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{{nihongo||言葉狩り|'''''Kotobagari'''''|"word hunting"}} is a sardonic term which refers to the reluctance to use words that are considered potentially offensive or [[political correctness|politically incorrect]] in the [[Japanese language]]. For instance words such as {{nihongo||癩|rai|"[[leper]]"{{efn|See [[Leprosy in Japan]]}}}}, {{nihongo||盲|mekura|"blind"}}, {{nihongo||聾|tsunbo|"deaf"}}, {{nihongo||唖|oshi|"deaf-mute"}}, ''kichigai'' ({{lang|ja|気違い}} or {{lang|ja|気狂い}}, "crazy"), {{nihongo||屠殺場|tosatsujō|"slaughterhouse"}}, and {{nihongo||白痴|hakuchi|"moron/retard"}} are currently not used by the majority of Japanese publishing houses; the publishers often refuse to publish writing which includes these words. | {{nihongo||言葉狩り|'''''Kotobagari'''''|"word hunting"}} is a sardonic term which refers to the reluctance to use words that are considered potentially offensive or [[political correctness|politically incorrect]] in the [[Japanese language]]. For instance words such as {{nihongo||癩|rai|"[[leper]]"{{efn|See [[Leprosy in Japan]]}}}}, {{nihongo||盲|mekura|"blind"}}, {{nihongo||聾|tsunbo|"deaf"}}, {{nihongo||唖|oshi|"deaf-mute"}}, ''kichigai'' ({{lang|ja|気違い}} or {{lang|ja|気狂い}}, "crazy"), {{nihongo||屠殺場|tosatsujō|"slaughterhouse"}}, and {{nihongo||白痴|hakuchi|"moron/retard"}} are currently not used by the majority of Japanese publishing houses;{{cn|date=October 2025}} the publishers often refuse to publish writing which includes these words. | ||
Another example is that a school janitor in Japan used to be called a {{nihongo||小使いさん|kozukai-san|"chore person"}}. Some felt that the word had a derogatory meaning, so it was changed to {{nihongo||用務員|yōmuin|"task person"}}. Now ''yōmuin'' is considered demeaning, so there is a shift to use {{nihongo||校務員|kōmuin|"school task member"}} or {{nihongo||管理作業員|kanrisagyōin|"maintenance member"}} instead. This pattern of change is an example of the linguistic phenomenon known as the "[[Euphemism#Euphemism_treadmill|euphemism treadmill]]". | Another example is that a school janitor in Japan used to be called a {{nihongo||小使いさん|kozukai-san|"chore person"}}. Some felt that the word had a derogatory meaning, so it was changed to {{nihongo||用務員|yōmuin|"task person"}}. Now ''yōmuin'' is considered demeaning, so there is a shift to use {{nihongo||校務員|kōmuin|"school task member"}} or {{nihongo||管理作業員|kanrisagyōin|"maintenance member"}} instead.{{cn|date=October 2025}} This pattern of change is an example of the linguistic phenomenon known as the "[[Euphemism#Euphemism_treadmill|euphemism treadmill]]". | ||
Other examples of words which have become unacceptable include the replacement of the word {{nihongo||百姓|hyakushō}} for "farmer" with {{nihongo||農家|nōka}}. | Other examples of words which have become unacceptable include the replacement of the word {{nihongo||百姓|hyakushō}} for "farmer" with {{nihongo||農家|nōka}}.{{cn|date=October 2025}} | ||
Since World War II, the word ''[[Shina (word)|Shina]]'' ({{lang|ja|支那}}) for [[China]] written in [[kanji]] has been recognized as derogatory, and has been largely superseded by the Japanese pronunciation of the endonym, {{nihongo||中国|Chūgoku}}, or with ''Shina'' written in [[katakana]] ({{lang|ja|シナ}}). | Since World War II, the word ''[[Shina (word)|Shina]]'' ({{lang|ja|支那}}) for [[China]] written in [[kanji]] has been recognized as derogatory, and has been largely superseded by the Japanese pronunciation of the endonym, {{nihongo||中国|Chūgoku}}, or with ''Shina'' written in [[katakana]] ({{lang|ja|シナ}}).{{cn|date=October 2025}} | ||
In the 1960s, the [[Sino-Japanese vocabulary|Sino-Japanese]] word {{nihongo||蒙古|Mōko}} meaning "[[Mongols|Mongol]]" was recognized for its connotation of a "stupid, ignorant, or immature" person (compare the English term "[[Mongoloid]]"), and the ethnic group is now referred to by the katakana term {{nihongo||モンゴル|Mongoru}}.<ref>Bulag, Uradyn E. "Contesting the Words that Wound: Ethnicity and the Politics of Sentiment in China." ''Inner Asia'' 10.1 (2008): 87-111.</ref> | In the 1960s, the [[Sino-Japanese vocabulary|Sino-Japanese]] word {{nihongo||蒙古|Mōko}} meaning "[[Mongols|Mongol]]" was recognized for its connotation of a "stupid, ignorant, or immature" person (compare the English term "[[Mongoloid]]"), and the ethnic group is now referred to by the katakana term {{nihongo||モンゴル|Mongoru}}.<ref>Bulag, Uradyn E. "Contesting the Words that Wound: Ethnicity and the Politics of Sentiment in China." ''Inner Asia'' 10.1 (2008): 87-111.</ref> | ||
Latest revision as of 06:20, 5 October 2025
Template:Short description Template:Italics title Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Script error: No such module "Nihongo". is a sardonic term which refers to the reluctance to use words that are considered potentially offensive or politically incorrect in the Japanese language. For instance words such as Script error: No such module "Nihongo"., Script error: No such module "Nihongo"., Script error: No such module "Nihongo"., Script error: No such module "Nihongo"., kichigai (Script error: No such module "Lang". or Script error: No such module "Lang"., "crazy"), Script error: No such module "Nihongo"., and Script error: No such module "Nihongo". are currently not used by the majority of Japanese publishing houses;Script error: No such module "Unsubst". the publishers often refuse to publish writing which includes these words.
Another example is that a school janitor in Japan used to be called a Script error: No such module "Nihongo".. Some felt that the word had a derogatory meaning, so it was changed to Script error: No such module "Nihongo".. Now yōmuin is considered demeaning, so there is a shift to use Script error: No such module "Nihongo". or Script error: No such module "Nihongo". instead.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". This pattern of change is an example of the linguistic phenomenon known as the "euphemism treadmill".
Other examples of words which have become unacceptable include the replacement of the word Script error: No such module "Nihongo". for "farmer" with Script error: No such module "Nihongo"..Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
Since World War II, the word Shina (Script error: No such module "Lang".) for China written in kanji has been recognized as derogatory, and has been largely superseded by the Japanese pronunciation of the endonym, Script error: No such module "Nihongo"., or with Shina written in katakana (Script error: No such module "Lang".).Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
In the 1960s, the Sino-Japanese word Script error: No such module "Nihongo". meaning "Mongol" was recognized for its connotation of a "stupid, ignorant, or immature" person (compare the English term "Mongoloid"), and the ethnic group is now referred to by the katakana term Script error: No such module "Nihongo"..[1]
Kotobagari and ideology
Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Kotobagari has led to some confusing terminology.
NHK, the Japanese Broadcasting Company, runs a Korean language study program, but the language is referred to as "Hangul".[2] This is a result of both the North and South Korean governments demanding that the language be called by their respective preferred name of Korea suffixed with "language" (Script error: No such module "Lang".). North Korea wanted the show to be called Chōsen-go or "Chōsen language" (Script error: No such module "Lang".), taken from the Japanese pronunciation of the full name of North Korea, Script error: No such module "Nihongo". or "Democratic People's Republic of Korea". South Korea wanted Kankoku-go or "Kankoku language" (Script error: No such module "Lang".) from Script error: No such module "Nihongo". or "Republic of Korea".
As a compromise, "Hangul" was selected and Korean is referred to as "the language on this program" or "this language", but this has led to the use of the neologism "Hangul language" (Script error: No such module "Lang".) to refer to the Korean language, which is technically incorrect since hangul itself is a writing system, not a language.
Notes
References
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Bibliography
- Gottlieb, Nanett (2006). Linguistic stereotyping and minority groups in Japan. Oxon: Routledge. Template:ISBN.