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[blue jay]

Japanese words borrowed from English
prove a mouthful

Mainichi Shimbun
July 15, 2004

If you've ever studied Japanese, you probably know that the modern language has an abundance of English loan words -- words that Japanese have borrowed from English and adapted to fit into their own language.

For English speakers, tracing these words back to their origin is relatively easy. "Sukejuuru," for example, is the equivalent of the English "schedule"; "intaanetto" is "Internet"; "gitaa" is "guitar."

Of course, there are exceptions: The meanings of "sekuhara" (sexual harassment), "kanningu" (cheating) and "rajikase" (radio cassette player), for example, are more difficult to guess.

Loan words such as those above become part of native Japanese speakers' everyday vocabulary once they are entrenched in the language; there is little chance that they will give a familiar "loan word" back and stop using it.

However, many loan words have for some reason or other remained unfamiliar to Japanese. To help deal with this problem the National Institute for Japanese Language recently drew up an interim list of Japanese equivalents for difficult loan words. It is the third time such a list has been presented.

One of the loan words on the list is "yunibaasaru dezain" (universal design). Since this word hasn't taken root the institute came up another expression in Japanese with the same meaning: "banninmuke sekkei."

"Domesutikku baiorensu" (domestic violence), similarly, was given a native Japanese translation, literally meaning violence between spouses. An alternative Japanese translation was also produced to include lovers.

Since 2002 when the National Institute for Japanese Language presented the first list of words, terms such as "onrain" (online), "deetabeesu" (database) and "fooramu" (forum) have become well used and it was decided that because there were no appropriate Japanese equivalents for these words, they would not be given corresponding Japanese expressions. "Mesena," which comes from the French "mecenat," meaning support of the arts and culture, for example, was not given a native Japanese equivalent because many organizations use it in their name.

Thirty-three words are included in the latest list of loan words. Fortunately, Japanese speakers can rely on the Japanese equivalents instead of memorizing the loan word if they need to use the term. "Rakkii" for them!

The most recent list of loan words to have crept into the Japanese language:

1. Akauntabiritii (accountability)
2. Inishiachibu (initiative)
3. Kauntaapaato (counterpart)
4. Gabanansu (governance)
5. Konfarensu (conference)
6. Konpuraiansu (compliance)
7. Sapurai saido (supply side)
8. Sukiru (skill)
9. Sutansu (stance)
10. Sutereotaipu (stereotype)
11. Seefugaado (safeguard)
12. Settobakku (setback)
13. Soryuushon (solution)
14. Tsuuru (tool)
15. Dejitaru debaido (digital divide)
16. Deforuto (default)
17. Dokutorin (doctrine)
18. Domesutikku baiorensu (domestic violence)
19. Hazaado mappu (hazard map)
20. Paburikku inborubumento (public involvement)
21. Paburikku komento (public comment)
22. Puraioritii (priority)
23. Bureekusuruu (breakthrough)
24. Purezenzu (presence)
25. Furontia (frontier)
26. Pootoforio (portfolio)
27. Botorunekku (bottle neck)
28. Manpawaa (man power)
29. Misshonn (mission)
30. Mobiritii (mobility)
31. Yunibaasaru dezain (universal design)
32. Riterashii (literacy)
33. Roodo puraishingu (road pricing)

[Glenski]

You will notice that most of those words are uttered by politicians, and their fellow politicians despise the use of such loanwords. It does not make anyone look smarter or more international, and many politicians don't even know what the words mean.

[The G-stringed Avenger]

The best one I ever heard was "Wiretap suru"

[Mike L.]

#1 defintiely a foreign word / concept!

[Rice Paddy Daddy]

A Japanse guy modelling and talking about his new clothes:

"Nekshto sheeshun" (Next season)

[The G-stringed Avenger]

Mike L, you didn't work at Chiba Nova did you?

[Mike L.]

NOPE! I have worked in Chiba though and would consider it my home prefecture If I was Japanese!