Perhaps the most interesting katakana expressions I found were the subject headings for the あさひしんぶん Online, which is the online version of a major Japanese newspaper. Though the website is entirely in Japanese (there are separate foreign language editions), the headings for each of the individuals topics were essentially all English words written in katakana. They include ウォーキング (Working), ブック (Book)、トラベル (Travel), カルチャー (Culture), and シネマ (Cinema). Obviously, there are Japanese words for all of these things, but the decision to write them as English loanwords in katakana suggests a very conscious choice on the part of the newspaper. As one of the textbook excerpts noted, katakana is often used as a way of appearing cosmopolitan and global, which seems to be the intent here. By writing their subject headings in katakana-ized English, they can give the impression of writing on more global topics and appealing to a more global audience.
The other interesting word I found was バイキング, a word which means "buffet" in Japanese. Phonetically it sounds like the English word "Viking," and it does have that meaning in Japanese as well. However, as 浜田先生 told me, most Japanese people would first think of a buffet if they heard that word. Apparently the origin of this term used to describe a buffet stems from a restaurant called the Imperial Viking, located in the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo. This restaurant was the first in Japan to serve buffet-style, all-you-can-eat meals. This particular term is an excellent example of the reinvention of foreign loanwords and their new applications within the context of Japanese culture.
I think each textbook had a different manner of explaining katakana due to the different viewpoints, interests, and intentions of any given textbook author. Most of the textbooks were similar in their description of katakana as a syllabary used to write loanwords, onomatopoeia, and words an author chooses to emphasize. The textbook that stood out was the one that also emphasized the more cultural aspect of katakana and its use in Japanese printed material to seem more cosmopolitan and sophisticated. As I found in the Asahi Shimbun Online and as I saw first-hand in Tokyo, it is true that even when a completely suitable Japanese word exists, many times people consciously decide to write in katakana-ized English or another foreign language. I think that the last textbook was the most comprehensive and interesting in its manner of explaining katakana because it went into greater depth regarding the cultural applications of katakana. While it is completely sufficient to say that katakana is used in loanwords and onomatopoeia, explaining more about how and when those loanwords will appear gives readers of Japanese a better idea of what to expect when they read printed material in Japanese.
That was a very insightful essay, and you know what I totally agree with you that using katakana over native Japanese words gives off a more cosmopolitan and global exuberance. Do you think we see a similar phenomena going on here in America when American Newspapers use Latin/French/European loan words in their headlines?
ReplyDeletePlus, I never knew that the word バイキング came from a restaurant with the same word in it. I always thought that vikings ate a lot and so probably a buffet would suit them best which is why the two concepts got associated with each other. べんきょうになりました！
The story behind バイキング was very interesting! I was always wondering why it is called バイキング. Reading your essay made me think the purpose of using カタカナ even deeper. In a way this is a Japanese way of being more westernized, but at the same time it can look like this is their way of keeping their traditional language, don't you think? All foreign words coming into Japan will be described in a Japanese letter with a Japanese pronunciation. Some of them are smiler enough to the original sounds, but many of them are not. If someone speaks in katakana-ized English, most of the English speakers will have trouble understanding it, won't they? Maybe カタカナ is a way of protecting our language the way it is... Thanks for the interesting point!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know about the origin of バイキング. There are a lot of katakana words the origin is unique. For example, the name of stapler is ホッチキス in Japanese, and ホッチキス means the name of inventor. I think it is interesting to classify the origin of katakana word.
ReplyDeleteIn these days, as you said, many katakana have been used, and I can't sometimes understand what does it means. Some people say that it is not good to use katakana word so much. What do you think about it?
in deed, I never knew about the origin of バイキング.
ReplyDeleteIt is also interesting how the Japanese people mistake it for another word.
As I was reading the comment, I remembered another interesting point.
Do you know in Korea, many people call stapler "Hochikesu" too?
Just like in Japanese.
Like all of them mentioned, I did not know about the バイキング. I was thinking about a starcraft 2 unit but I am aware of the fact that I am a nerd.
ReplyDeleteカタカナ can be very confusing. Like in our quiz everyday, we have this bonus section, where sensei will give us katakanas and let us guess the meaning of it. I had the most ridiculous guesses.
For instance, アルゼンチン, my guess was air sage(I do not even know what that is), but the answer should be argentina.
Learning from an online website can be really useful! Good luck!
Wow I agree too that I never even thought about the word バイキング、it's one of those things I didn't question even though why is a buffet a viking?? Very interesting post!!
ReplyDeleteIt is also interesting how カタカナ is used for emphasis, both for onomatopoeia as well as loan words, and the third option being to add a foreign flavor to a Japanese word, for marketing purposes, etc.