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 yesterday
Andrew T.
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asked 2 days ago
Irina KovalchukIrina Kovalchuk
15010
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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 yesterday
Andrew T.
229214
asked 2 days ago
Irina KovalchukIrina Kovalchuk
15010
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 yesterday
Andrew T.
229214
asked 2 days ago
Irina KovalchukIrina Kovalchuk
15010
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 yesterday
Andrew T.
229214
asked 2 days ago
Irina KovalchukIrina Kovalchuk
15010
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 yesterday
Andrew T.
229214
asked 2 days ago
Irina KovalchukIrina Kovalchuk
15010
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 yesterday
Andrew T.
229214
edited yesterday
Andrew T.
229214
edited yesterday
Andrew T.
229214
229214
asked 2 days ago
Irina KovalchukIrina Kovalchuk
15010
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 2 days ago
Irina KovalchukIrina Kovalchuk
15010
asked 2 days ago
Irina KovalchukIrina Kovalchuk
15010
15010
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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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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 2 days ago
BJCUAIBJCUAI
5,462311
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 2 days ago
tarkmatarkma
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 yesterday
Eiríkr ÚtlendiEiríkr Útlendi
17.7k13263
1
that's interesting information, thank you a lot.
– Irina Kovalchuk
yesterday
add a comment |
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3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
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votes
active
oldest
votes
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 2 days ago
BJCUAIBJCUAI
5,462311
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 2 days ago
BJCUAIBJCUAI
5,462311
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 2 days ago
BJCUAIBJCUAI
5,462311
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 2 days ago
BJCUAIBJCUAI
5,462311
answered 2 days ago
BJCUAIBJCUAI
5,462311
answered 2 days ago
BJCUAIBJCUAI
5,462311
answered 2 days ago
BJCUAIBJCUAI
5,462311
5,462311
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 2 days ago
tarkmatarkma
411
New contributor
tarkma 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 |
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 2 days ago
tarkmatarkma
411
New contributor
tarkma 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 |
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 2 days ago
tarkmatarkma
411
New contributor
tarkma is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
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 2 days ago
tarkmatarkma
411
New contributor
tarkma is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 2 days ago
tarkmatarkma
411
New contributor
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Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 2 days ago
tarkmatarkma
411
answered 2 days ago
tarkmatarkma
411
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 yesterday
Eiríkr ÚtlendiEiríkr Útlendi
17.7k13263
1
that's interesting information, thank you a lot.
– Irina Kovalchuk
yesterday
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 yesterday
Eiríkr ÚtlendiEiríkr Útlendi
17.7k13263
1
that's interesting information, thank you a lot.
– Irina Kovalchuk
yesterday
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 yesterday
Eiríkr ÚtlendiEiríkr Útlendi
17.7k13263
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 yesterday
Eiríkr ÚtlendiEiríkr Útlendi
17.7k13263
answered yesterday
Eiríkr ÚtlendiEiríkr Útlendi
17.7k13263
answered yesterday
Eiríkr ÚtlendiEiríkr Útlendi
17.7k13263
answered yesterday
Eiríkr ÚtlendiEiríkr Útlendi
17.7k13263
17.7k13263
1
that's interesting information, thank you a lot.
– Irina Kovalchuk
yesterday
add a comment |
1
that's interesting information, thank you a lot.
– Irina Kovalchuk
yesterday
1
1
that's interesting information, thank you a lot.
– Irina Kovalchuk
yesterday
that's interesting information, thank you a lot.
– Irina Kovalchuk
yesterday
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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