English Loan Words in Japanese Language a Socio Linguistic and Pedagogical Study

Abstract

The present study examines English loanwords in the context of a variety of different language borrowing phenomena into Japanese language. This study framed its objectives by observing a high number of loanwords which are operational in Japanese language for everyday life purposes. It explored on the perceptions, beliefs and attitudes of Japanese people to understand the sociolinguistic and pedagogic influence caused by the presence and use of loanwords in Japanese language. In order to achieve this, an exploratory-interpretive approach is adapted. The study found that English loanwords are the most common type of lexical borrowing in Japanese language due to unavoidable consequence of linguistic contact with the West, among many other things. English loanword borrowing encourages the Japanese language to extend its vocabulary, help students gain a better understanding of their subject of study, serve as a link language among non-native speakers etc. English loanwords help Japanese people towards their personal growth and success. Loanwords in Japanese are not only single words but also sometimes multiple words which either have been taken directly from, or made of word components using Japanese that lead to formation of Japanization of English which can potentially form a variety of English called Japanglish . Further, the attitude towards English loanwords in learning settings have been examined to understand the outcomes in vocabulary acquisition and use. At university, students write these loanwords not in English but in Japanese orthographic representations. This reveals that the familiarity with English loanwords is high among the sample group taken in this study. As the process of borrowing continues, learners/teachers of English must consider the prior knowledge of loanwords when studying/teaching English. newlineThe process of nativization of the borrowed words from English into Japanese from both a linguistic and a pedagogical point of view have revealed some intriguing details to explain the working principl