Vicarious Language: Gender and Linguistic Modernity in Japan

Asia: Local Studies / Global Themes

by Miyako Inoue

This highly original study provides an entirely new critical perspective on the central importance of ideas about language in the reproduction of gender, class, and race divisions in modern Japan. Focusing on a phenomenon commonly called "women's language," in modern Japanese society, Miyako Inoue considers the history and social effects of this language form. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork in a contemporary Tokyo corporation to study the everyday linguistic experience of white-collar females office workers and on historical research from the late nineteenth century to 1930, she calls into question the claim that "women's language" is a Japanese cultural tradition of ancient origin and offers a critical geneaology showing the extent to which this language form is, in fact, a cultural construct linked with Japan's national and capitalist modernity. Her theoretically sophisticated, empirically grounded, interdisciplinary work brilliantly illuminates the relationship between culture and language, the nature of power and subject formation in modernity, and how the complex nexus of gender, language, and political economy are experienced in everyday life.

Genres: Language, Japan, Linguistics, Gender, Anthropology, Womens, School

340 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[meeners · Rating 4 out of 5]

let's say foucault and some equally famous sociolinguist (labov?) had a baby, and that baby grew up to marry judith butler, and then those two had their own baby who turned out to be fluent in english and japanese - this book would be that baby. or something. anyway, it's a very absorbing and fascinating read; would highly recommend it. although the huge jump between chapters 3 and 4 did puzzle me rather.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was required reading for one of my classes, and there were many times when I felt too dumb to be reading the book. That aside, the analysis of Japanese women’s language was thorough and - when I understood it - interesting. If you are smarter than me and want an in-depth look at Japanese women’s language, definitely read this. Otherwise - don’t.

[Ivan]

[placeholder for a review. Read 16th of April 2022-11th of May 2022]

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genuinely some of the best academic writing that there is, I think.

[CL Chu · Rating 4 out of 5]

A poststructuralist (Foucauldian & Derridean) reading of what's considered "women's language" in Japan. A quest to move beyond the "x use certain language because this language captures the essence of x" approach to sociolinguistics. Instead, the author probes into the historical significance of a seemingly tautological operation of power - "the language of x is the language x uses" - by show why the creation of the population x through language itself is intertwined with specific configurations of gender, class, and Japanese modernity in relation to its Western counterpart. The anthropological study nicely complements this genealogy.

[versarbre · Rating 3 out of 5]

A true critique, although too jargon-loaded to make it more accessible.It's also wonderful that an Asian anthropologist here takes up Asian historical materials (texts and images) as well as the historiographical question ( a little bit) in sharp anthropological lens.

[Jaki · Rating 2 out of 5]

Required reading for schoolwork.

Not too bad vs. some academic writing I've had to read lately, but at times gets a little too abstract/obscure for me (and my limited experience with this academic field). However, Inoue's strength is her inclusion of specific examples as well as (in the later chapters) detailed case studies, which illustrate some of the more abstract points with great clarity. Some fascinating ideas in there, but not the most riveting presentation.

[Mike Mena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent ethnography mixed with Foucauldian genealogy. Very clear, deep and profound yet manages to remain accessible to most readers (perhaps upper level undergrad students would find this rewarding).

[Elizabeth Pyjov · Rating 1 out of 5]

Some people write in a purposely obscure way. Not ok.

[Sara M · Rating 5 out of 5]

One million stars <3