Nowadays English has become the most important source of loanwords in Japanese by far. About 95% of all gairaigo loanwords (“words coming from abroad”, i.e. words originating from European languages) derived from the English language and it is estimated that about
5-10% of the Japanese lexicon are of English origin today (Stanlaw, 2004, p.1 + p.13). The status of the English language is high in Japan. It has become a marker of high education and openness to other (Western) cultures. Nearly every Japanese pupil is taught English for at least six years at school (from seventh to twelfth grade), but there is the possibility for private schools to start teaching eikaiwa (English conversation) from third grade on. English classes are obligatory for university students of all subjects, although it should be mentioned that these classes are usually overcrowded (often more than one hundred students) and that they take place only once a week for 90 minutes. A TOEFL test in 1997/98 among 26 Asian na-tions ranked Japan 25th and last together with North Korea (McKenzie, 2008, p 272). The Japanese government made heavy efforts to improve English teaching within the last decade. It was tried to motivate more Japanese pupils to spend a year abroad, only 1,000 Japanese pupils took chance of this opportunity in 2003, although there would have been provided money for 10,000 exchange students. Besides this, there are now more assistant language teachers - mainly from the inner circle of English speaking countries, but also, to a much smaller extent, from former British colonies - at Japanese schools to improve the eikaiwa lessons. The common eigo (English) lessons are still held by Japanese teachers and are strongly text and Grammar based, usually a translation into Japanese is given.
Although the Western world was the model for the Japanese modernisation in the 19th and 20th century and English was without any doubt the means of communication with the West, the vast majority of the Japanese population has never become fluent English speakers.
Table of Contents
1. Preface
2. A Short History of the Japanese Language
3. Borrowing from the English Language
3.1 Reasons for and Functions of Borrowing
3.2 Forms of Borrowing
3.3 Fields of Borrowing
3.4 Integration of English Loanwords into Japanese
4. Intelligibility and Acceptance of English Loanwords in Japan
5. Conclusion
6. Bibliography
Objectives and Topics
This work examines the linguistic, historical, and sociolinguistic impact of the English language on the Japanese lexicon, specifically focusing on the integration and adoption of English loanwords in modern Japan.
- Historical development of language contact between Japan and the West
- Linguistic motivations and functions for lexical borrowing
- Morphological and phonetic integration of English terms into the Japanese writing system
- Intelligibility and social acceptance of English loanwords in Japanese media and daily communication
- Comparison with other language contact phenomena in East Asia
Excerpt from the Book
3.2 Forms of Borrowing
Generally spoken there are four main forms of borrowing: First a “regular” loanword where form and meaning are adopted, second a loan blend where English and Japanese is mixed, third a loan shift where a new meaning is added to an originally Japanese term and fourth a loan translation or calque, a morpheme-for-morpheme translation.
There are many loanwords in the “actual sense” as hoteru (hotel), kompyuutaa (computer), basu (bus), biiru (beer, probably borrowed from Dutch) or aisukuriumu (ice cream) where adaptations to the Japanese phonetics and writing system had to be made, but form (to the possible degree) and original meaning were kept. Examples for loan blends are ha (tooth) + burashi (brush) haburashi (tooth-brushing), kankoo (sight-seeing) basu gaido (bus guide) or kooshuu denwa bokkusu (public telephone box). Sara (plate) is a typical loan shift. Sara was actually only used for Japanese style plates, but because Western plates were not significantly different from traditional Japanese ones, the meaning of Western style plates could be added to the Japanese term sara.
Summary of Chapters
1. Preface: Introduces the high status of English in Japan and the significant role it plays as a source of loanwords in the modern Japanese lexicon.
2. A Short History of the Japanese Language: Provides a historical overview of the Japanese language, detailing the long-term influence of Chinese and the later, more recent contact with European languages.
3. Borrowing from the English Language: Explores the linguistic mechanisms, reasons, and fields of adoption through which English vocabulary enters the Japanese language.
3.1 Reasons for and Functions of Borrowing: Discusses the necessity, prestige, and expressive roles that motivate the inclusion of English terms in Japanese.
3.2 Forms of Borrowing: Categorizes the methods of integration, including direct borrowing, loan blends, loan shifts, and calques.
3.3 Fields of Borrowing: Analyzes the domains most affected by borrowing, such as clothing, grooming, food, and technology.
3.4 Integration of English Loanwords into Japanese: Describes the phonetic and orthographic adaptation of English terms into the katakana script and the Japanese sound system.
4. Intelligibility and Acceptance of English Loanwords in Japan: Examines public understanding and the social acceptance of English loanwords through various surveys and media usage.
5. Conclusion: Summarizes the current sociolinguistic landscape, noting the positive attitudes towards English while comparing it to other historical language contacts in Asia.
6. Bibliography: Lists the academic sources and linguistic studies referenced throughout the publication.
Keywords
Japanese Language, English Loanwords, Gairaigo, Language Contact, Katakana, Linguistic Borrowing, Sociolinguistics, Phonotactics, Japan, Westernisation, Lexical Integration, English Language Teaching, Intelligibility, Borrowing, Morphology
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The work focuses on the linguistic impact of English on the Japanese language, specifically how English loanwords have integrated into the Japanese vocabulary over time.
What are the central themes discussed in the paper?
Key themes include the history of Japanese language contact, the mechanisms of lexical borrowing, phonetic adaptation to the katakana script, and the social acceptance of these foreign words.
What is the primary goal of this publication?
The primary goal is to analyze why and how English has become the dominant source of loanwords in Japanese and to determine the level of intelligibility these words have among the Japanese population.
Which scientific methods are utilized?
The author uses a descriptive sociolinguistic approach, analyzing historical developments, dictionary statistics, and the results of various comprehension studies conducted by the NHK and other researchers.
What is covered in the main body of the text?
The main body covers the history of Japanese language contact, the specific categories of borrowing (e.g., loan blends and shifts), specific fields of influence, and the technical challenges of phonetic integration.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
Essential keywords include Gairaigo, language contact, lexical integration, katakana, sociolinguistics, and Japanese phonotactics.
How is the Japanese phonetic system affected by English words?
Because the Japanese phonetic system is restricted, English sounds must be reshaped. This often results in consonant gemination, vowel substitution, or the usage of the katakana script to approximate original sounds.
Why does the text mention "consonant gemination"?
Consonant gemination is described as a specific effect where sounds are added or reshaped to fit the Japanese mora-based rhythm, often to highlight the brevity of original English vowels.
What is "Wasei Eigo"?
Wasei Eigo refers to "Made in Japan English," where English elements are combined or used in ways that do not necessarily match the original meaning or usage in English-speaking countries.
Is there a comparison made with the Chinese language?
Yes, the author compares the integration of European loanwords in Japan with the situation in China, noting that China maintains a higher degree of resistance to foreign loanwords compared to Japan.
- Quote paper
- Bachelor of Arts Martin Boddenberg (Author), 2011, English Loanwords in the Japanese Language, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/182062
