The Foreign Word Tsunami

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The massive postwar wave of, mostly English, loanwords (gairaigo) entering Japanese has met with mixed responses, ranging from puristic criticism to enthusiastic praise. Supporters view this influx of new words as modernising and enriching the language. Opponents see them as confusing and damaging both the language and culture, and leading to excessive Westernisation, social division, and cultural shallowness. Some see gairaigo as part of the inevitable, or even welcome, phenomenon of globalisation. This book examines the dimensions of the gairaigo phenomenon within the context of language and cultural change. It presents the arguments, issues and debates the gairaigo phenomenon has prompted amongst academics, social commentators, politicians, language planners, journalists, business people and members of the public. Original data is provided throughout and most of this material is not otherwise available in English. This book will be of value to people interested in language change, the Japanese media, cultural and political debates about Japanese identity, the linkages between politics, academia and the bureaucracy, as well as Japanese people’s attitudes to English and the West.