The Japanese language is perhaps most unique in its usage of
three different writing systems, all of which are capable of producing the same
phonetic sounds. The words that certain writing systems use which others don’t
do not sound any different nor have different meanings when written in a
particular system, but are organized by certain properties that designate which
characters would be used to write them out.
As such, what convention is used when preferring one writing
system to another for a word? Hiragana seems to be used for particles and other
more basic writing, while Kanji exist for a large majority of words which,
through their unique writing, can give the reader an idea of the words’ meaning
even if they have not seen it before. Finally, Katakana has generally been used
for words of foreign origin or for expressing onomatopoeias. However, the decision making process of which
to use is actually much more subtle and fascinating.
Through their specific usages, over history each writing system
has gained a particular ‘mood’ or ‘vibe’, which adds meanings to words in
different ways. The usage of Katakana is particularly interesting, because
people have used it not only for the more common causes but also to spell
particular Japanese names or present an item. Let’s examine two images in which
Katakana is distinctly chosen as a writing method. The first is a picture I took
myself, while the second is an image received from Shounen Jump’s USA website (Manga
publishing company).
The initial image is off a Japanese Food product, with the
brand name "Golden Curry". This is written in Japanese with Katakana,
and it brings up the question as to why an English word is being used at all
when the Japanese have several apt ways of implying a product has 'value' or
'high worth'. It again points to the reoccurring idea that the Japanese
have traditionally viewed the West as a sophisticated, admirable people. While
I may be speaking too rashly, it appears that the English name was used in an
attempt to make the brand more attractive by appearing sophisticated, fancy,
catchy or high in quality. Katakana was used so that these traits could be
transferred in a way the Japanese would understand. This is probably aimed
at adults who live alone or cook for their families, highlighting that these
beliefs are not held by only the modernized youth but even by the previous
generation of people, before globalization spread fully.
My second image refers to the title of a popular manga
aimed at teenage boys, in English called Beelzebub. It is a battle manga about
a High school delinquent who happens upon a power demon named
"Beelzebub" and begins an exciting adventure.
The
manga itself has many examples of specific language tools, but standing out to
me is the title. The first three characters, べるぜ, are written in regular hiragana. The last two, バブ, are strangely in katakana. Why? Partially it is because
the "babu" comes in often as a sound effect throughout the manga for
the baby. Since this sound effect would be written in Katakana, a clever pun
has been made where a demon’s name is given along with a reminder that it is a
baby who cannot speak yet.
These usages reflect certain ideas which may be presented
here. Certain Japanese language textbooks studied in class say varying things
about Katakana’s implications. A commonly recurring theme is that it shows
sophistication and a movement away from traditional ways, while not being as ‘child
accessible’ as Hiragana, so that it has a mature connotation.
Other textbooks spoke more about how Katakana was used to
highlight the strangeness of a word, or its lack of convention in a context.
While they did not necessarily contradict each other, different messages were
given by different sources. This again brings up the cultural implications of
Katakana usage; it is something ‘felt’ by people and understood informally, but
really labeled firmly. It is part of a cultures interpretation, and different
people will take to it in different ways, given their own experiences with the
writing system. So, while my ideas may touch on some correct notions, they may
not be universally agreed upon by Japanese readers, which is perfectly natural.
As long as we try to understand this system, both Japanese language and culture
will be better understood.
