Haruki Takeda

Role Language in Japanese: Cultural Specificity, Translation Challenges, and the Question About Reform

Started Feb. 7, 2024

Abstract or project description

This paper explores the concept of "role language" in Japanese, a linguistic phenomenon where specific language features evoke particular persona or social roles. Coined by Japanese linguist Satoshi Kinsui, role language includes distinctive vocabulary, phraseology, and intonation that suggest characteristics such as age, gender, occupation, and class. Examples like "Inaka-kotoba" (rustic speech) and "Josei-go" (women's language) illustrate how authors use these linguistic cues to convey character traits implicitly. While role language enriches fictional narratives, it also perpetuates stereotypes, as it embeds potentially harmful societal biases within its structure. The paper suggests that future discussions on role language reform should be conducted by those fluent in Japanese due to its cultural and linguistic specificity. Moreover, Quine's theory of the "indeterminacy of translation" is applied to argue the problems in understanding role language in terms of other languages. This theory highlights the inherent difficulties faced by those not intimately connected to the Japanese language and culture in fully grasping the true issues of role language. Through this analysis, I aim to lay the groundwork for future debates on the reform of role language within the broader context of language and social justice.