The National Institute for Japanese Language (NIJL) is on the warpath. After its third meeting in an ongoing campaign, the organization is seeking to eliminate another 32 English words or phrases that have been deemed a standard part of daily Japanese. Providing this latest grouping is accepted, it will bring the total number of purged words to 141.
Now personally (and for obvious reasons) I’m more than happy to have English words used in everyday conversation. The more the merrier is my motto. But at the same time I can understand the NIJL’s concerns, especially as many of the words could presumably be just as easily said in Japanese. A few from the latest batch are, solution, mission, literacy, and initiative. I certainly couldn’t imagine imported Japanese words being used for similar examples in English.
But in its quest to limit the number of borrowed words, the NIJL is in danger of going a little too far. Some other examples up for elimination — and that are said to be a part of daily Japanese — are hazard map, road pricing, and my personal favourite, bottleneck manpower. Yes, bottleneck manpower! Is that a real word (or phrase) in any language, let alone one used in everyday conversation?
Perhaps of greater concern however is the NIJL’s process for selecting these words and phrases. It is rather worryingly based upon the comprehension of those aged 60 and over. If a word is misunderstood by at least a third of those canvassed, it is deemed worthy of inclusion. That’s it.
My fear concerning this it-has-to-be-understood-by-seniors approach is that other groups may latch on to the process, and before we know it, VCR’s, text messages, and video games could all become a thing of the past. Heck, if my father is a good indicator of his generation, then the internet, DVD’s, and even washing machines could also become purging potential.
Luddites rejoice!
misty says
Out of interest, when learning english, do Japanese school children learn uk english or us english – i.e. colour vs color, or is it dependent on who’s teaching or something else ?
Thanks 🙂
Lee says
As far as state schools go, it’s US English all the way. Spelling, pronunciation, the lot.
Being British it isn’t a major issue, but I do have to explain the differences at times. A good example is that I almost aways get confused looks when I pronounce the “t” in often.
And as far as spelling goes, I’ve had kids shout out that I have mispelt the word when I have written “colour” on the board!
misty says
Thanks for the info 🙂 Being a Brit myself, that’s pretty much as I expected. No wonder foreign people say english is so easy to learn, when they are learning the stripped down US english language version with less sneaky silent letters ^_^
nomad says
… The problem I always encounter is the perversion of meaning when English is incorporated into Japanese.
… I was told once that a woman in the office was very ‘high tension’. Taken as English… ??? She’s under a lot of stress? Has some kind of muscular problem??? Turns out she’s just really excitable and bouncingly happy…. Ooookay.