This paper examines the positive, and negative, impact of English loanwords; currently being used in the Japanese language. Loanwords are words that have been borrowed from one language and incorporated into another; these words are sometimes integrated without any further modification. The initial consideration is as to why so many English loanwords have managed to infiltrate the Japanese language. Thereafter, the negative and positive implications for Japanese society are explored. The aim is to draw a final conclusion, based on an objective review of previous studies on the subject.
Over a prolonged period of time, the use of English has expanded to the point that is has become a truly global language. Presently, there are more than 1.5 billion English speakers worldwide; the reasons for this are varied. English being the preferred method of internet communication; British colonization and the world’s fixation with American popular culture, are just some of the contributory factors. There can be little doubt that this expansion of English as a lingua franca has facilitated (and improved) global communication. However, there are many countries that see the expansion as an attack on indigenous…show more content… This has caused both positive and negative reactions, the latter prompting calls for government intervention from some sections of society. Loanwords are referred to as gairaigo in Japanese. In recent times, the contentious subject of gairaigo has become a hot topic of debate for the Japanese media, the government and the general public. Japanese is a language that has evolved through contact with foreign languages. In the 4th century, with no discernable method of written communication in place, the Japanese adopted Chinese characters as a written means of communicating (Ola,