As I was looking through the Japanese magazine starring Nicole Rich, I noticed that Nicole Rich was wearing デニムベストs of different designs and styles. And on the top, it was written デニムベスト, which is read denim-vest. Using katakana in this context I think emphasizes the foreign and non-traditional concept of denim vests. In common sense, or in my personal idea, Hiragana should stand for something more traditional such as traditional Japanese clothing, きもの。However, this concept of denim vest is so foreign and even from Western culture. Also, I have certain bias that words adapted in Kanji would signify something with more Asian content or culture. Since Kanji is adapted from Chinese character, and Japan has had long-term relationship with China and Korea, (Korea also used Chinese character before developing its own character Hangul), many Asian ideas and traditions could be easily expressed in Chinese Characters. Even though today the denim vest is commonly worn fashion item in Japan, its origin still stem from unfamiliar Western countries. Adapting denim vest into Japanese Hiragana or Kanji characters may insinuate that denim vest is traditional. This is why I believe デニムベスト、 a loan word, is used without being adapted into Kanji or Hiragana.
Another frequent use of Katakana is for onomatopoeia. As I was reading One Piece, a Japanese Manga, I found a phrase ヴオルルル！ガララ! This is what Roopy says when he is fighting his enemy and trying to gather his power to elevate himself and force himself to fight. I believe katakana is used in this case to heighten the dramatic moment and thus for emphasis. Furthermore, hiragana and Kanji are less fluid word in terms in that it cannot be manipulated with such fluidity. However, since Katakana is used to cover what Kanji and Hiragana cannot. Thus, since with Kanji and Hiragana such dramatic words could not be made from traditional characters, Katakana is manipulated and made to express emphasis and to represent the energy of the scene.
Most textbooks says Katakana is used for loan words, onomatopoeias, and to emphasize words in general. Nevertheless, the definition differs from each textbook to others. This is possibly because as I mentioned Katakana is used to cover what hiragana and Kanji cannot with fluidity. New words and expressions can be expressed only in Katakana. And we are living in a world of change where ideas and concepts are created every day. Also we are living in globalizing earth where ideas are exchanged between different continents. Since new and foreign ideas are introduced into Japan, Katakana, which is used for cultural adaptation of characters, is in its frequent use. Thus, katakana, which reflects this phenomenon, changes as well with its usage and meaning. This could be why textbooks do not have exact definition of Katakana.
"This is why I believe デニムベスト、 a loan word, is used without being adapted into Kanji or Hiragana. "
ReplyDeleteHmmm...are there loan words that were adapted into kanji or hiragana? As in...loan words from English, German, etc. (not Chinese)
I agree with you on your last point. Katakana's use is ever-changing and it's possible that people would invent more uses for it so it's hard to give an exact definition. Have you thought about why the need for katakana at all? A lot of languages deal with foreign words using their own characters. As of now Japanese is the only language that devised a almost entirely new writing system for foreign terms. Technically speaking there is no need for something like katakana. Hiragana totally would suffice.
I think your idea that Katakana is used to express the concept what Hiragana and Kanji cannot is really good. I think it is difficult to use Hiragana or Kanji to express it, because Kanji have meaning itself and Hiragana isn’t use for noun so much. It is not impossible to use Hiragana or Kanji, but it is easy to use Katakana. However, we use Katakana even if we can use Hiragana or Kanji. For example, we usually write 携帯電話(けいたいでんわ) to indicate cell phone, but some people use Katakana, ケータイ. I think there are some reasons, not only to emphasis. What do you think about it?
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with your opinion in the usage of Katakana for onomatopoeia. Katakana could express the emphasis and fludity, such as scenes in Japanese, rather than Hiragana and Kanji so that Japanese people more write onomatopoeia in Katakana.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting analysis!! I've never thought about the definition of Katakana.
ReplyDeleteAbout onomatopoeia, as you said, hiragana is also used, but in different situation from katakana’s. I personally feel hiragana is used to express soft, slow, or sweet phrases.
"Katakana is manipulated and made to express emphasis and to represent the energy of the scene." -- I totally agree with you. Those differences in katakana and hiragana are very interesting for me.
I think you make an excellent point about how カタカナ is used for loanwords to distinctly show that they are from another culture. I think that because Japan has such a distinct cultural identity and a distinct language, it made sense to use a different script to express ideas that are distinctly "other" from the Japanese cultural identity. Although kanji are obviously derived from Chinese characters and cannot be called specifically Japanese, their use alongside hiragana creates a very different feeling from the way that Chinese is written only using the hanzi. That is why I think it also made sense to develop a script that could be used to only express foreign words because it could express that sort of non-Japanese-ness of whatever word or phrase was being written.
ReplyDeleteI think that you are right to concentrate on the emphasis that katakana can give to a situation. Aki is right to point out ケータイ as well though. Katakana is often used for abbreviations, something that the Japanese are rather found of. A fun one is ニート。 Search that and see if your idea of katakana changes at all.
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