Many Asian languages contain a lot of words that originated in English. We can learn something about social and technological trends from the kinds of words that are most commonly borrowed. We can also learn something about Asian languages by looking at how the pronunciation, form and meaning of the words change.Borrowing words often happens when a new technology or practice is introduced from overseas. For example, many Asian languages have a word similar to 'taxi', such as taiksi in Urdu, teksi in Malay and diksi in Cantonese. Despite pronunciation changes, such words are obvious to English speakers. Others can be more puzzling. Sri Lankans gamble at 'bucket shops' rather than betting shops. In Korea, your sekeund is your 'second wife' or lover. In Japan a koin randorii is not a place to wash your coins but a launderette or laundromat. And the manshon so many Japanese live in nowadays are, sadly, just simple apartments. 
Two thirds of new words published in Japanese dictionaries each year come from other languages, 90% of these from English. According to a newspaper survey, over 80% of Japanese are confused by these loanwords (gairaigo in Japanese). Even English-speakers get confused because meaning and pronunciation may depart widely from the original. I used to think a pusshuhon must be some kind of phone that you can push around (it means a push-button telephone) and that sumaato was smart (it means 'slim'). And it took me a long time to work out that a korukushikuru is something you open bottles of wine with.
There is now help for Japanese people who are confused about loanwords. The National Institute for the Japanese Language has a website
http://www.kokken.go.jp/public/gairaigo/index.html
and a telephone hotline (03 3900 3111) that explain the meaning of words like baachuaru (virtual) and bariyaa furii (barrier-free). It also suggests alternatives made up of Japanese words (most of them written in characters borrowed from Chinese). For 'safety net', for example, they suggest anzenmou (安全網).
Korean is also full of loanwords. Interestingly, many of these resemble Japanese ones in the way that their form and meaning vary from the original English. Both languages turn 'ballpoint pen' into ball pen, for example, use talent to mean a media personality, and call a steering wheel a handle. One reason may be that a lot of English vocabulary entered Korea while it was under Japanese occupation.
Indonesian has borrowed a lot of words because it is a relatively young language, based on an older variety of Malay. When English nouns are borrowed, they more or less retain the sound and meaning of the original. But when verbs and adjectives are borrowed, they are often changed to fit Indonesian grammar and morphology. Thus 'to control' is mengkontrol or mengontrol. You might be able to work out that melobi comes from 'to lobby' (although Indonesians use it more to mean 'discuss'). And recently on Indonesian radio, someone was heard complaining about politicians who just menothingkan (do nothing).
Japanized English not noticed that we usually live every day.We notice whenｔhe mistake is pointed out by someone. I think that Japanized English is the one necessary for the future.Because the word of the home country and the word of another country mixed to make new word,it is very nice.We live Globalization time so we recognize each other`s diffrence and improve.
ReplyDeleteJapanese have changed meanings and pronunciations of English word, just because it is easy to pronounce or suitable to our life style.I think it is opportunism.And it cause "Gairaigo problem".Since we get accustomed to speak many English words in daily life, we hardly prctice to pronounce the difference of "L"and"R"sound seriously.
ReplyDeleteEnglish education system in Japan does not place much emphasis on pronunciation. I simply memorised English idioms and grammer at school. It is necessary for learning English,but is not enough.We need to recognise the different structures between Japanese and English.
When you start learning Japanese you quickly realise that it's going to be a long road.
ReplyDeleteKanji, Hiragana, Katakana, grammar.. a lot of steps to climb and here is one more.
Try to unsderstand some english words in Japanese...
We all use English no matters where we are coming from,and our different accents can make English sometimes more hard to understand. But, still English speakers are able to get the meaning.
Japaneses, almost all of the time, use a syllable system, based on a series of vowels and consonants,
"ka-mi-ka-ze", "o-ki-ru", and, some of our letters, such as "V, B, Q, L" are not used, which makes Japaneses prononciation
of English of course possible with training but more difficult.
The new technologies have an effect on all of us and force us to use English more and more...
But, in Japan, English words are written in Japanese own alphabet,(Katakana for foreigns words or brand names)
which make their comprehension harder for the English speakers.
"Telebi" pronounced very fast can effectively means "tv" but it takes some times to catch the habbit, and
"Skype" written "Sukaipu" was a kind of enigma for me.
It goes the same for many languages and not only English.
If I teach a japanese person the way he should pronounce the French name "Michel",
I will type "mi-she-ru" which is, said quickly, the closest from it, and, the way it should be written in Katakana.
Japan is creating his own language.
Is it an unconscious way to counter the invasion of english? Is it serving or deserving Japan?
For me, it's just one more step in the difficult and passionating learning of Nihongo!
There are a lot of loanwords in Japan. But I recently knew the word I think it is Japanese before is loanword. I think there are many Japanese people Who think about loanword same me. Using loanword mix own language in daily life is very useful. I think loanword is recognized own language and it is necessary to be careful in our choice of words when talk with English speaker.
ReplyDeleteThank you for all these comments regarding loanwords in Japanese. It seems that there are various opinions about gairaigo, but whether we like it or not, it is an important part of Japanese. I think by studying such words we can learn quite a lot about both English and Japanese and the way they interact with each other. Our French friend (Salut, merci de suivre notre blog et bonne chance avec vos etudes en japonais!) makes an interesting point that the phonic changes that English words undergo could be a kind of cultural resistance. I wonder if French people nowadays tend to pronounce English loanwords in a more 'French' or more 'English' way? There are, of course, thousands of French words in English. I think we pronounce them in a kind of French way (envelope = 'onvelope') for the first decades that they enter the language, but then they get anglicised.
ReplyDeleteSalut! Bonjour de France.
ReplyDeleteEnglish words are more and more used in French. Young people start to use them in slang.They use a lot "c'est ta life" which means for us "it's your business,not mine" (maybe you say that in English too??),"shopping","cool" and "bye" are also very used by everybody.
But we can still not pronounce the "r" the way English do, instead of French canadians who are pronouncing English words the right way ,with the right accent.
It is difficult to pronounce French "R" for foreigners I guess.
English and French languages have a lot in common.
Maybe this inluence came a long time ago when England got colonized by Romans.
Japanese is always changing include loanwords. I think we are usually living without considering the meaning of loanwords, pronunciation and the origin. Because we got accustomed to those loanwords. Also in the field of a Japanese education system, the teacher is sometimes having a class in loanwords as well. While these loanwords have spread, there are also many good points like it is easy to memorize and talk each other. But there are also some bad points. One of those reasons is given an example by foreign tourists. I think the foreign tourists who come to Japan have much experience puzzled for the loanwords. Japanese people learn both English and loanwords. Of course that will be good for us. But I think we should think more that how to use the loanwords, the place to be used and the consideration for foreigners.
ReplyDeleteLoanwords are a complicated words from a native English speaker. But Japanese understand loanwords.For example "salari-man" is meaning of office worker. also "hamba-gu" is meaning of a hamburger. When I went to USA, I asked one person of american. I said "Excuse me ? Where's a coin-laundry??" he said "Sorry, I don't know what you say." I was surprised! After that I noticed there's not a that word in USA. I think many Asian countries don't accept Engish as a English. Because that's proud of native language.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting English evolves loanwords.Moreover it is interesting English speakers can,t understand it too.
ReplyDeleteI think changing English depends on Asian countries's characteristic,culture,and grammar.Because words change useful for one county people.I think it is fun to look into the origin of Japanese loanwords.
I think loanwords whose pronunciation and meaning is wrong is drived from our English ability.So i think the more the ability increase,the less loanwords is.
ReplyDeleteIn using Japanese,we are not necessary to distinguish the loan English word strictly ,so even if we are not allowed using loan word , sometimes it happen to come out of a mouth unconsiciously.
ReplyDeleteThe foreigner who is fist time to Japan might get a feeling of strange about the loan English word used in the wrong implications,but it already has got used deeply in Japan ,i guess it is difficult to change it correctly.
Eri Sato
ReplyDeleteLoanwords is convenient for a Japanese,because we don't have to learn Japanese translation.
but,Unfortunately sometimes native speaker s can't understand loanwords .
There are many loanwords in Japan today ,but we must be careful about how to use it.
I'm taking it for granted that there are a lot of loanwords in Japanese but when it comes to the opposite situation somehow I really feel weird.
ReplyDeleteUnder such a globalized society it's a kind of hard work to create new words for every single new idea or technology came from overseas. It is very instant and useful way to loan words for them.
There are loan words in Chinese too. For example, cartoon （katong）, sofa（shafa） and poker（puke）and so on. After the War of Opium, the Chinese became more exposed to English. Thus, there was the need to create some new words that had not been used in Chinese previously. Following the revolution of New Culture，we adopted the Vernacular Chinese (more colloquial compared to Classical Chinese) in work, study and communication. The number of loan words increased rapidly. Since “Reform and Opening up” in 1980s, the Chinese became more connected to the global community. As a result, more loan words arose. I am not against the use of loan words as it makes the Chinese language more diversified in terms of expression. It also helps reshape the way the Chinese think, so that they are more comfortable communicating with foreigners now. However, being overly reliant on loan words may threaten the native language. Thus, there is a concern about how to balance the use of a country's native language and loan words from foreign language.
ReplyDeleteThere are loan words in Chinese too. For example, cartoon （katong）, sofa（shafa） and poker（puke）and so on. After the War of Opium, the Chinese became more exposed to English. Thus, there was the need to create some new words that had not been used in Chinese previously. Following the revolution of New Culture，we adopted the Vernacular Chinese (more colloquial compared to Classical Chinese) in work, study and communication. The number of loan words increased rapidly. Since “Reform and Opening up” in 1980s, the Chinese became more connected to the global community. As a result, more loan words arose. I am not against the use of loan words as it makes the Chinese language more diversified in terms of expression. It also helps reshape the way the Chinese think, so that they are more comfortable communicating with foreigners now. However, being overly reliant on loan words may threaten the native language. Thus, there is a concern about how to balance the use of a country's native language and loan words from foreign language.
ReplyDelete830
ReplyDeleteI think loan words need not resemble original words, because it is the best for the people to understand words' meaning easily. For example, In the Meiji period, many English words were translated into Japanese. "Democracy" is translated ”minnsyusyugi”（民主主義）by a Japanese philosophy. Many Japanese can guess the meaning of the word from the Chinese character.
"Loanword" is in some ways inaccurate because once a language borrows a word it doesn't give it back again - it makes it its own, which means changing it orthographically, phonologically and semantically. There is no point in a speaker of the language that 'lent' the word in complaining that it has been changed. It is nevertheless interesting to analyse how and why these changes have happened.
ReplyDelete