Wasei-eigo

Wasei-eigo (和製英語, meaning "Japanese-made English" or "English words coined in Japan") are Japanese-language expressions based on English words, or parts of word combinations, that do not exist in standard English or whose meanings differ from the words from which they were derived. Linguistics classifies them as pseudo-loanwords or pseudo-anglicisms.

Wasei-eigo words, compound words and portmanteaus are constructed by Japanese speakers on the basis of loanwords derived from English and embedded into the Japanese lexicon with refashioned, novel meanings diverging significantly from the originals.[1]:124 An example is handorukīpā (ハンドルキーパー, "handle-keeper"), derived from "handle" with the meaning of "steering wheel", with the full phrase meaning designated driver.[2] Some wasei-eigo terms are not recognizable as English words in English-speaking countries; one example is sukinshippu (スキンシップ, "skinship"), which refers to physical contact between close friends or loved ones and appears to be a portmanteau of skin and kinship.[3]:156–157 In other cases, a word may simply have gained a slightly different meaning; for instance, kanningu (カンニング) does not mean "cunning," but "cheating" (on a test). Some wasei-eigo are subsequently borrowed from Japanese into other languages, including English itself.

Confusion with gairaigo

Wasei-eigo is often confused with gairaigo, which refers simply to loanwords or "words from abroad". Some of the main contributors to this confusion are the phonological and morphological transformations that they undergo to suit Japanese phonology and syllabary. These transformations often result in truncated (or "backclipped") words and words with extra vowels inserted to accommodate the Japanese mora syllabic structure.[4]:70 Wasei-eigo, on the other hand, is the re-working of and experimentation with these words that result in an entirely novel meaning as compared to the original intended meaning.[1]:123–139

Compared to other Japanese word classes

Wasei-eigo is distinct from Engrish, the misuse or corruption of the English language by native Japanese speakers, as it consists of words used in Japanese conversation, not an attempt at speaking English.[5] These include acronyms and initialisms particular to Japan (see list of Japanese Latin alphabetic abbreviations). Wasei-eigo can be compared to wasei-kango (和製漢語, Japanese-created kango (Chinese compounds)), which are Japanese pseudo-Sinicisms (Japanese words created from Chinese roots) and are also extremely common.

History and process

There was a large influx of English loanwords introduced to Japan during the Meiji period, which was an important factor in Japan's modernization.[6] Because they were so quickly accepted into Japanese society there was not a thorough understanding of the actual meaning of the word, leading to misinterpretations and deviations from their original meaning.

Since English loanwords are adopted into Japan intentionally (as opposed to diffusing "naturally" through language contact, etc.), the meaning often deviates from the original. When these loanwords become so deeply embedded in the Japanese lexicon, it leads to experimentation and re-fashioning of the words' meaning, thus resulting in wasei-eigo.[1]:127

In the media

Many scholars also agree that the main proponent behind these wasei-eigo terms is the media, in order to create interest and novelty in their advertising and products.[1]:133 The use of English words is also an attempt by advertisers to portray a modern, cosmopolitan image – one that is often associated with Western culture.[7]:48

Social connotations and main users

Though there is disagreement about the assumption that the majority of wasei-eigo are created by advertisers, the audience that predominantly uses wasei-eigo is youth and women.[1]:123–139 Many Japanese consider English loanword usage to be more casual and as being used mainly among peers of the same status.[7]:49 In addition, many wasei-eigo words are used to camouflage risque terms and ideas, such as the famous rabbuho (love hotel), or the many massaji (massage) and sabisu (service) associated with taboo topics. Finally, wasei-eigo may be used to express a poetic and emphatic need of the speaker, resulting in a new term.[1]

English loanwords are usually written in katakana, making it apparent that they are words non-native to Japan.[4]:73 This constant reminder that these are loanwords, and not natively Japanese, links the meanings of the words with the idea of "foreignness". Because of this, wasei-eigo (and some English loanwords) is often used as a method for speaking about taboo and controversial topics in a safe and neutral way.[7]:52 Further, being non-native Japanese words and marked as foreign in their writing, they can be associated with concepts and subjects that are non-normal, or uncommon in Japan.[7]:57

gollark: ... try rebooting? Hold Ctrl and R.
gollark: Ah, that's the SPUDNET linkup. You should just be able to ignore that, probably?
gollark: You can ++remind yourself.
gollark: Although you could just run it on a command computer.
gollark: Look, if I could do that, I would have taken over AT LEAST three modded servers.

See also

References
  1. Miller, L. (1998). Wasei eigo: English “loanwords” coined in Japan. The life of language: Papers in linguistics in honor of William Bright.
  2. Ellen Freeman. "12 "Made-in-Japan" English Terms that Might Confuse English Speakers". Mental Floss. Archived from the original on 2019-05-28. Retrieved 2019-09-19.
  3. Miura, Akira (1998). English in Japanese: a selection of useful loanwords.
  4. KAY, G. (1995), English loanwords in Japanese. World Englishes, 14. doi:10.1111/j.1467-971X.1995.tb00340.x
  5. Nagae, Akira (October 28, 2005). 恥ずかしい和製英語　[著]スティーブン・ウォルシュ [Embarrassing Japanese-English Words [Author] Stephen Walsh] (book review) (in Japanese). Weekly Asahi. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  6. MacGregor, Laura (2003). The language of shop signs in Tokyo. English Today, null, pp 18 doi:10.1017/S0266078403001020
  7. Hogan, J. (2003). The social significance of English usage in Japan. Japanese studies, 23(1).

Further reading
  • Miller, Laura (1997). "Wasei eigo: English 'loanwords' Coined in Japan". In Hill, Jane H.; Mistry, P.J.; Campbell, Lyle (eds.). The Life of Language: Papers in Linguistics in Honor of William Bright. Trends in Linguistics: Studies and Monographs. 108. Berlin: Mouton / De Gruyter. pp. 123–139. ISBN 3-11-015633-4. at Google Books
  • Masuda, Koh, ed. (1991). Kenkyusha's New Japanese-English Dictionary (4th ed.). Tokyo: Kenkyusha Limited. ISBN 4-7674-2015-6.
  • Gakken (2003). 用例でわかるカタカナ新語辞典 [Katakana Shingo-jiten (Katakana by Example New Word Dictionary)] (in Japanese). ISBN 4-05-301351-8.
  • Miura, Akira (1998). English in Japanese : a selection of useful loanwords (1. Weatherhill ed.). New York [u.a.]: Weatherhill. ISBN 0834804212.
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