Tag: (E) biku-biku

(1994) Japanese – Psychomimes

Hasada, Rie (1994). The semantic aspects of onomatopoeia: Focusing on Japanese psychomimes. MA thesis, Australian National University. PDF (open access)

This thesis aims to examine the semantic aspects of Japanese onomatopoeia, which is among the least studied language phenomena in Japanese linguistics. The focus of the thesis is on explicating the meaning of psychomimes, the onomatopoeic words that refer to emotions. Among Japanese onomatopoeia, psychomimes are the hardest for non-native speakers to acquire. This is because their meanings are more abstract and more culturally embedded than other types of onomatopoeic words. The thesis also considers some cultural aspects that are
linked to Japanese onomatopoeic words, since their explication will facilitate a deeper understanding of the use and meaning of those words.

I demonstrate that the complex Japanese-specific meanings involved in selected psychomimes can be clearly shown and made comprehensible to outsiders when they are translated into the universal or near-universal Natural Semantic Metalanguage and represented in
the framework of a “prototype scenario”. I show that the complex and unique semantic concepts of Japanese psychomimes, which are usually described as ‘untranslatable’, are nonetheless translatable on the level of semantic explication with language-independent semantic
metalanguage. The similarities and dissimilarities in labelling and the conceptualization encoded in different psychomimes become apparent with the use of the universal Natural Semantic Metalanguage.


Research carried out in consultation with or under the supervision of one or more experienced NSM practitioners

 

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(2001) Japanese – Emotions

Hasada, Rie (2001). Meanings of Japanese sound-symbolic emotion words. In Jean Harkins & Anna Wierzbicka (Eds.), Emotions in crosslinguistic perspective (pp. 221-258). Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter. DOI: 10.1515/9783110880168.217

It has often been noted that the Japanese language is rich in sound-symbolic words, which form a conspicuous group in the Japanese lexicon. Japanese onomatopoeic words are generally referred to as giongo-gitaigo, and divided into three classes. The first class is phonomimes (giseigo/giongo), which imitate sounds. The second class is phenomimes (gitaigo), which describe appearances, states, conditions of the external world. The third class is psychomimes (gijoogo), which express one’s inner feelings or mental conditions. Phenomimes and psychomimes are often called mimetic words, as opposed to phonomimes which are called (sound-)onomatopoeia.

Japanese everyday conversation is full of these sound-symbolic words. In contrast to the Indo-European languages whose sound-symbolic words are mostly phonomimes (sound-onomatopoeia), Japanese has more mimetic words than sound-onomatopoeic words. It has also been noted that Japanese is rich in psychomimes that describe various emotion/sensation states.

While nonnative speakers of Japanese will certainly face difficulties in acquiring psychomimetic words, they need to master the correct use of them if they wish to communicate effectively with Japanese people. Psychomimetic words play a vital role in Japanese everyday language life, and thus they are an indispensable key for outsiders to understand the Japanese people and culture.


Research carried out by one or more experienced NSM practitioners

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