日本語 Japanese Ask Questions Thread 8

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英語でも日本語でもOK
日本の方からのご協力も大歓迎です

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Please don't listen to >>468

Anyone who's spoken to Japanese person knows the importance of back-channeling (i.e. letting the other person know you're listening to them through subtle cues such as nodding, or quick responses that fill in lulls of speech, etc.)

Very rarely is "back-channeling" translated as is, because 1) there isn't a proper term for it in English, and 2) its not a prominent concept for that reason. Instead, "listening", "responding", "comprehending", etc. can all be used to mean roughly the same but without the nuance.

There are many reasons this isn't passive. I'd suggest you remind yourself what the passage is actually used for, because very often it carries other means. In this case though, Watashi is referencing their conversation hyperbolically or rhetorically in the sense "what are we talking about", not "what is being expect of me that is not being done to me"

Here's a translation:

わたし「ずっと長い間、馬鹿みたいに母のことだけ追いかけてきたわ…」
I've been chasing after my mother like some kind of idiot for such a long time
ジェイ「随分一途だな」
You're really putting your all into it. 
わたし「哀れだな、の間違いじゃない？」
You sure you don't mean "You're really pathetic"?
ジェイの真摯な瞳が運転席からじっとわたしを見据えてくる。
Jay's sincere eyes moved from the driver's seat to state at me firmly.
ジェイ「俺はそんな風には思ってない」
That's not what I'm thinking.
わたし「知ってるわ。だからこんなにも大きな声で独り言を漏らしてるの」
I know. That's why you're just talking to yourself in such a loud voice.
ジェイ「相槌は不要ってことか」
Are you saying you don't need to respond to me?
わたし「相槌なんてうつ気にもならない話をするってことよ」
I'm saying you're not saying anything to make me feel like I should!