Loanwords and Japanese Identity: Inundating or Absorbed?

The main objective of this book is to explore the relationship between language and identity through an analysis of public attitudes towards foreign loanwords in contemporary Japanese society. In particular, the book uncovers the process by which language is conceived of as a symbol of national identity by examining an animated newspaper controversy over the use of foreign loanwords. Over the course of its history, Japanese has borrowed a large number of words from other languages. Among them, Western and recent loans are called gairaigo, and the majority presently in use are English-derived. The increasing use of gairaigo is a controversial tropic and there have been fierce debates in various media outlets regarding the possible impacts loanwords may have on the Japanese language. While some see gairaigo as a positive sign of internationalisation, many others consider it a source of linguistic corruption. Why does the gairaigo debate attract so much public attention? By criticising or praising the use of loanwords, what values are promoted by participants in this discussion? Grappling with these questions, and employing the framework of media textual analysis, the book scrutinises contemporary Japanese discourse on loanwords. It places a particular focus on recurrent wordings and metaphors found in the news media, including ‘inundation by gairaigo’ – employed often to criticise the use of loanwords – and ‘absorption of gairaigo’ – employed typically to praise it.