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.
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.[citation needed] 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 results 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.[citation needed]
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 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 risqué terms and ideas, such as the famous rabuho (love hotel), or the many massaaji (massage) and saabisu (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
Wasei-eigo has resulted in some inadvertently unfortunate results, such as the adoption in 2013 by Fukushima Industries of Fukuppy as the name of their corporate mascot.[8][9][10][11]
^ abcdefMiller, L. (1998). Wasei eigo: English “loanwords” coined in Japan. The life of language: Papers in linguistics in honor of William Bright.
^Ellen Freeman (15 January 2016). "12 "Made-in-Japan" English Terms that Might Confuse English Speakers". Mental Floss. from the original on 2019-05-28. Retrieved 2019-09-19.
^Miura, Akira (1998). English in Japanese: a selection of useful loanwords.
^ abKAY, G. (1995), English loanwords in Japanese. World Englishes, 14. doi:10.1111/j.1467-971X.1995.tb00340.x
^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.
^MacGregor, Laura (2003). The language of shop signs in Tokyo. English Today, null, pp 18 doi:10.1017/S0266078403001020
^ abcdHogan, J. (2003). The social significance of English usage in Japan. Japanese studies, 23(1).
^"Eggsactly the right name". Stuff. New Zealand. 22 October 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
^"Fukushima's Fukuppy Lesson". FleishmanHillard. No. 12. August 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
^McCurry, Justin (18 November 2020). "'Hello work' or job centre? language experts spell trouble for Japan's mangled English". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
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. Vol. 108. Berlin: Mouton / De Gruyter. pp. 123–139. ISBN3-11-015633-4. at Google Books
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). ISBN4-05-301351-8.
Miura, Akira (1998). English in Japanese : a selection of useful loanwords (1. Weatherhill ed.). New York [u.a.]: Weatherhill. ISBN0834804212.
External links
For a list of words relating to Wasei-eigo, see the Wasei eigo category of words in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Wasei-eigo examples
Wiktionary entry for handorukīpā
March 18, 2023
wasei, eigo, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, november, 2013. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Wasei eigo news newspapers books scholar JSTOR November 2013 Learn how and when to remove this template message 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 handorukipa 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 Contents 1 Confusion with gairaigo 2 Compared to other Japanese word classes 3 History and process 4 In the media 5 Social connotations and main users 6 See also 7 References 8 Further reading 9 External linksConfusion with gairaigo EditWasei 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 citation needed 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 results in an entirely novel meaning as compared to the original intended meaning 1 123 139 Compared to other Japanese word classes EditWasei 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 EditThere 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 citation needed 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 EditMany scholars 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 EditThough 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 rabuho love hotel or the many massaaji massage and saabisu 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 Wasei eigo has resulted in some inadvertently unfortunate results such as the adoption in 2013 by Fukushima Industries of Fukuppy as the name of their corporate mascot 8 9 10 11 See also EditEngrish List of gairaigo and wasei eigo terms List of Japanese Latin alphabetic abbreviations Konglish the same phenomenon in Korean language Bonin English sometimes considered an Anglo Japanese mixed languageReferences Edit a b c d e f Miller L 1998 Wasei eigo English loanwords coined in Japan The life of language Papers in linguistics in honor of William Bright Ellen Freeman 15 January 2016 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 Miura Akira 1998 English in Japanese a selection of useful loanwords a b KAY G 1995 English loanwords in Japanese World Englishes 14 doi 10 1111 j 1467 971X 1995 tb00340 x 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 MacGregor Laura 2003 The language of shop signs in Tokyo English Today null pp 18 doi 10 1017 S0266078403001020 a b c d Hogan J 2003 The social significance of English usage in Japan Japanese studies 23 1 Eggsactly the right name Stuff New Zealand 22 October 2013 Retrieved 20 November 2020 Agence France Presse 1 April 2016 Japan s Kinki University ditches saucy name Deccan Chronicle Retrieved 21 November 2020 Fukushima s Fukuppy Lesson FleishmanHillard No 12 August 2016 Retrieved 20 November 2020 McCurry Justin 18 November 2020 Hello work or job centre language experts spell trouble for Japan s mangled English The Guardian Retrieved 22 November 2020 Further reading EditMiller 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 Vol 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 External links Edit For a list of words relating to Wasei eigo see the Wasei eigo category of words in Wiktionary the free dictionary Wasei eigo examples Wiktionary entry for handorukipa Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wasei eigo amp oldid 1136079069, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
