The evolution of Japanese

词汇

• 古語archaic word / old Japanese
• 文語literary / classical language
• 口語colloquial / spoken language
• 万葉仮名Man yogana (early kana)
• 漢文classical Chinese writing
• 言文一致speech-writing unification
• 外来語loanword (foreign origin)
• 造語coined word / neologism
• 死語dead word / obsolete term
• 新語new word / neologism
• 略語abbreviation
• 当て字phonetic kanji usage

表达

• 言葉は時代とともに変わるLanguage changes with the times
• 古語が現代語に残っているArchaic words survive in modern language
• 外来語が日本語に溶け込むLoanwords blend into Japanese
• 若者言葉が定着するYouth slang becomes established
• 文語的な表現を使うTo use literary/classical expressions
• 言葉の移り変わりを辿るTo trace the evolution of language

常见错误

• ✗Using 文語 forms in casual conversation
  ✓文語 is for literary/formal writing only

  Classical forms like なり、たり、べし sound archaic in speech; use them only in writing or set phrases

• ✗Treating all katakana words as English
  ✓Many 外来語 come from Portuguese, Dutch, German

  パン (bread) is from Portuguese, ランドセル (school bag) from Dutch, アルバイト (part-time job) from German

• ✗Using 死語 without knowing it is outdated
  ✓Check if expressions are still current

  Words like ナウい (trendy, 1980s) or チョベリグ (super cool, 1990s) mark you as outdated if used seriously

• ✗Confusing 造語 with standard Japanese
  ✓Recognize internet slang as informal coinages

  Words like ググる (to google) or エモい (emotional/aesthetic) are 造語 inappropriate for formal contexts

• ✗Misunderstanding 当て字 as regular kanji readings
  ✓当て字 use kanji for sound, not meaning

  In 煙草 (tabako), the kanji mean smoke-grass but are read phonetically; standard readings would be different

小测验