Katakana Analysis Draft

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.