title: Unique variety of Japanese language developed through language contact on the Gold Coast, Australia in first-generation Japanese communities
Creators: name: Lance, Yoko
Publisher: name: Griffith University
Year: 2022
Subjects: subject: first-generation Japanese immigrants
subject: Japanese language
subject: word
subject: loanword
subject: Gold Coast
subject: catachrestic
subject: non-catachrestic
subject: Japanese people

description: To investigate how minority groups such as the Japanese speaking communities on the Gold Coast in Australia have developed a variety of the Japanese language, a survey was conducted with 31 first-generation Japanese immigrants. Among the unique 216 words collected, 26 new words, 45 catachrestic loanwords that bring new concepts of ideas or things into the Japanese language, 101 non-catachrestic loanwords co-existing with semiotically-matching other Japanese words, nine words with phonological modifications and 35 interjections were recorded. As a result, the most used unique words were non-catachrestic loanwords. Most words were related to their everyday lives; however, some were related to politics or of a more conceptual nature, unlike similar research conducted in Brazil before WWII. Nouns were the most popular unique words collected in terms of word classes. The names of things, shops, facilities, and occupations are often used in loanwords, as it is easier to use the same names in Japanese and English conversations. All the loanword verbs collected were formed with the suffix ‘-suru (to do)’. Some loanword adjectives were formed with the suffix ‘-na’. No ‘Taigen + -ru’ verbs or ‘loanwords + -i’ adjectives were confirmed. Among 26 new words used/developed on the Gold Coast, most were shortened nicknames of places and shops, such as ‘Hanja (Hungry Jacks)’, ‘Debijo (David Jones)’, ‘Raria (Australia)’, ‘Ōsu (Australia)’, ‘Wāsu (Woolworths)’, ‘Sushitore (Sushitrain)’, ‘Pashi (Pacific Fair)’, ‘Robitan (Robina Town Centre) and ‘Imigure (former Department of Immigration and Border Protection)’. Most of the words were clippings and compound clippings such as ‘Buri (Brisbane)’ and ‘Burobi (buro+bi, Broadbeach)’, and one loanblend ‘Japasen (for people who only date Japanese)’, one calque ‘Kokumin (National Australia Bank)’, one native creation ‘Donishī (Sydney)’, and two words ‘Ūru’ and ‘Ōru’ (both from the airport code ‘OOL’) from the Japanese tourism industry register were collected. For catachrestic loanwords, most of them were direct loans; however, some loanshifts such as ‘pikkingu (picking, meaning fruit picking)’ and ‘raundo (around, travelling around in Australia)’ were observed. For non-catachrestic loanwords, some names of places and occupations and things in their everyday lives were often used. Some words were used because they have slightly different impressions from the standard Japanese words, such as ‘yaoya’ and ‘vege shop’. For both catachrestic and non-catachrestic loanwords, some influence in shortenings from the local English slang/dialect was found as well, such as ‘Burijī (Brissie: Brisbane)’, ‘Ūrī (Woolies: Woolworths)’, ‘Bābī (Barbeque)’ and ‘mojī (mozzie: mosquito)’. Some phonological modifications influenced by English were found, such as ‘aikea’ instead of ‘ikea’ for the name of the interior shop IKEA, and ‘garāji’ instead of ‘garēji’ for garage. Some uncommon loanwords in Japan, such as ‘petorōru’, ‘petorō’, ‘petoro’, ‘petororu’, and 'petoraru’ for petrol, showed various phonological adaptations. Many loanwords for interjections were recorded, such as ‘oh my god’, ‘oh dear’, ‘oops’ and ‘awesome’. They often show code-switching behaviour for interjections with English accenting and pronunciation done unconsciously. More intentional code-switching behaviour is also observed to soften the situation, make it humorous, or dodge a straight answer. This code-switching is natural and easier to use for smooth communication in their life with two languages. Most participants had a positive attitude towards integrating English into their Japanese language. They think it is unavoidable living in an English-dominated society, and many of them speak English more often than Japanese. Although some words can only be expressed in English, this research found that people on the Gold Coast tend to integrate English into their Japanese conversations mainly for their convenience. It is not from the loss of their Japanese proficiency as their language skills are constantly updated through frequent return trips to Japan and access to online content in Japanese. It is considered embarrassing to mix languages too often in Japan, but it is very hard to avoid it in their life on the Gold Coast. However, they still try to avoid it in a formal or semiformal situation and outside their community. This research contributes new data to the field of Japanese language variation through language contact. There is no previous research conducted in this field, especially on Japanese people in Australia. It is significant to research and record the living language at the present time on the Gold Coast, Australia.