KJC Korea
Journal Central

This study focused on the linguistic behavior of native Japanese speakers in non-face-to-face contact situations. To clarify foreigners’ evaluation of Foreigner Talk(FT), we conducted an evaluation survey of ten FTs among 110 foreign residents. The results showed that the FT most likely to fail in conveying consideration was “informal form,” “comprehension confirmation,” “particle omission,” and “Anata,” while that most likely to fail in conveying meaning was “comprehension confirmation” and “informal form.” In addition, we were able to confirm that there are differences in evaluation depending on whether the evaluation is based on the emotional or comprehension aspect, and we were also able to verify that the evaluation can differ even for the same FT depending on the level of their Japanese. This suggests that the use of FT with foreigners cannot be considered generally effective or ineffective and that factors such as foreigners’ Japanese language level and their linguistic and cultural spheres must be considered. However, because most survey participants in this study were native Korean speakers, it must be noted that the survey results may be characteristic of Koreans. In the future, it will be necessary to conduct surveys targeting foreigners from more diverse language cultures and Japanese language levels and to further investigate other types of FT.

This study is designed to discover meaning and function of ‘tehosikunai’ and ‘naidehosii’ that two negative forms of ‘tehosii’ aiming to describe expectation and request. ‘Tehosikunai’ is mainly used in describing negative expectation, refusal, suggest, or order. This form cannot be used unless preconditions are satisfied. Otherwise, ‘naidehosii’ can be when preconditions are not met and includes meaning of negative expectations, consideration, one’s opinion and negative imperative. The differences between ‘tehosikunai’ and ‘naidehosii’ are also discovered. These two negative forms has clear distinctions in 1) correlation with postpositions, 2) relationship between the scope and focus of negation, 3) existence of preconditions, and 4) meaning and function. In extended study in future, the past tense and its usage of ‘tehosikunakatta/naidehosikatta’ would be discovered.

The purpose of this study is to examine how the Japanese word “Gamsaje” is used in Korean newspaper articles and analyze its influence and integration within the sociolinguistic context. The term “Gamsaje” is frequently employed in newspaper articles across various categories. Two types of “Gamsaje” are identified: one is the expression of gratitude toward God, while the other is a thanksgiving festival involving special sales for customers. The usage of “Gamsaje” demonstrated a higher frequency of occurrence after 2015 and from 1990 to 2022. Furthermore, 2019 had the highest number of appearances (15.1%), followed by 2018 (10.4%) and 2015 (8.4%). Starting from a reference point of 8.4% in 2015, the number of appearances that previously did not exceed 3% exhibited an annual increase and decrease of more than 5%. It has been observed that Uniqlo’s “Gamsaje” has also gained widespread usage in Korean society. However, after 2019, domestic brands have displayed a slight decline in their use of “Gamsaje.” This can be attributed to the adoption and utilization of alternative terms to replace “Gamsaje” with domestic brands. The expansion of “Gamsaje” in Korea has been noted across various categories. Instances within diverse sectors such as clothing, fashion, household goods, furniture, food and beverages, cosmetics, science and technology services, games, electronics, education services, applications, travel services, sports, arts and entertainment, corporate welfare services, and pharmaceutical products were examined.

Aspects of the adverbs of degree in machine translation are divided into large and small degrees. Large-degree adverbs are represented by certain adverbs in correspondence with Korean. “あまり(amari),” which contains a number of negative evaluations was found to be “너무(neomu)”, and “とても(totemo),” which has only limited usage of pure degree was found to be “매우(maeu)” and “아주(ajou).“ In addition, it can be seen that “かなり(kanari)”, “ けっこう(kekkou),” “ずいぶん(zuibun),” “だいぶ(daibu),” and “なかなか(nakanaka),” which are used in pure and quantitative degrees have neutral evaluations that are converted into “꽤(kkawe)” and “상당히(sangdanghi).” Word order variation in misuse and transformation appeared in “けっこう”, “ずいぶん,” “だいぶ”, “とても”, and adverbial omissions appeared in “ずいぶん”, “とても”, and “かなり.“ “ずいぶん” especially was one of the prominent adverbs in transformations in addition to word order variation and omission. “少し(sukoshi)” and “ちょっと(chotto),” which represent small degree adverbs, were largely found to be “조금(jogeum)” and “좀(jom)” in Korean correspondence. In addition, examples such as changing the positions of adverbs, omitting repeated adverbs, and transforming adverbs into natural contexts appeared. In particular, the secondary functions of “ちょっと” such as request, consent, call, and restraint also occurred in machine translation.

This paper focuses on Saito’s idiomological English-Japanese dictionary, published by Saito Hidesaburo (1866-1929) in order to examine the reception and influence of Western languages, which are seen here in the process of establishing modern Japanese grammar. I compare the contents and grammatical items of modern bilingual dictionaries, especially the concept of “Jyukugo (熟語)” and the setting of English parts of speech, with those of Otsuki Fumihiko (1847-1928). Saito Hidesaburo’s “Jukugo=Idiomological” which appeared through Saito’s idiomological English-Japanese dictionary, was found to be close to “collocation information” the same as that of Otsuki Fumihiko. Around 1877 (Meiji 10), the movement seeking the systematization of Japanese grammar based on Western grammar books, especially English grammar books, was well under way. Based on respect for predecessors and avoiding grammatical terminology, unfamiliar viewpoints, and exhaustive debate, he tried to harmonize his work with “折衷文法 (eclectic grammar)” based on 19th-century traditional English grammar. Such systematization seems to have taken root in modern Japanese grammar and English education.

This paper examines the meaning and expressive characteristics of “Wind” in Hōsai’s haiku. In Hōsai haiku’s vocabulary, “Wind” is the most common subject. The subject of “Wind” is prevalent in Hōsai’s vocabulary, often associated with nature, life, and himself. By exploring the relationship between the “Wind” and the object, Hōsai explores the seasonal sense of the “Wind,” the life and death of the organism, and his personal experiences. Hōsai’s “Wind” come into play as the wind that signals the change of season, the wind of fruit, representing the various sorrows in life and the stimulant of self-reflection. For Hōsai, the “Wind” is a particular medium that evokes force majeure, willlessness, and fate as a human being. He realizes the rationality of nature, accepts his environment and situation, and makes his own world of haiku.

This study examines the gender representation of “make-up” in modern Japan through an analysis of Higuchi Ichiyo’s work, “Nigorie.” “Nigorie,” set in Meiji 28, follows a married woman, Ohatsu, who has traces of black teeth and shaved eyebrows., and the prostitute, Oriki, who represents status with her white powdered make-up up to the collar. The “make-up” signifies obedience in a wife and heightened femininity. It functions as a gender representation of enforced norms in the patriarchal social structure of the time. Both Ohatsi and Oriki are passive beings. One supports her husband inside and outside the home; the other becomes the object of male sexual desire. Ohatsu is unilaterally notified that her husband is divorcing her. Oriki meets a miserable end at the hands of Genshichi. Despite their differing status and positions, both women lose their livelihoods due to a man’s actions. Remarkably, Genshichi, the perpetrator, is praised for his “good death” through a traditional form of suicide known as “disembowelment.” This irony highlights the persistence of old traditions and values in modern society. “Nigorie” expresses archaic conventions and gender norms within the backdrop of a patriarchal modern society.