Sun showed publicly on the island seems absurd to me. I don't think it's realistic.
§ ita § - Feb 25, 2005 7:59:06 am PST #6545 of 10000
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.
Why do we think that is true?
Because they showed that she learnt it in order to be able to escape him.
brenda m - Feb 25, 2005 7:59:48 am PST #6546 of 10000
If you're going through hell/keep on going/don't slow down/keep your fear from showing/you might be gone/'fore the devil even knows you're there
Why do we think that is true? If it is, then I have misjudged Jin.
So you think she was lying to him from the start?
Rick - Feb 25, 2005 8:01:31 am PST #6547 of 10000
Because they showed that she learnt it in order to be able to escape him.
Ok. Sorry Jin. Not the first time I've blamed a character for his creator's mistakes. I much prefer a not-dumb Jin.
Jessica - Feb 25, 2005 8:04:55 am PST #6548 of 10000
And then Ortus came and said "It's Ortin' time" and they all Orted off into the sunset
the idea that an educated and prosperous young Korean would understand no more English than what Sun showed publicly on the island seems absurd to me.
It doesn't to me, based what I've heard from my in-laws who lived there for two years, and my own experience visiting them there. English is much rarer than you'd expect.
Plus, as others have pointed out, whether it's realistic or not, it's canon.
Polter-Cow - Feb 25, 2005 8:06:10 am PST #6549 of 10000
What else besides ramen can you scoop? YOU CAN SCOOP THIS WORLD FROM DARKNESS!
I really don't think it's dumb. There's no reason for Sun to know English. Her father conducts the business, not her. Everyone in the world doesn't know English. I was reminded of this when I spent three weeks in India.
Nutty - Feb 25, 2005 8:13:35 am PST #6550 of 10000
"Mister Spock is on his fanny, sir. Reports heavy damage."
The real question is, why do the writers treat language like an on-off switch, when it's not? English is available all over the place, on cable, on newsstands, etc. I can see as how someone who doesn't have an interest in international business wouldn't bother to take lessons, but I bet most affluent, educated people in foreign countries, especially foreign countries that still have US military bases on them, could mumble out a couple of English words and phrases.
(Conversely, now she's been revealed, Sun will turn out to speak perfect English, with minimal accent, no vocab deficits, and never fumble the verb "to be".)
For that matter, I've never taken a Chinese lesson in my life, but I can guess at a couple of basic words, based solely on movies I have seen -- and Chinese isn't exacty the language of cultural imperialism.
You don't have to "speak the language" to have a basic awareness of the language, the way that you don't have to be a baseball fan to say a guy struck out, or got caught looking.
§ ita § - Feb 25, 2005 8:19:19 am PST #6551 of 10000
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.
I can see as how someone who doesn't have an interest in international business wouldn't bother to take lessons, but I bet most affluent, educated people in foreign countries, especially foreign countries that still have US military bases on them, could mumble out a couple of English words and phrases.
Even when that's going against Jessica's (and mine, to be honest) experience?
Scrappy - Feb 25, 2005 8:20:10 am PST #6552 of 10000
Life moves pretty fast. You don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.
It depends on the person. My SiL lived in Luxembourg for 4 years and didn't learn a word of the language. Not "how much" not "soap," nothing. She limped along on some French phrases and pointing a lot. Luxembourgois (sp?) is not an easy language, but my brother managed to pick some up--it was spoken all around them every day, but she just didn't have an ear or an interest.