Foreign Word Tsunami

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.