English Loanwords in Japanese TV Ads

Authors

Richard R.P. Gabbrielli

Abstract

Historically speaking, linguistic borrowing is a common phenomenon in the evolution of a language. However, unlike countries where English was adopted as an institutional variety as a result of linguistic legacy, the English found in Japan - specifically in television advertising - is a particularly intriguing linguistic puzzle. Although most of the English one sees on products and garments is often incomprehensible, pointless, or simply rude, advertisers/copy writers do have the power to manipulate the English language and 'engineer' changes to satisfy their own utilitarian purposes.

Recommended Citation

Gabbrielli, Richard R.P. (2004) "English Loanwords in Japanese TV Ads," Word Ways: Vol. 37 : Iss. 3 , Article 21.
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.butler.edu/wordways/vol37/iss3/21