You might wonder how 接触 (sesshoku: touch, contact, contact + contact) and the common word 連絡 (renraku: contacting, getting in touch, to connect + to connect) differ. I asked a native speaker, and he said …
They’re very similar in meaning. Both can refer to communication by means of telephone, snail mail, and email. But people usually don’t use 連絡 when they’re talking about meeting in person. Instead, they’re more likely to use 接触.
Also, when native speakers say “I’ll keep in touch with you,” they never say this:
(あなたと)接触するからね。
(Anata to) sesshoku suru kara ne.Instead, they say this:
(あなたに)連絡するからね。
(Anata ni) renraku suru kara ne.There’s no apparent reason for that discrepancy. It’s likely just a matter of custom.
Speaking of reasons, I asked him what から (kara) is doing in these sentences and whether the English translation should reflect these instances of から. He had this to say:
Although から originally supplied a reason or cause, just like “because” or “since,” native speakers use から in conversations at the ends of sentences without any special meaning. For that reason, there’s no need for から to be reflected in the English version.
