Loanwords: Our ‘False Friends’ (Part 2)

Posted on 06/01/2021 Last updated on 07/09/2021

MUSUBI presents the conclusion to a two-part essay on one of the most useful but at times confusing parts of learning Japanese- the loanwords.

Part 2: But does this Viking include American Dogs?

Twelve years after I arrived in Japan, I still struggle with the language while my two hyperactive kids can switch languages on a dime, like they have a built-in
select-a- language-button hidden on the back of their heads.

As all languages do, Japanese also evolves. Some new terms pop up; others
become almost archaic; and new words from overseas are adopted and adapted.
Compare newspapers or reading materials from ten years ago to those from today, and you’ll see that there are more English or foreign words being incorporated and used now. Most of them have taken new form, meaning and pronunciation. So much so that locals might not even recognize them when spoken by a native speaker.

I spent the first seven years here in Japan working at an international hotel with people from around the world, and English was spoken most of the time. However, being in Japan, Japanese would be used as well. From that experience, I learned that there is truly no escaping from loanwords, as many make their way into the language of hospitality. Some of the words I learned included:

1. Front (フロント) refers to the ‘front desk’ or ‘front office’.
2. Claim (クレーム) is a ‘complaint’ or acting of complaining (in a customer service setting)
3. Viking (バイキング) comes from ‘Viking-style setting’, but refers to ‘a buffet’ or ‘smorgasbord-style’ meal.
4. Cider (サイダー) actually means ‘soda pop’ or ‘a carbonated drink’.
5. Driver (ドライバー) can mean the same, but can also refer to ‘a
screwdriver’.
6. Orai (オーライ) from the word ‘alright’. Valets or hotel staff would usually say it when you are backing up your car which just simply means ‘it’s alright’ or ‘it’s safe’.
7. American Dog (アメリカンドッグ) which refers to ‘a corn dog’.

Nowadays, I work as an ALT in elementary schools. Working with children keeps me young at heart; it’s fun and exciting. As cliché as it sounds, it’s true: everyday is a learning experience. Even in schools, you would be surprised at how students and teachers alike use loanwords.

As a teacher, sometimes I get the itch to correct every bit of it, but then I realize that these words are not truly English anymore. They have been adapted and assimilated. This could probably be compared to how we use some Japanese words abroad. Some shops in the US will redundantly use ‘Japanese Wagyu Beef’ when wagyu already means ‘Japanese Beef’ or ‘kombucha tea’ when cha already means ‘tea’.

Here are some surprising loanwords that I’ve encountered in school:

1. Cunning (カンニング) actually refers to cheating. I would often hear teachers say “kanningu wa dame” which rough translates to ‘do not cheat’.
2. Almighty (オールマイティ) for English speakers means ‘godlike’, but in Japanese means ‘multi-purpose’ or ‘versatile’.
3. Sense (センス) refers to good taste or common sense.
4. Image (イメージ) refers to ‘your imagination’ or how you visualize
something in your head.
5. High Tension (ハイテンション), rather than meaning tense means ‘excited’, ‘hyperactive’ or ‘overly enthusiastic’.
6. Print (プリント） from the word ‘print’ is not a verb here. It refers to ‘printed hand-outs’.
7. Trainer (トレーナー) can mean one who trains, but it also refers to a ‘sweat shirt’.
8. Uinaa (ウインナー) comes from “Wiener” and refers to any type of sausage or frankfurter, as well as the city of Vienna and anything from it (i.e. Vienna coffee).
9. Hamburg (ハンバーグ) refers to a hamburg steak, which is a little different from a hamburger (and close, but not identical, to a Salisbury steak). ハンバーガー on the other hand is the one that comes with buns.

What I’ve realized over the years teaching English in elementary schools is
that both students and teachers can learn from each other. Children respond well to different means of communication. It could be gestures or using parts of their lingo. Understanding and using these words can help facilitate smoother communication.

As an ALT, we are not only teachers of language, we are also ambassadors of culture. The more you communicate, the more opportunity you have to educate; to open their minds to a bigger world out there while opening your eyes to theirs.

Ultimately, for those learning Japanese, loanwords may at times prove useful allies as we try to navigate daily conversations. They may also prove frustrating when they end up meaning something very different than what we’re used to. But as I said, in a way, they have transcended beyond being English or the other languages they originally came from to become something wholly Japanese. These ‘false friends’ of ours have ended up becoming as easy or hard to use as any other word.

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Photo Credits:

Top photo: Phil Hearing on Unsplash