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1/24/1967 - Interlude: Language - I (Initial Contact with the Enemy) by Roger Reynolds

INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS Ugulsudanl machl RR Shlbuya Tokyo Interlude Language I Inltial Contact Enemy January Mr R H Nolte Institute Current World Affairs Madison Avenue New Work N Y Dear Dick Facing unfamiliar language displayed Roman letters armed phrase books pocket dictionaries feels though least sporting chance Key words signs conversation located dictionary phrase minimum commotion particular partner through adventures developed something procedure Japan presents formidable challenge though employs three different systems written symbols phonetic hiragana katakana ideographic Chinese characters None these bears slightest resemblance Romanized alphabet dictionaries avail To further confuse matters systems Romanizing Japanese Sino Japanese words epburn which acces sible English speaking persons Kunreisiki which developed Nationalistic period before World War II The latter lends itself better introductory studies foreigners nationalities In illustration following pitch sound shown hiragana katakana transcriptions Hiepburn Kunreisiki To picture confusion traditional forms Japanese writin arranged configurations running bottom columns right familiar system horizontal running right bottom One positive factor decision Japan opportunity learn something imagined profoundly different Romance Germanic tongue We disappointed During weeks frequently trying skirmishes teacher accumulated impressions frustrating delightful Against background functional disarray I collection informations observations RR which stretching process already through calligraphy Kumiko Arata chSshi tyoosi Our initial interest Japanese arose vague notion fundamentally different naming constructing thoughts might reveal perspectives fresh looking familiar surroundings events The linguistic relativity hypothesis professional layman conjecture means established though frequently argued Benjamin Lee Whorf clearly defined following quote _Language Though Reality The background linguistic system other words grammar language merely oducing instrument voicing ideas rather itself shaper ideas program guide individual mental activity analysis impressions synthesis mental stock trade The categories isolate world phenomena there because stare every observer contrary world presented kaleidoscopic impressions which organized minds means largely linguistic systems minds We nature organize concepts ascribe significances largely because parties agreement organize Way agreement holds through speech community codified patterns J B Carroll L_anguage Thought cites existence forms Spanish s_e_r astar depending whether recognizes state affairs relatively permanent mporary A subtle parallel Japanese concerns domain English Des___u contraction arimasu cases where identification involved Reynolds _gaikok_uJi Reynolds foreigner alone expressing inanimate existence arimasu states existence ho___n Literally statement translates rater English there exists Nothing about where about about A different imas____u animate existence again separate forms cover negative parallels Negation Japanese involves complex adverb adjective modifications which cherish simplicity There enormous superstructure honorifics specifiers relative levels politeness which indicate status persons relationships between which Ixes clearly speaker statu Different nouns covered English father denote father someone respected older The awareness position reflected constructions These prefixes numerous stems produce following place where I place where asoko place there Out reach which place those possible While sochira direction towards person talking kochira direction towards oneself Hence properly U thereby gracious lionohito Iwasaki de____u This person Mr lwasaki rather Kochira I_wasaki In direction Mr Iwasaki The constructions force constantly gauge position Japanese extremely precise about distinctions To request driver being thrown attempts where spoke A source often hilarious confusion pattern question response Telephone conversations which Japanese acquaintance drawing meager arsenal shared words sometimes degenerate sequences unlike foiiowing This arises another feature Japanese language social structure acute sensitivity niceties interpersonal relationships One negative question hopes covering which shrouded their habitual politeness example You today The answer comes firmly Yes He agreeing implied assumption facts matter The steps clarification process thing You No Oh Yes Lurk behind which Japanese entertaining dictum which quickly found commanding possible interests desires others constantly The pressure continual awareness leads cases automatic social functions example serving after enters house matter since throated In addition relationships between persons Japanese specifies other aspects experience quite exactly aspects which English lightly brushes There instance dozen nouns depending falls But other cases lan_aage seems remarkably loose There articles definite indefinite personal pronouns there generally distinction between sinlar plural This suggest numbers treated lightly In addition usual confusion Japanese Chinese pronunciations which particular pplications there matter counters If enumerating referring anything relatively sufficient instance pencil pencils A suffix attached number adding meaning relatively thing Hon counter question irregular Using Chinese numbers pencil ippon enpitsu nihon enpitsu pencils jippon enpitsu though numbers involved actually ich___i One gains temporary relief disclosure counter chimneys loaves French bread Nevertheless Carroll points major include means express useful distinctions whenever truly critical RR On evidence written Chinese records appears Japanese linguistic identity least first century A D At Chinese provided stimul towards written language contributed phonetic grammatical elements The languages however totally different stems important distinction In Chinese order illuminates function while Japanese objects subjects identified means particles The adaptation concrete counterparts verbs adjectives nouns presented problems particles The imported Chinese characters three according Joseph K Yamagiwa writing Twelve _D_o_0 original Chinese meanings pronunciation adapted Japanese phonetic system symbols stand Japanese words Japanese readings abstract symbols Japanese sounds The arose characters stand Japanese particles The Chinese whose sound closely matched sound Japanese particle appropriated without regard original meaning phonetically short But though phone function hiragana katakana produced permanent confusion There often pronunciations character rather meaning character since meaning multiple Japanese proved flexible enough expand resources constantly demand assimilation overcome weaknesses ascribed critics Hajime Nakamura Th___e Ways inking Eastern P Witness level scientific social achievement which Japan reached since finding release during Meiji Era imposed isolation But because phonetic limitations language assimilation always There vowels compared least English these phonetic range The normal pattern syllable construction consonant vowel CV syllable never consonant except result Chinese inroads Allowing reduced consonants becomes miruku strike becomes _sutor In consonant clusters which Japanese split The words above examples direct transcriptions foreign tongue borrowing Western languages began early century At other times present language takes shelter Chinese roots designate concepts objects A fountain known mannenhltsu literally Chinese brush enthusiast appraisal least Mathematically there severe limitations number possible Japanese syllable sounds In English following types syllable structure VC CV CCV CCVV CVC which stems components In Japanese practical limit fixed through existence possibility CV Although there violations pattern generalization valid The almost invariable pattern CVCVCVCV reinforced other principles including equal allotment syllable In theory should result perfectly uniform sequence closelT related sounds which unaccented There intonational levels Over short spans tatemqn building produces pleasing facile excercises longer problems mount faced Peter Piper picked pickled peppers nightmare As starter Taemo_no nomimono arimasu There foods beverages Remember there breaks pauses between words accents theoretically Careful listening example revealed Though there settled formal stress accents stresses superimposed would otherwise undifferentiated stream similar sounds arranging purposes particular groups three Watashl gakko an___qo arimasu school there delivered rapid making following pattern stress groupings W__ATASH___I N__0 GA K00 W__A _AN__0 YAMA N__0 U_E N_I ARIMASU Speech permeated sense rapid underlying pulse which articulated groupings three occasional produced silent vowels doubled consonants The pauses generally correspond divisions course fhese aural features present certain obvious problems dramatist since rhyming trivially simple pulse relentless provide enormous range potentially useful ambiguity The exaggerated stunningly sustained enunciation actors classical ration drama dissipates anticipated aural problem completely For Japanese generally ignores rhyme entrates numerical patterns syllables ambiguity We difficult Japanese gTasp flavor rhyme apart sustained demonstrations readings speaker mative language question As ambiguity frequently possible surface facts narrative Japanese before venturing subsurface implications Far being conceptual structure charged Japanese language demands supports surface circumlocution complex awareness sideration Although suited logic think Psychologists suggested committing thought quickly writing delays develop If holds spoken formulations unuttered distinctions necessarily should foster thorough reflection It common subject sentence particularly human although various clues honorifics sometimes given Confusion increasing egalitarian outlook strikes honorifics teacher Mr Gen Iwasaki assures classic tales Th__e Tal____e GenJi three pages frequently without stated subject One keeps score honorifics alone The suppression direct reference complemented language tendency promote inclusiveness The particle contains English If lists series objects joined series implication there A B C D becoming something there A which included along B which integral whole which includes C forth It perhaps fetched tacit emphasis condition belonging reinforcing inclusiveness construction smack emotionalism compared logistical dispassionate English string The deliberate tenacious vagueness spoken written language indicate precision thought trouble communications The recently consummated treaty between Japan South Korea written English understanding Korean incidentally closest Japanese linguistically thread relationships winds surprisingly across Mongolia Turkey through Hungary finally Finland Many structural features mentioned above common these languages though actual cognates There seems disagreement seriously linguistic relatlvity theory should taken though writers taken taken indeed Nakamura marshals amounts indictment Japanese social intellectual structure basis language hough critics anxious puncture claims those other linguists One ability label small gradations condition perceive finer distinctions another person whose language supplies specific labels gradation The Japanese though twelve nouns specific experience But names constructions certainly allow explain conditions easily others hence discuss conceptualize about readily I doubt ideas structures exist apart labels grammars The experience languages constantly strikes sparks which cannot readily circumscribed projected Whether language create unique world adherents thing seems certain means direct speaker attention another facet experience Theoretically events surroundings personality environment health preoccupations language strongly influence which things attention Received New York February