宮崎ハロー英会話のミニレッスン 59: Mobility Parking
I read this story today on Facebook. It’s about people parking in “Mobility parking spaces.” I think it’s a big problem in many places and of course, in Miyazaki too. Only people who use wheelchairs or are pregnant should use these parking spaces, but when I go to a park I often see people using mobility parking spaces who should not. I hope everyone’s manner improves in the future.
English (and Japanese) often changes and new words are used. In the past we used the word “Disabled Parking”, but this didn’t include pregnant women or people with a medical problem so now a new word is becoming popular: “Mobility Parking Space.”
Disabled parking spaces: 障害者パーキング
Mobility parking spaces: 思いやりパーキング
Wheelchair: 車いす
Pregnant: 妊婦
そうです。車いすや妊婦さんなど歩行が困難な方が駐車されるスペ
でもここに健常者が停められていらっしゃる事が実に多い。
実は、今回私の友人が、このスペースが空いていなかったために裏
買物を済ませて車に乗ろうとし…た時にバランスを崩して尻もちをつきました。
彼は下半身がマヒしていますので、こうなるともう身動きができま
必死で助けを呼びましたが、あいにく裏の駐車場を利用したため誰
30分ほど経過したところで巡回の警察官が見えました。
警察官に助けられて自宅に戻られましたが足に痛みがあります。
病院で受信した結果、大腿骨が骨折していました。
しかも彼は、明日13日に開催される「種子島サンセット車いすマ
そう、彼は車いすマラソンランナーなのです。
急きょ、種子島行きをキャンセルせざるを得なくなった事をとても
けがをしてしまったことは自己責任だとしても、通常の駐車場に停
さきほど「本社」に電話を入れて運転席から見えるような立て看板
みなさん、マナーを守りましょうよ!
“I hope everyone’s manner improves in the future.”
Spot the grammar mistake, kids!
Hi Chris,
Thanks for taking such a keen interest in my mini lessons-I’m sure they will help to improve your English! About your question, I’m afraid that even I (!) don’t know the answer!!
If the answer is the apostrophe in “everyone’s”, then please study this:
http://www.writing.utoronto.ca/advice/style-and-editing/possessives
If there is a different problem with the sentence, please tell me! Thanks for the question Chris, and good luck with your study!
Duncan
Dearest Duncan,
I am extremely proud to know a person who not only champions the cause of English grammar but the woes of disabled parkers.
A word of warning – in both areas there are potential pitfalls! For example, can a man fluent in Cam-ben really appear to care about the issue of “Mobility Parking Space” without appearing insincere and sarcastic?
Grammar too, is a cunning type of animal. After witnessing John viciously nab a disabled person’s parking space, would one say “I hope John’s driving manner improves” or “I hope his driving manners improve”? The answer could actually be both. The former referring to how he drives, the latter, his consideration for other drivers.
In this case, mousketeers, which would we choose? Add to that the fact that “everyone”, though treated as a singular entity (a group) with a corresponding verb (e.g. everyone is happy), is attached to a noun that may be singular or plural, we are presented with a grammatical dilemma.
Is the correct form “I hope everyone’s manner improves in the future.”
or “I hope everyone’s manners improve in the future”?
Would we say “everyone’s dog is happy” or “everyone’s dogs are happy”, when referring to a group of people who each have a dog?
The topic being one of politeness and considering others when parking may give us a clue to this puzzle.
I hope I am not forgetting my “manner” in expressing my doubts and requesting your clarification.