Moshimoshi 


As we all know, at the end of Kill Bill Vol.1, the Bride hears someone's 'phone ring and when she eavesdrops on the words of the person answering, the voice of the speaker opens up a memory of seeing another witness to her humiliation back at the chapel, i.e., Sofie Fatale.

In both cases, Sofie answers the 'phone by saying "Moshimoshi," the Japanese form of "hello" on the telephone. However, according to a book I've stumbled upon, Japanese Words and Their Uses, by Akira Miura (Charles Tuttle, 240 pages, ISBN 0 8048 1639 5), who quotes from another Japanese language guidebook, it is the caller who says "Moshimoshi," when they hear the click of the telephone indicating that the other person has picked up (pages 134 - 135). Unless social conventions have changed since the publication of this book, which was in 1983, Sofie is making a mistake of etiquette (unless she is making the calls, which doesn't appear to be the case).  

 

Posted: Mon - December 19, 2005 at 10:48 AM          


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