Katakana is a Japanese syllabary alongside hiragana and kanji which developed from Buddhist monks who simplified the more complex Chinese characters associated with ancient texts. Most textbooks seem to agree that katakana can be utilized to describe foreign words (or loanwords), onomatopoeia, and can be used to bestow emphasis on a word or phrase. Take, for example, the word Alaska which, in katakana, would be written as アラスカ. Obviously the katakana usage in this example correlates to the foreign word application of the syllabary but what is the purpose of this usage? Why not hiragana? One must remember that katakana was distilled over time from the original Chinese characters. These characters were also, prior to the appearance of katakana, used to express words or expressions that were alien. Once katakana developed due to the shorthand of the monks it would follow that foreign words be described by the use of this syllabary as its predecessor, kanji, once was. Another example is the onomatopoeia application of katakana. A sound such as pa-tang (rough representation of a hammer striking metal) would be written as パターン. Why not use the hiragana version of the word: ぱたーん? There is a certain employment of katakana similar to the use of italics in English. The katakana version of this onomatopoeia has a particular quality or aesthetic depiction which enhances the meaning and is able to express the sound in a more distinct fashion analogous to italics. Compare bang to bang. The italicized sound diction emphasizes the word in such a way as to make one prudent in choosing to write it in italics if one wishes garner the attention upon that word rather than its un-italicized counterpart.
Works Cited:
Masayoshi, K. Learning Katakana. Yoshida Institute of Japanese Language. 2003-2010.http://www.yosida.com/en/katakana.html
I agree about katakana use vs. our italics. I also think that Japanese onomatopoeia are much more unique than our English ones. Granted, English has plenty in comics but everyday use there's probably only a handful of commonly used onomatopoeia. I wonder if it's because Manga is so much more mainstream in Japanese society than our comics are here.
ReplyDeleteThe onomatopoeic Katakana does indeed have special qualities that clearly add to the meaning of that expression. It's interesting how you compare the onomatopoeic katakana with the american italics, and I see how both sets a rather meaningful, distinct tone to the expression!
ReplyDeleteDo you have any idea how the italic-like nature of katakana came to be?
ReplyDeleteHave you considered situations where Japanese words (non-onomatopoeic) are written in katakana? Do you think this has the same sort of effect?
Just some questions to ponder :)
Wow...seems that everyone has a much more deep analysis than mine...when I started doing the project, I was confused like a chicken without its head... =P
ReplyDeleteAnyway, from what I have learned my others' blogs and comments, I agree with everything you said about katakana usages...especially the part that you compared katakana with italics...I don't know if only applies to the onomatopoeic katakana though...I feel katakana in generally has an emphasis effect in the words already...just because of the way the strokes are written...but that's just how I feel... =)
はじめまして、アシュリーと申します。スミス大学で、日本語の三年生です。
ReplyDeleteI agree that the use of katakana to transcribe onomatopoeia is somewhat comparable to the use of italics in English, but that seems to be an oversimplification of the reason onomatopoeic words are written using katakana. Onomatopoeic words in Japanese are quite nearly their own "class" of words, so katakana may not only be used here as a distinction of emphasis, but also as a distinction in "class" of words.
You may also find it useful to consider why foreign words in Japanese are transcribed using katakana rather than hiragana. While there is a historical precedence for distinguishing between Chinese loanwords, Japanese words, and Western loanwords, for what other reason are all Western loanwords and "new" technological terminology written solely using katakana?
Finally, you may want to explore the use of katakana for emphasis (italics) outside of onomatopoeia. For example, why would かばん, a Japanese word, sometimes be written as カバン? Or why would おれ (masculine familiar "I") sometimes be written as オレ, especially in advertisements?
がんばってください!