Japanese English: Language and Culture Contact

by James Stanlaw

This book gives an in-depth analysis of the use of the English language in modern Japan. It explores the many ramifications the Japanese-English language and culture contact situation has for not only Japanese themselves, but also others in the international community.

Genres: Japan, Language, Linguistics

388 pages, Paperback

First published February 3, 2004

Reviews

[Ivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An extensive and modern work on the adaptation of English language as an language precision and medium in Japan. It includes historical overview of English language diffusion in Japan and the gradual demographic shift among those who use it as well as its primary purpose. It also make many factual points of niche uses of the newly created words and extensive case studies based on Japanese music, advertisement and popular journals. The author stresses that many thus created words as well as "nativized" ones are used in wordplay and as a mean to convey modernity/tradition sense or a precise color mapping in some cases.

[Tani · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a student of Japanese, I found this book really interesting. At quite a few points during the book I found myself nodding along with the author's points or learning things that I didn't know before. My only possible complaint was that at times the author would break down certain media in great detail. Having never seen or heard this media, the breakdowns did drag a bit, but it wasn't enough to detract from my enjoyment of the book. Recommended for people who are interested in the Japanese language and culture.