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The Japanese Language
Japanese language ranks 3rd in global survey
Japanese ranked as the world's third most important language for global communication after English and
French in a survey by the National Language Research Institute, the results of which were released Friday.
However, the institute, which surveyed more than 1,000 people between the ages of 15 and 69 in 27 countries and territories in cooperation with university researchers, said respondents mainly recognized antiquated Japanese words, such as hara-kiri and samurai. In the multiple-choice questionnaire, English ranked either first or second in every country as the most necessary language, followed by French in 12 countries, and Japanese in seven.
However, the institute, which surveyed more than 1,000 people between the ages of 15 and 69 in 27 countries and territories in cooperation with university researchers, said respondents mainly recognized antiquated Japanese words, such as hara-kiri and samurai. In the multiple-choice questionnaire, English ranked either first or second in every country as the most necessary language, followed by French in 12 countries, and Japanese in seven.
German and Spanish each garnered one of the two top spots in six countries.
The survey, which was conducted in collaboration with 150 professors in Japan and overseas, including Prof. Osamu Mizutani from the Nagoya University of Foreign Studies, was unveiled at a national language conference.
Sayonara was the Japanese word most recognized by foreigners, followed by arigato and sushi. Samurai ranked sixth, hara-kiri seventh, and geisha 12th. Kamikaze finished 13th, while Mitsubishi was 15th.
(Source: Yomiuri Shimbun)Feb.20.99
1.sayonara...... bye (greeting)
2.arigato......... thanks (greeting)
3.sushi........... dish, rice rolled in seaweed
6.samurai....... swordfighter
7.hara-kiri...... "belly-cutting", ritual suicide
12.geisha....... lady for entertainment (no prostitute)
13.kamikaze.. suicide pilotes in WO II
15.Mitsubishi.. multinational
The survey, which was conducted in collaboration with 150 professors in Japan and overseas, including Prof. Osamu Mizutani from the Nagoya University of Foreign Studies, was unveiled at a national language conference.
Sayonara was the Japanese word most recognized by foreigners, followed by arigato and sushi. Samurai ranked sixth, hara-kiri seventh, and geisha 12th. Kamikaze finished 13th, while Mitsubishi was 15th.
(Source: Yomiuri Shimbun)Feb.20.99
1.sayonara...... bye (greeting)
2.arigato......... thanks (greeting)
3.sushi........... dish, rice rolled in seaweed
6.samurai....... swordfighter
7.hara-kiri...... "belly-cutting", ritual suicide
12.geisha....... lady for entertainment (no prostitute)
13.kamikaze.. suicide pilotes in WO II
15.Mitsubishi.. multinational