A Study on the Current Status of Using Japanese loanwords in Taiwanese

• Main Authors: Chan,Yi-Ru, 詹依儒
• Other Authors: Hsu, Hui-ju
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2015
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/10871722521109287164

碩士 === 國立臺灣師範大學 === 台灣語文學系 === 103 === Due to the historical background of Taiwan, there are many lexical items borrowed from Japanese into Taiwanese. This research aims to probe into the use of Japanese loanwords in Taiwanese in the context of multi-language environment and Mandarin as dominant language in Taiwan. The research utilizes the method of elicitation, using graphic cards to elicit and collect language materials. Based on Winford’s borrowing categories, I categorize them along with the 4 language layers of Taiwaneseproposed by Cheng, Robert L. (1990). The result reveals: 1. The word “gas”(ga55 suh3)has no other vocabulary to compete with it and is used steadily by Taiwanese speakers, while “veranda”(be33lan51 tah3) and “high-heel shoes”(hai33 hi51 lu55)are presumed to have disappeared from Taiwanese lexicon after experiment. 2. Subjects used “specific Taiwanese words”to refer to the Japanese loanwords in the test. 3. Chinese characters in Taiwanese pronunciation is quite common,i.e.“Taiwanese-Mandarincommon words,”which compete with the lexical items borrowed from Japanese. 4. Not all Chinese characters could be easily pronounced in Taiwanese. As such, another prevalent phenomenon in the experiment was code-switching. 5. Due to social variables, the older the subjects were, the more vigorously they used Japanese loanwords, and vice versa. Male subjects used Japanese loanwords more frequently than female ones. The subjects from the central and south of Taiwan tended to use Japanese loanwords more often than the northern counterparts. Furthermore, the subjects studying Taiwanese-related department were more actively in using Japanese loanwords than those studying otherwise. The Japaneseloanwords used in food (and plants) are most frequently pronounced in Japanese. Most subjects would think and express in Mandarin when it comes technological and medical items, so the use of Japanese loanwords are the least of all, nevertheless.