tennis

Serena Williams ups lead in WTA rankings; Djokovic atop ATP

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Serena Williams is the literal definition of 化け物. And if you guys aren't familiar with American expressions, that means she's really good at tennis, not some "veiled attempt at rascism."

Djokovic is obviously no joke. He's worked hard to get where he's at. Of course, Federer's gotten older, so whether or not that's contributed to Djokovic's success the past few years is debatable. Nadal's unfortunate exits at these tournaments surprises me. I guess he's been struggling with his back injury.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Serena Williams is the literal definition of 化け物.

She's literally a monster? I don't think so. I think she's human. Maybe you mean she's the figurative definition of a monster.

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I know a few Japanese tennis players who despise Serena Williams because she is >化け物. All they chatter about is how great Nishikori is. Really??

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Stangerland, because I don't know if you're being serious or sarcastic, I will explain anyway. Sometimes in American English, we like to use the word "literally" like the word "figuratively" to place extreme emphasis on whatever it's describing - in this case "化け物". We obviously know Serena Williams is not LITERALLY a monster, but when using the word LITERALLY in this case, it adds emphasis to the context - She's a really good tennis player.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Sometimes in American English, we like to...

...literally mangle the language. If you mean figuratively, say figuratively. If you mean she's a really good tennis player, say she's a really good tennis player.

The purpose of language is to communicate ideas, not to make people scratch their heads. Or think you must be linguistically challenged.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Indeed - mixing incorrect English with kanji is a really good way to not communicate your point. All the more so because you didn't write "literally", you wrote "the literal definition". Excuse my pedantry (it's a terrible habit) but that's a pet hate of mine.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

In English, people use the term"beast" to figuratively refer to someone who is really good. Nishikori is average! I have also met a few tennis players who don`t like Serena other than the fact she is too good. Japan has an ethnic hierarchy which they use to judge people from other countries. They place Caucasians at the top and Blacks at the bottom.

They really don`t like successful people who they believe they are superior to.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

"Beast", "化け物", equally insulting and unnecessary in either language. She's a great tennis player, particularly considering what is now her relatively advanced age. Let's leave it at that.

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FernGully - This is at least the second thread where you've likened her to a beast, monster etc, and if Im not mistaken, you suggested she was on steroids after her Wimbleden win.

You clearly have a problem with Serena Williams. I wonder why that is.....

1 ( +2 / -1 )

tangerland, because I don't know if you're being serious or sarcastic, I will explain anyway. Sometimes in American English, we like to use the word "literally" like the word "figuratively" to place extreme emphasis on whatever it's describing

And that usage is literally the definition of incorrect. There is already a word for figuratively. "Figuratively".

0 ( +2 / -2 )

I don't have any issues with Serena Williams. I genuinely believe she's a great tennis player, and deserves her place as the number 1 women's player. That's all there is to that.

As far as my connecting her to the kanji, "化け物," I only meant that in terms of her being a dominant force in women's tennis, not make her seem negative or draw attention to her race, which wasn't even in my mind when writing the post.

The usage of the word "literally" instead of "figuratively" was purposeful on my end, regardless of it's textbook correctness. I would use it again like that because I believe that language, besides communicating ideas, also has a style and attitude about it.

Perhaps I just chose the wrong community to exercise that style, but I won't censor or change it because it offends people's tastes. I experienced enough of that discrimination in junior high and high school. I tried to change my personality, but it didn't work. I couldn't change that as much as I wanted to. Oh look, I ended a sentence with a preposition; how naughty of me; how dare I bastardize the English language.

Seriously, lighten up.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

@Ferngully

I like reading your comments because it's so easy to see that Serena is not the problem but your own personal issues.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

FernGully,

You protesteth too much. Also, words have meanings. They are not to be sprinkled around randomly.

This part we can all agree on:

I genuinely believe she's a great tennis player, and deserves her place as the number 1 women's player. That's all there is to that.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

I won't censor or change it because it offends people's tastes

You're not 'offending people's tastes'. You're vandalising your own ability to communicate. When your teacher in junior high or high school tells you you're using a word incorrectly, that isn't discrimination. It isn't censorship. It's education.

What literally happens to people who literally can't communicate?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZBn8-UUQeI

5 ( +6 / -1 )

FernGully - You literally ignored your previous unfounded accusation that Serena Williams is on steroids. Your obsession with her body shape and using words like MONSTER or BEAST in describing her speaks for itself. Im figuratively shaking my head at your thinly-veiled you-know-what

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Way to go Serena ! See you in Cincy in next month !

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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