Throughout my study of Katakana, it has become clear that this script has myriad uses. Indeed, contrary to my former misconception that Katakana was used only for foreign loan words, the script has many additional functions including emphasis of native Japanese words and onomatopoeic words—also are of Japanese origin.
I was initially surprised to find that the script I had always associated with “foreign words” was in fact used to write certain words of the native Japanese language. However, this usage is perhaps not so surprising when one considers the history of Katakana. Japanese students of Buddhism who were having difficulty remembering the pronunciations and meanings of unfamiliar kanji originally developed katakana. These Kanji were indeed difficult seeing as the characters were used for their Chinese meaning, but the Chinese pronunciation was replaced with a Japanese pronunciation. For those who study Japanese, this should shed some light on why it is so difficult to determine the proper reading of Japanese, as most characters still have both Chinese and Japanese readings. In order to keep pace with the teachings, a phonetic shorthand had to be developed. This was Katakana. “The method of deriving the characters was the use of only part of the Chinese character for simplification” (White).
This is why, when learning Kanji, Katakana syllables can often be spied. For example, the Kanji 社 contains as a radical, the katakana ネ “ne”. Katakana’s origin as a phonetic mnemonic is suggestive of the origin of its current onomatopoeic usage.
In Japanese, as in English, Onomatopoeic words are those that phonetically imitate natural sound. Unlike English however, in Japanese “there are literally hundreds of these words and they are used much more frequently” (SEDL.org). Indeed, as I embarked upon my literary work (a manga, see post below), I was astounded by the sheer magnitude of onomatopoeia, all written in Katakana. A few of my favorite were スウウスウウ to indicate the swooshing of air, and バタアアン to indicate a slamming noise. These are Japanese onomatopoeia, words of Japanese origin with no meaning other then their sound. Thus this usage is consistent with the original usage of Katakana as a merely phonetic mnemonic.
What is more, onomatopoeic Katakana serves a dual purpose in some cases. The violent, forceful action of slamming for instance is just the type of word that seems prudent to emphasize. This is another usage of Katakana. The severe angles of the characters provide a dimension of sharpness that lends itself to a certain level of uniqueness or emphasis. Thus, not only does Katakana illustrate the onomatopoeia of slamming, it also emphasizes the action.
Of course, words beyond onomatopoeia are emphasized using Katakana. For example, in manga, words typically written in Kanji or Hiragana are written in Katakana in order to underscore intense emotion or a specific manor of speech. For example, in the manga Ranma ½, the character, Ranma calls another character, Kuno, “sempai”, the title given to a more advanced student. However, this Japanese word is written in Katakana to indicate sarcasm. Ranma does not have the respect for Kuno one should have for a Sempai. Furthermore, time and time again in countless manga, expressions carrying extreme emotions are written in Katakana. This usage is similar to the English usage of italics. (Anime Turnpike)
Thus, Katakana has several purposes in dealing with native Japanese words. Of course, Katakana certainly is also used to transcribe foreign “loan” words. The word soda for instance is written in Katakana: ソーダ. Reviewing the history of soda, it is clear this fizzy beverage is a Western phenomenon. The first soda to be invented was Ginger Ale in Ireland circa 1851, followed by Root Beer in 1876, Dr. Pepper in Texas in 1885, and coca-cola in Georgia in 1886. It was the mass production of coco-cola and the subsequent formation of massive soda corporations that lead to the export of soda to the eastern world, including Japan. Today, though Japan has many unique flavors of soda, the word itself, true to its Western origin, remains in Katakana.
Clearly, Katakana is an intricate script, with many subtleties of usage. In reading different textbooks introductions of Katakana, it was immediately evident that certain textbooks explored these subtleties in much greater depth than others. This no doubt is due to the audience each book was aimed at. Those students beginning Japanese for the first time, particularly younger students, potentially could be overwhelmed by the complicate nature of Katakana, and the simpler explanations were no doubt targeted at these individuals. As students wet their feet however, and become more proficient in the language, it seems logical that a more comprehensive explanation be provided. TO my mind, this is the most logical explanation for the degrees of detail found in textbook explanations of Katakana usage.
Works Cited
"Common Japanese Onomatopoeia Word Sounds Found in Manga." JapanSugoi - Everything Cool about Japan. 2009. Web. 01 Dec. 2010. <http://www.japansugoi.com/wordpress/common-japanese-onomatopoeia-word-sounds-found-in-manga/>.
"Japanese Onomatopoeia." Languages Other than English: Center for Educator Development. Southwest Educational Development Laboratory. Web. 01 Dec. 2010. <http://www.sedl.org/loteced/scenarios/japanese_onomatopoeia.html>.
"Japanese Writing System." Home - CSU, Chico. Web. 01 Dec. 2010. <http://www.csuchico.edu/~cheinz/syllabi/asst001/fall97/mat-wite.htm>.
Mitamura, Yasuko Kosaka. Let's Learn Katakana. Tokyo: Kodansha International, 1985. Print.
"Usage of Hiragana/katakana." Anime Web Turnpike. 2010. Web. 01 Dec. 2010. <http://forum.anipike.com/archive/index.php/t-1115.html>.
CSU, Chico. California State University. Web. 01 Dec. 2010. <http://www.csuchico.edu/~cheinz/syllabi/asst001/fall97/mat-wite.htm>.
本の中でハリーパーターとThe Lord of the RingsとAnything by Ernest HemingwayとGreat Expectations (and other Charles Dickens)とJane AustenとEarth's ChildrenとHis Dark MaterialsとMemoirs of a げいしゃがいちばんすきです。わたしは本がとてもすきです。。。
