Is it proper or acceptable to say "僕はもともとNew Yorkから来まして。。。" during a formal
self-introduction? This would be in the presence of superiors. Or does anyone
know a better way to begin a 自己紹介?

Thank you in advance for the help!
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2017-04-20T11:43:12.543
46723
2017-04-20T15:23:28.443
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question
grammar word-choice
Use of もともと in a self- introduction 自己紹介
I would go with

> （もともと）ニューヨーク出身で。。。

Since new york is well known. Else I would have specified the country first.

I don't think there is anything wrong with もともと in this scenario. It is
optional and quite neutral. It won't impress them, but it won't be impolite
either. Although I wouldn't worry too much. I doubt they will be so picky if
you are a foreigner anyway.
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2017-04-20T12:00:53.263
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2017-04-20T12:00:53.263
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answer
Whether or not it is appropriate to use 「元々{もともと}」 in your self-introduction
would depend on how you ended up at your present place of residence.

> Straight from New York:

If you just came to your current city/country, etc. **_straight from New
York_** where you were born and raised, it is **_not_** very natural to use
「元々」. You might say:

「ニューヨーク出身{しゅっしん}です。」 or

「ニューヨークから参{まい}りました。」 (You used 「来{く}る」, but it is informal, so I used 「参る」.)

Disclaimer: It is not a crime to use 「元々」 in this case, but in a place like
this, that is how I would answer your question.

> Via at least one other place:

If you have lived in at least one other place prior to living where you live
now after originally living in New York for x years, it is appropriate to use
「元々」. You could say:

「 **元々** ニューヨーク出身です。」

and you may tell what other places you have lived before coming to your
current place.

**IMPORTANT: Drop the first-person pronoun. They know who you are talking
about.**
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2017-04-20T15:07:37.287
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2017-04-20T15:23:28.443
2017-04-20T15:23:28.443
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answer