Group Project 1
Introduction:
Our group analyzed two distinct web pages comparing its usage of Japanese words. Our first website is from an NHK news article (http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20170422/k10010957721000.html?utm_int=news-new_contents_list-items_040) in regards to a governmental issue.
In contrast, our second website is a description of the mobile smartphone game, Pokémon GO (http://www.pokemongo.jp/howto/get/).
Analysis:
In the NHK news site, we noticed that there is an abundance of Sino-Japanese vocabulary (漢語). In most cases, Sino-Japanese (SJ) words express complex and abstract concepts. Since this is a political news site and the topic is concerning government-related issues, more formal and complex vocabulary are used to create high-prestige language.
As we can see, the title of this article only contains three hiragana characters: は, の and を for grammar needed.
The typical noun plus verb form of SJ words are present in the news article. These examples include 説明する and 新設する. The nouns 説明 and 新設, meaning explanation and newly established respectively, are paired with the verb する. Other SJ examples include 経済産業政務官. This string of kanji characters translates to “economic and industry parliamentary office.” They are written in this form because these words represent complex concepts. Since this news article consists of complex concepts, its complex writing style is also reflected in word choice. The author of the article chooses to use 有識者, the formal word for “expert,” instead of the simpler word, 名人. Despite equivalent definitions, the formal word is used because governmental affairs is a serious topic. SJ vocabulary are often used in more formal settings. When dealing with these worldwide situations, government officials must be respectful and polite to other cultures. This formal environment forces them to use SJ vocabulary.
Some foreign loanwords (外来語) can also be found on this site. For example, 『東京オリンピック・パラリンピックのテロ対策だ』means “terrorism measures against the Tokyo Olympic and the Paralympic”. The foreign word, テロ was adopted from the English word “terrorism” and then shortened. オリンピック・パラリンピック are adopted from English words, “Olympic” and “Paralympic,” as well. We believe the purpose of using these difficult loanwords is to appear more modern within the governmental realm.
In addition, we believe that the site’s intended audience are adults. Our reasoning is based off of the article’s the high-difficulty level vocabulary. If young children were to read this, the kanji used for the SJ words might be too challenging to read and its complicated concepts could be difficult to understand.
On the contrary, the following is an analysis of a Pokémon GO site. As we know, this game can be played by an array of ages, mostly directed towards the younger generation. In this site, foreign loanwords (FL) are mostly used. As we have learned, loanwords are typically adopted from a host language and often carry images and perceptions that convey a “modern,” “Western,” and “sophisticated” appearance. Since this is an advertisement site which aims to promote Pokémon GO, FL words are used as a marketing strategy to create a pleasant cosmopolitan mood.
The function of the Foreign loanwords ダウンロード in this picture not only conveys information, but also imagery, which can be considered as an advertising strategy.
One eye-catching example on this webpage are the Roman characters “Pokémon GO.” Even though these words can easily be written in the Japanese script (as ポケモン・ゴー) the author decided to write it in Roman characters for aesthetics purposes. Even the English verbs “play” and “tap” have been adopted into Japanese as プレイします, タップする. These verbs have native-Japanese (NJ) equivalents: 遊びますand 打ちます. The NJ forms are commonly used, but this site writes them in katakana in order to appeal to Japanese audiences.
Other adopted words include マップ, モニュメント and モンスターボール. While マップ and モニュメント can be replaced with 地図 and 記念碑, モンスターボール does not have a NJ word. It is interesting to note how despite the Pokémon franchise originating in Japan, it used Western words to create their own vocabulary. This was a new innovation that was named by a pair of Western words. The concept of モンスターボール (in English, monster ball) could be translated into Japanese as 怪獣玉 but to be fashionable, FL words are used. Within the Pokémon realm, the Japanese-created word, “monster ball,” makes sense because it is a ball used to catch monsters.
Some foreign words are incorporated into the Japanese language either because it originated from another language or the concept simply does not exist in Japanese. A player in a video game and swiping one’s finger across a screen are two concepts that were not originally present in Japan. That is why the FL words プレイヤー (player) and スワイプ (swipe) are used.
It is evident that this site is intended for children because of the abundance of hiragana. The website uses the hiragana forms さまざまな and いろいろな even though they can be written with kanji (様々な and 色々な). The less amount of kanji, the more friendly it is for children. The hermeneutic significance to using hiragana also provokes a less serious tone. The informal tone fits in with the sense of playing a game and having fun.
In regards to this relaxed and entertaining vibe, we noticed many phrases end in the word ～こと. こと, literally meaning “thing,” also contributes to the less serious tone. In this context, 捕まえることができます can be written as 捕まえる. By incorporating こと into the sentence, it seems like 捕まえる (to catch) is more generalized and less restrictive. This freedom in catching Pokémon makes the game more fun to its players.
Since the content is easy to grasp, the words used are not as challenging to read. The FL words are from English and many can easily be translated into NJ. One of the reasons for using English foreign words is to make the game more appealing to Japanese users.
In addition, foreign words are popular among younger generations. Their often natural tendencies to accept Western culture leads to faster integration and more effective advertisements of new products. Integrating Roman letters adds an aesthetically pleasing element to the page and also authenticates the product because Japanese customers tend to think Western words are “cool.”
