Why is “language” represented by 言葉【ことば】 instead of 言語【げんご】 in this book for...
In みんなの日本語初級I book, the word 「ことば」 is used to mean "language" (English, Japanese, Russian, etc.)
However, I found 「言語」 as the most proper word for this type of language. The first variant (which is used in the book) is more for some abstract language.
Why is 「ことば」 used here instead?
word-choice usage word-usage
edited Mar 25 at 10:24
Andrew T.
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asked Mar 24 at 18:44
Irina KovalchukIrina Kovalchuk
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In みんなの日本語初級I book, the word 「ことば」 is used to mean "language" (English, Japanese, Russian, etc.)
However, I found 「言語」 as the most proper word for this type of language. The first variant (which is used in the book) is more for some abstract language.
Why is 「ことば」 used here instead?
word-choice usage word-usage
edited Mar 25 at 10:24
Andrew T.
229214
asked Mar 24 at 18:44
Irina KovalchukIrina Kovalchuk
15011
New contributor
Irina Kovalchuk is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
In みんなの日本語初級I book, the word 「ことば」 is used to mean "language" (English, Japanese, Russian, etc.)
However, I found 「言語」 as the most proper word for this type of language. The first variant (which is used in the book) is more for some abstract language.
Why is 「ことば」 used here instead?
word-choice usage word-usage
edited Mar 25 at 10:24
Andrew T.
229214
asked Mar 24 at 18:44
Irina KovalchukIrina Kovalchuk
15011
New contributor
Irina Kovalchuk is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
In みんなの日本語初級I book, the word 「ことば」 is used to mean "language" (English, Japanese, Russian, etc.)
However, I found 「言語」 as the most proper word for this type of language. The first variant (which is used in the book) is more for some abstract language.
Why is 「ことば」 used here instead?
word-choice usage word-usage
word-choice usage word-usage
edited Mar 25 at 10:24
Andrew T.
229214
asked Mar 24 at 18:44
Irina KovalchukIrina Kovalchuk
15011
New contributor
Irina Kovalchuk is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited Mar 25 at 10:24
Andrew T.
229214
asked Mar 24 at 18:44
Irina KovalchukIrina Kovalchuk
15011
New contributor
Irina Kovalchuk is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited Mar 25 at 10:24
Andrew T.
229214
edited Mar 25 at 10:24
Andrew T.
229214
edited Mar 25 at 10:24
Andrew T.
229214
229214
asked Mar 24 at 18:44
Irina KovalchukIrina Kovalchuk
15011
New contributor
Irina Kovalchuk is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked Mar 24 at 18:44
Irina KovalchukIrina Kovalchuk
15011
asked Mar 24 at 18:44
Irina KovalchukIrina Kovalchuk
15011
15011
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Irina Kovalchuk is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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Irina Kovalchuk is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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Check out our Code of Conduct.
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3 Answers
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言語 is more of an academic term, while ことば is more colloquial and accessible. 言語 is normally used with longer compound words. Functionally, though, they mean the same thing.
Although the example that you posted is technically academic, the use of furigana does indicate that it is designed either for younger Japanese or for non-native speakers. Hence, ことば is more accessible (as @tarkma has pointed out).
answered Mar 25 at 0:59
BJCUAIBJCUAI
5,480311
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I think the word ことば is used here simply because it is an easier word. In the Japanese education system, the word 言語 is introduced in second grade according to this.
answered Mar 24 at 21:30
tarkmatarkma
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In addition to tarkma's and BJCUAI's answers, I'd like to draw your attention to the header:
国【くに】・人【ひと】・ことば
All three of these are so-called 大和【やまと】言葉【ことば】, or native-Japanese terms, which are read with the 訓読【くんよ】み. The word 言語【げんご】, meanwhile, is read with the 音読【おんよ】み, and originates as a borrowing from Chinese. For a consistently 音読【おんよ】み header of the same meaning, we could say instead:
国家【こっか】・国民【こくみん】・言語【げんご】
However, this comes across very differently.
The terms native to the language have a more informal, familiar, and comfortable sense, while the terms borrowed from Chinese tend to be more formal, academic, and sometimes stilted. This is similar in some ways to English vocabulary, where words native to English are more informal, familiar, and comfortable, while the terms borrowed from Latin tend to be more formal, academic, and sometimes stilted.
answered Mar 26 at 5:53
Eiríkr ÚtlendiEiríkr Útlendi
17.8k13263
1
that's interesting information, thank you a lot.
– Irina Kovalchuk
Mar 26 at 6:15
add a comment |
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3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
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active
oldest
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言語 is more of an academic term, while ことば is more colloquial and accessible. 言語 is normally used with longer compound words. Functionally, though, they mean the same thing.
Although the example that you posted is technically academic, the use of furigana does indicate that it is designed either for younger Japanese or for non-native speakers. Hence, ことば is more accessible (as @tarkma has pointed out).
answered Mar 25 at 0:59
BJCUAIBJCUAI
5,480311
add a comment |
言語 is more of an academic term, while ことば is more colloquial and accessible. 言語 is normally used with longer compound words. Functionally, though, they mean the same thing.
Although the example that you posted is technically academic, the use of furigana does indicate that it is designed either for younger Japanese or for non-native speakers. Hence, ことば is more accessible (as @tarkma has pointed out).
answered Mar 25 at 0:59
BJCUAIBJCUAI
5,480311
add a comment |
言語 is more of an academic term, while ことば is more colloquial and accessible. 言語 is normally used with longer compound words. Functionally, though, they mean the same thing.
Although the example that you posted is technically academic, the use of furigana does indicate that it is designed either for younger Japanese or for non-native speakers. Hence, ことば is more accessible (as @tarkma has pointed out).
answered Mar 25 at 0:59
BJCUAIBJCUAI
5,480311
言語 is more of an academic term, while ことば is more colloquial and accessible. 言語 is normally used with longer compound words. Functionally, though, they mean the same thing.
Although the example that you posted is technically academic, the use of furigana does indicate that it is designed either for younger Japanese or for non-native speakers. Hence, ことば is more accessible (as @tarkma has pointed out).
answered Mar 25 at 0:59
BJCUAIBJCUAI
5,480311
answered Mar 25 at 0:59
BJCUAIBJCUAI
5,480311
answered Mar 25 at 0:59
BJCUAIBJCUAI
5,480311
answered Mar 25 at 0:59
BJCUAIBJCUAI
5,480311
5,480311
add a comment |
add a comment |
I think the word ことば is used here simply because it is an easier word. In the Japanese education system, the word 言語 is introduced in second grade according to this.
answered Mar 24 at 21:30
tarkmatarkma
411
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tarkma is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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add a comment |
I think the word ことば is used here simply because it is an easier word. In the Japanese education system, the word 言語 is introduced in second grade according to this.
answered Mar 24 at 21:30
tarkmatarkma
411
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tarkma is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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add a comment |
I think the word ことば is used here simply because it is an easier word. In the Japanese education system, the word 言語 is introduced in second grade according to this.
answered Mar 24 at 21:30
tarkmatarkma
411
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tarkma is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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I think the word ことば is used here simply because it is an easier word. In the Japanese education system, the word 言語 is introduced in second grade according to this.
answered Mar 24 at 21:30
tarkmatarkma
411
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answered Mar 24 at 21:30
tarkmatarkma
411
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answered Mar 24 at 21:30
tarkmatarkma
411
answered Mar 24 at 21:30
tarkmatarkma
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411
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In addition to tarkma's and BJCUAI's answers, I'd like to draw your attention to the header:
国【くに】・人【ひと】・ことば
All three of these are so-called 大和【やまと】言葉【ことば】, or native-Japanese terms, which are read with the 訓読【くんよ】み. The word 言語【げんご】, meanwhile, is read with the 音読【おんよ】み, and originates as a borrowing from Chinese. For a consistently 音読【おんよ】み header of the same meaning, we could say instead:
国家【こっか】・国民【こくみん】・言語【げんご】
However, this comes across very differently.
The terms native to the language have a more informal, familiar, and comfortable sense, while the terms borrowed from Chinese tend to be more formal, academic, and sometimes stilted. This is similar in some ways to English vocabulary, where words native to English are more informal, familiar, and comfortable, while the terms borrowed from Latin tend to be more formal, academic, and sometimes stilted.
answered Mar 26 at 5:53
Eiríkr ÚtlendiEiríkr Útlendi
17.8k13263
1
that's interesting information, thank you a lot.
– Irina Kovalchuk
Mar 26 at 6:15
add a comment |
In addition to tarkma's and BJCUAI's answers, I'd like to draw your attention to the header:
国【くに】・人【ひと】・ことば
All three of these are so-called 大和【やまと】言葉【ことば】, or native-Japanese terms, which are read with the 訓読【くんよ】み. The word 言語【げんご】, meanwhile, is read with the 音読【おんよ】み, and originates as a borrowing from Chinese. For a consistently 音読【おんよ】み header of the same meaning, we could say instead:
国家【こっか】・国民【こくみん】・言語【げんご】
However, this comes across very differently.
The terms native to the language have a more informal, familiar, and comfortable sense, while the terms borrowed from Chinese tend to be more formal, academic, and sometimes stilted. This is similar in some ways to English vocabulary, where words native to English are more informal, familiar, and comfortable, while the terms borrowed from Latin tend to be more formal, academic, and sometimes stilted.
answered Mar 26 at 5:53
Eiríkr ÚtlendiEiríkr Útlendi
17.8k13263
1
that's interesting information, thank you a lot.
– Irina Kovalchuk
Mar 26 at 6:15
add a comment |
In addition to tarkma's and BJCUAI's answers, I'd like to draw your attention to the header:
国【くに】・人【ひと】・ことば
All three of these are so-called 大和【やまと】言葉【ことば】, or native-Japanese terms, which are read with the 訓読【くんよ】み. The word 言語【げんご】, meanwhile, is read with the 音読【おんよ】み, and originates as a borrowing from Chinese. For a consistently 音読【おんよ】み header of the same meaning, we could say instead:
国家【こっか】・国民【こくみん】・言語【げんご】
However, this comes across very differently.
The terms native to the language have a more informal, familiar, and comfortable sense, while the terms borrowed from Chinese tend to be more formal, academic, and sometimes stilted. This is similar in some ways to English vocabulary, where words native to English are more informal, familiar, and comfortable, while the terms borrowed from Latin tend to be more formal, academic, and sometimes stilted.
answered Mar 26 at 5:53
Eiríkr ÚtlendiEiríkr Útlendi
17.8k13263
In addition to tarkma's and BJCUAI's answers, I'd like to draw your attention to the header:
国【くに】・人【ひと】・ことば
All three of these are so-called 大和【やまと】言葉【ことば】, or native-Japanese terms, which are read with the 訓読【くんよ】み. The word 言語【げんご】, meanwhile, is read with the 音読【おんよ】み, and originates as a borrowing from Chinese. For a consistently 音読【おんよ】み header of the same meaning, we could say instead:
国家【こっか】・国民【こくみん】・言語【げんご】
However, this comes across very differently.
The terms native to the language have a more informal, familiar, and comfortable sense, while the terms borrowed from Chinese tend to be more formal, academic, and sometimes stilted. This is similar in some ways to English vocabulary, where words native to English are more informal, familiar, and comfortable, while the terms borrowed from Latin tend to be more formal, academic, and sometimes stilted.
answered Mar 26 at 5:53
Eiríkr ÚtlendiEiríkr Útlendi
17.8k13263
answered Mar 26 at 5:53
Eiríkr ÚtlendiEiríkr Útlendi
17.8k13263
answered Mar 26 at 5:53
Eiríkr ÚtlendiEiríkr Útlendi
17.8k13263
answered Mar 26 at 5:53
Eiríkr ÚtlendiEiríkr Útlendi
17.8k13263
17.8k13263
1
that's interesting information, thank you a lot.
– Irina Kovalchuk
Mar 26 at 6:15
add a comment |
1
that's interesting information, thank you a lot.
– Irina Kovalchuk
Mar 26 at 6:15
1
1
that's interesting information, thank you a lot.
– Irina Kovalchuk
Mar 26 at 6:15
that's interesting information, thank you a lot.
– Irina Kovalchuk
Mar 26 at 6:15
add a comment |
Irina Kovalchuk is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Irina Kovalchuk is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Irina Kovalchuk is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Irina Kovalchuk is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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