概要
みなさんが普段何気なく使っている「モーニング・サービス」が実は和製英語である
ことを知っている人が一体何人いるのだろう？これは英語で「朝の礼拝」を意味するのだ。この
ように、現在使われている日本語全体の１割強はカタカナ語であり、そのうちの約 8 割が英語か
ら来た外来語である。
しかしながら、我々があたかも英語のように使ってしまう外来語は、日本に帰化した外国人が日
本の法律に従うのと同じように日本語の中に入ってきた際日本語化した言葉なのであるが、英語
と日本語は構造が根本的に違う。そのため、それらはとても独特で本物の英語とはいくらか違い、
英語を理解する上で混乱を生じさせるものである。
外来語は英語を身近なものにした反面、英語そのものの意味を忘れさせがちであるのだ。では、
なぜ英語圏の人々に通じないのか。英語と外来語（和製英語）の違いはどこにあるのか。
ここではこれらを音声・文法・意味の 3 つの変化の観点から様々に比較、分析してみた。外来語
と英語の間に相違やズレがあることは確かであるが、広い見方をすればそれらの繋がりは大きく
広いのである。このズレを調査して、英語を学ぶ時や英語教育に有効利用することが何より重要
であると言えよう。
1. Introduction
1.1. Difference between Gairaigo from English
2. Phonological changes in Japanese English
2.1.1. Consonant clusters
2.1.2. Strength of consonants
2.1.3. Consonant types
1.1.4. Stress changes
3. Syntactic changes in Japanese English
3.1. Plurality
3.2. –ed
3.3. and
3.4. –ing
1.5. Articles
4. Semantic changes in Japanese English
4.1 Meaning shift
4.2. Meaning reduction
4.3. Meaning expansion
5. Gairaigo from all languages other than English
6. Conclusion
1.
Introduction
The Japanese language has borrowed words from many foreign
languages, and it has been changed to Japanesque English by Japanese
people. This is called Gairaigo or ‘Waseieigo’(Janglish) in Japanese, and the
difference between Gairaigo and real Englishare frequent. These are now
widely used in Japan, and more than 80%are from English. However, they are
quite unique and there are various differences in pronunciation, meaning,
grammatical from real English. So, in some cases it might happen confusion.
Of all others, ‘Waseieigo’ (=It is like English made in Japan, so it’s not
current as English) has many kinds and is commonly used nowadays. However,
how different them are problem have to research well. Here, I’ll analyze about
these words in detail.
1.1. Differences between Gairaigo and English
Gairaigo has difference between foreign languages. Gairaigo’s base
is from English. So, why are there differences between them?
In short, Gairaigo was changed from English into Japanese style. Taking
human beings as an example, foreign people are naturalized in Japan by being
made to follow Japanese laws or life style. In the same way, Gairaigo is made
to be Japanesque English, which naturally follows the laws of the Japanese
language.
Because English and Japanese have fundamentally different structures, this
means that the original English words are changed in various ways when they
become Gairaigo. However, this difference has many contents and issues,
that is to say, we will press to a gap, difference between Gairaigo and English.
Specifically we can state the following three points: phonology, syntax and
semantics.
2. Phonological changes in Japanese English
The biggest fundamental difference between Japanese and
English are pitch and stress accent, open and closed syllable. When we
compare Japanese phonemes and English ones, there are three important
points.
2.1.1. Consonant clusters
In Japanese, there aren’t this like st, tr and pt, and the basis structure is
consonant + vowel, so stage is ステージ suteiji, tree is ツリー turi.
2.1.2. Strength of consonants
We can say that English consonants are pronounced more strongly
than Japanese ones. This is hard to hear compared with vowels. English
consonants need to pronounce more strongly than Japanese.
2.1.3. Consonant types
English has consonants like /f/ /l/ /th/ /v/ /z/ that
Japanese doesn’t have, so it’s difficult for Japanese to distinguish them in
pronunciation. Look at the following examples:
/r/
’‘Slowfooted’ is the key point of Japanesque English here. When we read
the word ‘ manager’ we surely say マネージャー and never say マニジャ.
This can also be said for words like Party = パーティー, market = マーケッ
ト, and so on.
‘R’ is sometimes changed to ‘ー’ in Japan.
/f/ and /v/
When we write ｢富士山｣ in English, we use /f/ like Mt. Fuji. In Japanese
pronounce of /f/ shows in representation「ファ、フィ、フェ、フォ」, but this
pronunciation /f/ is not in Japanese. Movement of mouth of /v/ is also same
as /f/. Japanese 「バビブベボ」is sound of /b/ and not /v/. Representation
way of「ヴァヴィヴヴェヴォ」was made by Yukichi Fukuzawa to distinct with
/b/ and have written 「ヴァイオリン」violin, 「ヴィジョン」vision, but after the
war this 「ヴ」is not used. This is completely new sound and couldn’t came
into Japanese, so Japanese can’t pronounce distinct /f/ and /v/.
2.1.4. Stress changes
English accent is based on strength and weakness (stress), while
Japanese accent is based on high and low (pitch), so there is a basic
structural difference between the two. Some people explain it that Japanese
is spoken with a melody, English is spoken with a rhythm. As an example,
‘communication’ is pronounced stressing the part of [kei] in English. But in
Japanese, ‘ミュニケ’is high pronounced. This pronunciation is Japanesque,
accordingly it naturally sounds like Japanese pronunciation. The
Japaneseness of Gairaigo comes first from the aspect of sound.
The following examples have a substantial difference between the
place pronounced strongly in English and the place pronounced highly in
Japanese.
Chocolate [ʈʃákəliʈ]・・・チョ[コレ]エト
Volley-ball [vɔ'libɔ:l]・・・バ[レエボ]オル
Pocket [pɔ'kit]・・・ポ[ケ]ット
Container [kənʈéinə]・・・コ]ンテナー
To all appearances, the difference of accent seems not such a big
problem, but as English has a strong accent, it plays an important part so
there is a strong possibility of mistaking of accent obstructing transmission
between Japanese and English speakers. We will need to pay attention so as
not to make a mistake by interfering of Gairaigo in learning English.
3.
Syntactic changes in Japanese English
Omission of grammar words and morphemes are the most difficult
difference and Japanese seldom are aware of it or correct it. These kinds
of small syntactic changes are important for English grammar, but for
Japanese the existence of these grammar words or morphemes does not
matter.
3.1. Plurality
About grammar, English distinguishes the singular number from the
plural. The plural of ‘team’ is ‘teams’ However, plurals are never used in
Gairaigo. For example, we never say ‘2 チームス’ in Japanese. The follow
are similar examples.
サングラス：sun glasses
マナー：manners
コーンフレーク：cornflakes
サスペンダー：suspenders
スリッパ：slippers
フォアボール：four balls
ガーター：garters
But, this doesn’t apply for all words. We ordinarily use ‘ソックス’ , ‘メ
ンズ・ウェアー’, but we don’t feel contradiction in usage between them. In
this point, Japanese tend to ignore the distinction between the singular
number and the plural is Japanesque English, which then becomes Gairaigo.
3.2. –ed
To the question, “What does 「 コ ン デ ン ス ミ ル ク 」 translate into
English?”, most Japanese will answer “condense milk.” However, this is a
mistake. In fact, the answer is condensed milk. The dropping away of –ed
happens often in Gairaigo and the following are other examples:
スパイクシューズ：spiked shoes
スモークチーズ：smoked cheese
ステンドグラス： stained glass
プレスハム：pressed ham
Needless to say, the meaning of –ed is 「・・された」, So ‘pressed ham’
is 「プレス加工されたハム」. In the end, the significance of –ed is recognized
in such English.
Then why does their –ed drop away in Japanese? After all, it has no
meaning or value in Japanese, so no matter if it exists or not. Even if it is
missing, it is enough to understand for Japanese. This is Japanesque for
Japanese can understand easily.
Not only –ed but also other grammatical elements are omitted
sometimes. 「 ミ ス ジ ャ ッ ジ 」 is ‘misjudgment’, 「 エ ン ゲ ー ジ リ ン グ 」 is
‘engagement ring’ and 「 ア ナ ウ ン ス 」 is ‘announcement’. These are
examples where we use them like a noun.
3.3. and
The word and in English is used as a conjunction to connect a noun and
noun, a verb and verb. It translates into「と、そして」in Japanese. In English, it
is usual to say things including and, but in Gairaigo it is shortened. Here are
some examples.
Ham and
Curry
and
Gin and
egg
rice
tonic
Ham and
salad
Chicken and
Game and
rice
set
Of course, there are some Gairaigo that use the form of English. ‘Hit and
run’ヒットエンドラン used in baseball is applied for this. In spite of this, and is
omitted in other words. After all, grammatical words like postpositional
particles of foreign language cannot be accepted exactly.
However, there is also omission of and in English. For example, about 「カ
レーライス」, there are four way to express it. That is, ‘curry and rice’,
‘curried rice’, ‘curry with rice’ and ‘curry rice’, so ‘curry rice’ that we
usually say is also spoken in English. That is a strange phenomenon.
3.4. -ing
In English ‘-ing’ has two meanings. One is the progressive
form, the other is a gerund Gairaigo from English in Japan, however, is mainly
connected with the former.
The following words drop ‘–ing’ even though in English they
have it.
フライパン：frying pan
セットローション：setting lotion
メジャーカップ：measuring cup
スタートライン：starting line
The Gairaigo word スケート also comes from English skate, but in
English, skate means 「スケートで滑る」or 「スケート靴」, and Japanese 「ス
ケート」must be expressed with ‘skating’. Similarly, other Gairaigo スケート
リンク, アイススケート, フィギュアスケート have to be said in English as
skating rink, ice skating and figure skating.
Spelling (スペル) is the most famous example of dropping of ‘-ing’.
Judging from all of these comments above, Gairaigo’s main
characteristics of grammar seem to be some kinds of omission
3.5. Articles
We often use ‘my’ in Japanese English. For example, マイカー,マイホ
ーム. These are expressed in English using “one”, one’s car or private car,
one’s own house or one’s own home.
If we want to say ‘彼はマイカーを運転している’ in English, we have to
say ‘He drives his own car’ rather than ‘He drives my car’. Here there is a
real difference between real English and Japanese English and it can cause
misunderstanding.
The reason for the overuse of ‘my’ in Gairaigo is that in Japanese,
there are some expressions like 「我が物顔に」(act as one likes),「我儘」
(selfishness),「我が身を省みる」(reflect on oneself). In these expressions, 我
is used as not only “mine” but also “own”, so Japanese people seem to use
マイ(my) as 我. In short, using マイ for meaning one’s own is influenced by
Japanese「我が」. マイペース, マイタウン are also famous examples of this
Japanesque English phenomenon. So, we have to pay attention to the way
we use these phrases when we talk with English speakers.
4.
Semantic changes in Japanese English
The Gairaigo from English in Japanese that was treated till now
manages to be able to understand for English speaker. However, the
following topics (especially 4.1 meaning shift is perfect Waseieigo that can’t
be understood by English speakers, and also Japanese use often as if it were
real English.
4.1. Meaning shift
- pure Waseieigo
The kinds of words that differ in meaning from English are a great
many in Japanese, and they are similar to English, because the spelling and
pronunciation are the same, so they can cause misunderstanding. Here are
a few examples:
・Morning service
「Have you ever been to Macdonald’s in the morning and eat morning
service food? Yes, it was so delicious!」This conversation is common for
Japanese, but for an English speaker it would be difficult to understand,
because morning service means a morning worship in English. The term
morning set also does not exist in English, so the English applied for
Japanese English 「モーニングサービス」or「モーニングセット」is mostly
breakfast special. As well, ‘morning service time’ means ‘a morning worship
time’, so Yamada says in Americajinno shiranai eigo that「モーニングサービ
スタイム」must be expressed as a ‘special time at a coffee shop or a tea
room during which breakfast special is served at a reduced price’ in English.
・smart
If there is an English sentence ‘That fat girl is really smart’, how do
you translate it into Japanese? Were these answered 「あの太った少女は本
当にスマートだ」? Does it make sense? This is misunderstanding from not
knowing smart means a clever brain. 「あの太った少女は頭がよい」is right
answer, and when 「スマート」used in Japan shows in English meaning we
should use slim, slender, stylish, or well proportioned.
These are other examples that are Waseieigo and that Japanese often use.
アイスキャンディ：popsicle
キャンピングカー：RV, home trailer
フロントガラス：windshield
シンボルマーク：emblem
4.2. Meaning reduction
Sometimes English words have come into Japanese and changed to
Japanesque English or Katakana character, and then the meaning becomes
narrow.
For example, the Gairaigo word 「ビルディング」 is from the English
word building. We usually use「ビルディング」 when we express a majestic
high-rise building, an extraordinarily reinforced concrete one. On the other
hand, in English building means any house or other stationary structure with
walls and roof. It means a general term not only a high-rise building, but also
farmhouse, stalls, hen-houses and so on.
Eventually, the large meaning territory of building was narrowed by
defining of ‘a foreign style’ and ‘a high-rise’ when it changed to
Japanesque English.
As another example, there is interesting word that is 「 ミ シ ン 」 .
Japanese English 「ミシン」means sewing machine, and then that machine
was pronounced 「ミシン」and popularized in Japan. The English word 「マシ
ーン(機械)」which has an extremely large meaning became Japanese and
indicated only 「ミシン」, so in this case the meaning territory of the original
language ‘machine’ got much narrow. Nowadays, however, the term 「マシ
ン」has been again imported and is also used to mean a car.
Besides these examples, there are still more reduction words.
Meaning
Waseieigo
of
Meaning of real English
Sweater
Wool clothing
Wool clothing
(セーター)
A jacket
People wet with sweat
A
cardigan
A sweating medicine
A
labor
exploitation
people
Fork
A sort of tableware
A sort of tableware
A
(フォーク)
sort
farm
implements
A crotch
tree
Sauce
of
Worcester sauce
of
Forked
road
Worcester sauce
A stimulus
(ソース)
Channel
Flavor with something
TV
or
frequency belt
(チャンネル)
radio
A way of water flow
A water way, a canal, a
route
Since the Meiji period in Japan, English words have been translated for
the time being meaning like Chinese writing, so the way of teaching still
remains not much changed. In this way, most English words coming into
Japanese had their meanings narrowed therefore, it is important to put back
it original large meaning for the sake of being not causing language mistakes
between real English and Japanesque English.
4.3. Meaning expansion
When we hear the word 「ワイシャツ」, we imagine a shirt opened at the
neck and there are many colors or a design (not only white). However, in
English 「ワイシャツ」means white shirt originally and Japanese often says it
「Y シャツ」, but it is simply a phonetic equivalent. Here is a case of meaning
expansion in Japanese.
「アップ・ダウン」：These are also examples meaning expansion. To use 「ア
ップ」as a meaning of 「上がる、上げる」or 「ダウン」as a meaning of 「下が
る、下げる」looks like right English to all appearances, but there is a uniquely
Japanese way of use. 「イメージ・アップ」,「イメージ・ダウン」,「ベース・アップ」
and 「ベース・ダウン」are also Waseieigo. 「レベルアップ」and「レベルダウン」
are also used in English, but the meaning is different. Level up means to
promote in order to average, and level down means to average pulling down
on the contrary.
5. Gairaigo from languages other than English.
There are also many Gairaigo from other languages and it maybe that
Japanese often use these unaware. These are examples.
Dutch
The original
language
English
alcool
alcohol
koffie
coffee
kop
glass, cup
アレルギー
Allergie
allergy
ビタミン
Vitamin
vitamine
アトリエ
atelier
studio
ズボン
jupon
trousers
アルコール
コーヒー
コップ
German
French
6.
Conclusion
The difference between Gairaigo from English in Japanese and real
English from a point of view of phonemic, syntax and semantic changes has
been discussed.
Mr. Miyake Kou says in Gairaigo from English into Japanese that
‘It is sure Gairaigo made English very close to us, on the other hand it can
make us easily forget the meaning of the real thing’. When Japanese read
English books in class, we carelessly pronounce Gairaigo accent or think of
the Gairaigo meaning and the teacher is disappointed.
Gairaigo came into Japanese as mentioned above and it has Japanese
quality in of both phonemic and grammatical aspects. It is a natural thing that
so much distance occurs, and especially pronunciation and grammar
thoroughly become Japaneseque and the meaning is much different, so it
might be an unexpected obstacle.
However, it is also true Gairaigo made English closer to Japanese as a
whole, because now there are so much Gairaigo from English in Japanese or
Gairaigo dictionary, so before start learning English, we may already know
some kinds of English. Therefore it is close to English and we may study it
more easily than if we knew nothing.
It is sure that there are differences or gap between Gairaigo and
English, but this is a small way of looking at things. From a broad viewpoint,
their connecting is big and large. So it is important to research the gap
between them and then make good use of it in learning or education.
As Waseieigo, it is so colorful and we use it unawares. In TV
commercials or newspaper advertisements there are many Waseieigo.
Particularly, we seem to connect words and create new words or speak. So
the most important thing for us is not bring it into our English without
knowing the difference.
Bibliography
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Tokyo: Ookurasyo
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Gairaigo
in
Available at, http://www.d1.dion.ne.jp/~kazu1126/etymologylist.htm
English.