shimokawasachiko 目次
Agree Or Disagree: The use of English loanwords should be limited.
日本語における英語外来語の使用を制限すべきだ。
POINTS: Effects on English Learners / Cultural Destruction / Unfamiliarity
観点：英語学習者への影響、文化崩壊、不慣れさ
外来語使用の背景
鎖国を止めて以来、外国の物や文化が日本に急速に浸透しました。それに伴い外国語、特に英語をそのまま日本語に転用する外来語が増えました。近年、インターネットの使用が生活の一部となったからか、理由は定かではありませんが、必要のない外来語をマスコミや専門家達が多用しているようにも感じます。
English Loanwords in Japanese (English)
賛成派：日本語における英語外来語の使用を制限すべきだ（238語）
Agree Or Disagree: The use of English loanwords in Japanese should be limited.
POINTS: Effects on English Learners / Cultural Destruction / Unfamiliarity
Introduction
English loanwords are everywhere today. Although some people are willing to use them, I think people should reduce their use to avoid the unwelcomed effects on English learners, a decreased level of comprehension and degradation of the Japanese language.
こんにち英語が起源の外来語は至る所にあります。外来語を使いたがる人もいますが、英語学習者にとって好ましくない影響、理解力の低下、日本語の劣化を避けるために、頻繁な使用は避けた方が良いように思います。
Discussion 1
First, English loanwords in Japanese often have different meanings and pronunciations from the original words. For example, the term ‘ecology’ means doing good things for the environment in Japanese. Besides, the Japanese pronounce the word in 4 syllables rather than 2 in English. These differences may confuse English learners, particularly people up to the intermediate level.
まず、英語を起源とする外来語はよく、もともとの単語と意味や発音が違います。例えば、‘エコロジー‘は日本語では‘環境に良いことをする‘という意味になります。日本語での発音は、英語での２音節とは違い、4音節でエ・コ・ロ・ジーとなります。これらの違いは、英語学習者、特に中級者レベルまでの学習者を混乱させてしまうかもしれません。
Discussion 2
Next, some, especially older people, could not understand the Japanese sentences containing a lot of English loanwords well. Nevertheless, the main media like TV today overuses loanwords, such as lockdown, cluster and genocide, and news is not comprehensible lately unless you keep learning new loanwords.
次に、特に年配の人達ですが、英語の外来語を多用した日本語文をよく理解できない人もいるでしょう。それにもかかわらず、テレビのような主なメディアは今日、ロックダウン・クラスター・ジェノサイドなどの外来語を過度に使用しており、最近では新しい外来語を学び続けない限り、ニュースは理解不能なものになっています。
Discussion 3
Last, borrowing too many English words may gradually destroy the Japanese language. Japanese words would do for many cases, and it is not inevitable to use loanwords. Some people may prefer using them to Japanese because they sound more knowledgeable, or the media often use them. Consequently, some Japanese words may be replaced and vanish in the future, which may even lead to cultural destruction in the worst-case scenario.
最後に、英単語を拝借しすぎる事により日本語は徐々に滅びてしますかもしれません。多くの場合、日本語の単語でこと足りて外来語を使用する必要はありません。外来語を使用すると博識のようにみえたり、メディアでよく使用されることから、外来語の使用を好む人たちもいるかもしれません。結果、外来語に取って代わられ将来なくなってしまう日本語も出てくるかもしれません。最悪の場合、文化崩壊にさえ繫がってしまうかもしれません。
Conclusion
For those reasons, the use of English loanwords in Japanese should be somehow limited. At least media exposure should be more restricted as long as alternative Japanese terms exist.
このような理由から、日本語における英語由来の外来語の使用を、何らかの形で制限するべきです。代替の日本語が存在するなら、少なくともメディアでの使用はもっと制限されるべきです。
賛成派：全文（音声付き）
English loanwords are everywhere today. Although some people are willing to use them, I think people should reduce their use to avoid the unwelcomed effects on English learners, a decreased level of comprehension and degradation of the Japanese language.
First, English loanwords in Japanese often have different meanings and pronunciations from the original words. For example, the term ‘ecology’ means doing good things for the environment in Japanese. Besides, the Japanese pronounce the word in 4 syllables rather than 2 in English. These differences may confuse English learners, particularly people up to the intermediate level.
Next, some, especially older people, could not understand the Japanese sentences containing a lot of English loanwords well. Nevertheless, the main media like TV today overuses loanwords, such as lockdown, cluster and genocide, and news is not comprehensible lately unless you keep learning new loanwords.
Last, borrowing too many English words may gradually destroy the Japanese language. Japanese words would do for many cases, and it is not inevitable to use loanwords. Some people may prefer using them to Japanese because they sound more knowledgeable, or the media often use them. Consequently, some Japanese words may be replaced and vanish in the future, which may even lead to cultural destruction in the worst-case scenario.
For those reasons, the use of English loanwords in Japanese should be somehow limited. At least media exposure should be more restricted as long as alternative Japanese terms exist.
反対派：日本語における英語外来語の使用は制限されるべきでない（235 語）
Agree Or Disagree: The use of English loanwords in Japanese should be limited.
POINTS: Effects on English Learners / Cultural Destruction / Unfamiliarity
Introduction
The current frequent use of English loanwords in Japanese, to some extent, resulted from demands for globalisation and diversity. It is a very natural movement, and restricting it would bring disadvantages in certain aspects.
日本語における英語由来の外来語は現在頻繁に使用されており、これは多少なりともグローバル化や多様性への需要から生じたものです。これは非常に自然な流れであり、外来語の使用を制限する事は、ある方面において不利益が生じることになるでしょう。
Discussion 1
Limiting the use of English loanwords, to begin with, may prevent some companies from progressing internationally. Multinational employees work together at many global corporations, and English is often an official language. Consequently, some frequently used English words in business have become Japanese, such as evidence and incentive.
まず、英語起源の外来語の使用を制限することは、企業の国際化の妨げとなるかもしれません。たくさんのグローバル企業では多国籍の社員が共に働いており、よく英語が公式言語になっています。その結果、エビデンスやインセンティブのようなビジネスでよく使われる英単語は日本語になっています。
Discussion 2
Daily exposure to English loanwords also helps people learn new English vocabulary. The pronunciations differ from the original, but they are good enough to know the meaning and rough pronunciation of the original English vocabulary. Also, hearing such loanwords may encourage them to speak in English.
また英語由来の外来語に毎日触れることは新しい英単語を学ぶのにも役立ちます。外来語の発音は元々の英単語のものと異なりますが、意味や大体の発音を学ぶのには充分です。そのような外来語をきくことで、そう抵抗を感じずに英語を話せるようになるかもしれません。
Discussion 3
Adopting English words is sometimes the only way to describe the concepts or particular nouns coming from foreign countries if no appropriate Japanese terms exist, for example, LGBT and influencer. Loanwords could contribute to the acceptance of new concepts in conservative Japanese society. In addition, some words that we believe are original Japanese used to be loanwords. For instance, the term juban, meaning kimono underwear, came from Arabian.
適切な日本語が存在しない場合、英単語を取り入れることが、海外に起源する概念や特定の単語を描写する唯一の方法であることもあります。例えば、LGBTやインフルエンサーなどです。外来語は保守的な日本社会が新しい概念を受け入れるのにも一役買うことでしょう。加えて、私たちが元々日本語だと信じている単語でも、かつては外来語であったものもあります。例えば、着物の肌着である襦袢はアラビア語からきています。
Conclusion
In conclusion, languages have been changing all the time. Although it may be hard to understand sentences with many unfamiliar words, people will get used to them soon. Considering the benefits, we should not limit the use of English loanwords.
結論として、言語は常に変化し続けているものです。聞き慣れない単語がたくさん入った文を理解するのは大変かもしれませんが、すぐに慣れるでしょう。外来語がもたらす恩恵を考慮すると、英語由来の外来語の使用は制限すべきではありません。
反対派：全文（音声付き）
The current frequent use of English loanwords in Japanese, to some extent, resulted from demands for globalisation and diversity. It is a very natural movement, and restricting it would bring disadvantages in certain aspects.
Limiting the use of English loanwords, to begin with, may prevent some companies from progressing internationally. Multinational employees work together at many global corporations, and English is often an official language. Consequently, some frequently used English words in business have become Japanese, such as evidence and incentive.
Daily exposure to English loanwords also helps people learn new English vocabulary. The pronunciations differ from the original, but they are good enough to know the meaning and rough pronunciation of the original English vocabulary. Also, hearing such loanwords may encourage them to speak in English.
Adopting English words is sometimes the only way to describe the concepts or particular nouns coming from foreign countries if no appropriate Japanese terms exist, for example, LGBT and influencer. Loanwords could contribute to the acceptance of new concepts in conservative Japanese society. In addition, some words that we believe are original Japanese used to be loanwords. For instance, the term juban, meaning kimono underwear, came from Arabian.
In conclusion, languages have been changing all the time. Although it may be hard to understand sentences with many unfamiliar words, people will get used to them soon. Considering the benefits, we should not limit the use of English loanwords.
まとめ
歳を重ねると、外来語の多用だけでなく単語の読み方が正しくないなど誤った日本語を目にする耳にすることが増えたように思います。でも、早急（さっきゅう）が「そうきゅう」、重複（ちょうふく）が「じゅうふく」でも構わないとなったり、時代とともに変化していく事も多々あります。言語は生きているものなので、こういった変化は当たり前だと思う一方で、風情ある日本語などなくなってほしくないと願っています。
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