Japanese Sound-Symbolic Expressions

1. Japanese Sound-Symbolic Expressions Joshua Cole JPN494/598 Spring 2007

2. Objectives • In this presentation I will: • Define sound symbolism and give examples of different types of sound symbolism • Give examples of some common patterns Japanese sound-symbolic expressions follow and show how they evolved over time • Give examples of historical uses/usage trends in Japanese literature • Discuss the lifespan of Japanese sound-symbolic expressions

3. What is Sound Symbolism? • Words that sound like what they mean • Three major types in Japanese • Phonomimes • Phenomimes • Psychomimes

4. Types of Sound Symbolism • Phonomimes (Onomatopoeia): “words which imitate the sounds made by animate or inanimate objects” (Ono v) • 擬音語（giongo）：’sound’ onomatopoeia (inanimate) • Examples: snap, crackle, pop • 擬声語（giseigo）：’voice’ onomatopoeia (animate) • Examples: whinny, meow, moo

5. Types of Sound Symbolism • Phenomimes [擬態語（gitaigo）]: “words which express in descriptive and symbolic terms the states or conditions of both animate and inanimate objects, and of change, phenomena, movement, growth, etc. in nature” (Ono v) • Possible examples (?): twinkle, glitter, shimmer

6. Types of Sound Symbolism • Psychomimes [擬情語（gijôgo）]: words which express in descriptive and symbolic terms human emotion/feelings or psychological states • Possible examples (?): blah, icky, woozy

7. Examples of Japanese Sound Symbolism • Phonomime • うっ（utt）: Expresses a gasping sound or action. A short groaning or growling sound. [e.g., ガス臭い。思わずうっと息をとめた。 (It smelt of gas. Without thinking, I held my breath.)] • Phenomime • ぷんぷん（pun-pun）: Describes a strong enveloping smell. [e.g., この花はぷんぷんにおう。 (This flower gives off a strong smell.)] • Psychomime • のんびり（nonbiri）: To be in a calm, tranquil state, both physically and mentally. [e.g., 若いうちのほうが、のんびりして、気ままな暮らしをしやすい。 (Just relaxing and living freely is easier when one is young.)]

8. Common Constructions • Root • One-syllable root A • Two-syllable root AB • May be followed by と（to） • Required: forms ending in the 促音（sokuon） • Optional: Forms ending in the 発音（hatsuon） or り（ri） • ABAB form usually not followed by と • Commonly used as an adverb • ABAB form sometimes used as an adjective

9. A（ふ） Aッ（ぎゅっ） Aン（ぽん） A－（ちゅー） AA（ここ） AッA（さっさ） AッAッ（へっへっ） AンAン（るんるん） A－A－（かーかー） Common Constructions:One-syllable root A

10. Common Constructions:Two-syllable root AB • AB（がば） • ABッ（むかっ） • ABン（どかん） • ABリ（とろり） • AッBリ（ぴったり） • AンBリ（うんざり） • ABAB（そろそろ） • ABB（きりり）

11. Common Constructions Historically • Nara (8 forms) • Heian (4 new forms) • Introduction of 撥音（hatsuonン） as う? • リ over ロ／ラ • Kamakura/Muromachi (22 new forms) • Introduction of 促音（sokuon ッ）、長音（chô’on －） • Edo (9 new forms) • Meiji – Present (12 new forms)

12. Common Constructions:Conclusions • Frequent use of： • 促音（sokuon ッ） • 撥音（hatsuonン） • 長音（chô’on －） • ABAB most commonly used form

13. Historical Use of Japanese Sound Symbolism • 万葉集（Man’yôshû) (c. 759) • Conjecture: earliest known use? • Example: 「この床のひしと鳴るまで」（一三・三二七〇） • ひし→ぎしぎし、みしみし（to creak） • 古今和歌集（Kokin wakashû） (c. 920) • Some examples of sound symbolism used as 掛詞（kakekotoba） • Example: 「ひとりして　物をおもへば　秋の田の　稲葉のそよと　いう人のなき」 • そよ（gentle swaying motion） & 其よ（＝そうですよ） • 源氏物語（Genji monogatari） (1021) • Novel use of sound-symbolic expressions in descriptions of particular characters in the story • Example: 「あざあざ」（色彩が鮮明で目の覚めるような派手やかさ）is used only in descriptions of Lady Murasaki

14. Historical Usage Trends in Literature • Usage increases over time • 古代（Kodai） • 源氏物語（Genji monogatari）： 33 instances • 今昔物語集（Konjyaku monogatarishû）： 55 instances • 中世（Chûsei） • Selected 軍記物語（Gunki monogatari）： 112 instances • 近代（Kindai） • 我輩は猫である（Wagahai wa neko de aru）： 261 instances • 1/10 length of Genji79x more dense • 細雪（Sasameyuki）： 305 instances • 1/3 length of Genji27x more dense • Conjecture: Japanese sound symbolic expressions always used in speech, usage in literature increased as differences between written Japanese became more like spoken Japanese（言文一致）

15. Lifespan of Japanese Sound-Symbolic Expressions • Question: Are Japanese sound-symbolic expressions only in vogue for a short time, or do they have some staying power? • Short answer: It depends

16. Examining the 今昔物語集（Konjyaku monogatarishû） • 53% of the sound-symbolic expressions in this work have survived to the present day (i.e., their meanings have not changed) • Total rises to 58% when you take into account the addition of 促音 & 長音 to the Japanese language and alter the expressions accordingly • 促音：「散と」→「さっと」 (extremely quick, adroit movement) • 長音：「ギ」→「ギー」 (low creaking) • Even among the 42% of expressions no longer used, with minor alterations some correspond to modern-day forms • ABABBABA: 「ツブツブ」→「ブツブツ」 (cutting into a thick object) • voicelessvoiced: 「ツブリ」→「ヅブリ」→「ズブリ」 (splashing, sinking into water)

17. Changes in Expression Usage over 30 Years • Increase in number of electronic sounds • Goes hand in hand with proliferation of electronic devices (personal computers, cell phones, microwave ovens, etc.) • Decrease in “natural” sounds • Wooden sliding doorsmetal sliding doors • Glass bottlesPlastic bottles

18. Changes in Expression Usage over 30 Years • Less emphasis on expressions denoting slow, relaxed actions • More emphasis on expressions denoting quick, dynamic actions • Conjecture: reflective of a more fast-paced society?

19. Emphasis on Quick, Dynamic Actions: Example

20. Lifespan of Japanese Sound-Symbolic Expressions: Conclusions • “Short term”: fairly dynamic • Words used reflect the environment/conditions of the time • “Long term”: surprisingly static • Once introduced meanings of surviving words don’t change much over time

21. Resources • 大坪併治，「象徴語彙の歴史」，森岡健二編者，『講座日本語学・４―語彙史』，東京：明治書院，　１９８２，２２８－２５０． • 尾野秀一編著，『日英擬音・擬態語活用辞典』，東京：北星堂書店，１９８４． • 鈴木雅子，「むかしの擬音語・擬態語」，『言語生活』，第１７１号，１２／１９６５，６０－６５． • 山口仲美，『犬は「びよ」と鳴いていた―日本語は擬音語・擬態語が面白い』，東京：光文社，２００２． • Wikipedia article on “Sound Symbolism”, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_symbolism