2.1 The Influence of Language and Culture on Identity

6 min read•february 26, 2023

Katelyn Lien

AP Japanese 🇯🇵

28 resources

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Unit 2 Overview

🗣️ In this unit, you will look at how the Japanese language and culture affect personal and public identities. You will learn more about the Japanese language itself and cultural aspects that will provide more context for the topics you will learn throughout the course. Here are some guiding questions to help get you thinking for this unit:

How does language affect one's identity?
What are some different ways you like to greet others?
Can one's personal and public identities differ? How?

Personal and Public Identity

The Japanese language is used as the national language国語 (こくご） inJapan and plays a crucial role in shaping both personal and public identity.

In terms of personal identity, speaking and understanding Japanese is essential for communication and interaction within Japanese society. It can also be a source of personal pride and a symbol of cultural heritage. Those proficient in the language are often accepted as more well-rounded and integrated members of Japanese society. Additionally, language can also have an impact on personal identity by shaping an individual's worldview and perception of the world. Language can affect how an individual thinks and communicates and can also impact how they form relationships and interact with others.

Also, Language is used to transmit traditional values, beliefs, and customs from one generation to the next. Using the Japanese language in literature, media, and other forms of expression is also a means of preserving and promoting the nation's cultural identity.

Personal Belief

Language and personal beliefs are closely connected in Japan. The way people speak and communicate in Japan can shape their beliefs and values, and their beliefs and values can also shape their language use.

For example, if people value politeness, they may use more formal language 敬語（けいご) in their speech and communication.

Also, traditional cultural and religious values, as well as modern ideas, shape the personal beliefs of individuals. The Japanese language, with its rich vocabulary and grammar, helps to express these beliefs in a sophisticated way.

Gender Roles

Japanese has distinctive words and language used for each gender.

Certain expressions, terms, and speech styles are considered appropriate for men and women to use, reflecting traditional gender roles and expectations.

For example, women may use more polite and formal language when speaking to men, and men may use more strong and confident language in professional settings.

These differences in language usage based on gender can reflect and reinforce traditional power dynamics and gender stereotypes in Japanese society. While attitudes towards gender and language usage are evolving in contemporary Japanese culture, the persistence of gendered language usage highlights the ongoing influence of traditional gender roles and expectations.

Gender equality consciousness is becoming more established, and various efforts are being made to realize a society where men and women participate together. However, concerning the fact that there are differences in speech based on gender, there are opinions that it is not desirable. In contrast, others see it as something that should be positively valued as a richness of the Japanese language.

National Figures

Language and culture play a significant role in shaping the behavior and image of public figures in Japan. In Japan, a strong emphasis on respectful language and social hierarchy influences how public figures speak and act.

The Japanese emperor, known as the 天皇てんのう), is a public figure who is deeply influenced by language and culture. The emperor is considered to be the symbol of the unity of the Japanese people, and as such, the emperor's words and actions are closely watched and scrutinized by the public.In terms of language, the emperor is expected to use formal and respectful language at all times, and is often called upon to make public speeches on important national events or issues. The emperor's words are carefully chosen to reflect Japanese cultural values and to avoid causing offense or controversy.

Pop Culture ポップカルチャ

Japan has many world-renowned traditional cultural practices, such as 着物（きもの）, 生花（いけばな ), 茶道（さどう）, 歌舞伎（かぶき）, and 柔道（じゅうどう）. In recent years, attention has been drawn to traditional and more modern Japanese cultures. In addition, Japanese　ポップカルチャー 　has gained overwhelming support, especially among younger generations. While originally referring to culture geared towards the masses, nowadays, ポップカルチャー is also used to indicate things that convey high appeal and reflect modern Japan.

Japanese pop culture include 漫画（マンガ）, アニメ, ゲーム, ライトノベル, ポップミュージック, and テレビ, among others.

The language of 漫画 influences the language and terminology used in pop culture. For example, マンガ and アニメ　are used worldwide to refer to Japanese comics and animation. In addition, many popular expressions and catchphrases used in アニメ,

マンガ　and other forms of Japanese entertainment have become part of the everyday language in Japan.

For example, phrases like かわいい and おたく（ a term used to describe people who are passionate about anime, manga, and video games) are now commonly used by young people in Japan.

Japanese Language

Nihongo (日本語）

When someone talks in Japanese, they are speaking nihongo (日本語:にほんご). Just like people who speak English use certain words that are only used in their areas, Japanese people use a different dialect depending on where they're from. The dialect, or type, of Japanese spoken in a person's town or region, is called hōgen (方言:ほうげん). There are slight variations depending on the region, and it is sometimes difficult to understand. When listening to someone speak a different dialect, you can immediately notice the unique nuances, just like when listening to someone with a Southern or British accent.

The form of Japanese that is taught in school and is spoken by most people around Tokyo is Hyōjun（標準語：ひょうじんご). In the 1800s, after the Meiji Restoration, Tokyo, the capital of Japan, imposed this dialect to unite all Japanese people. In the past, people learned to speak 標準語 so they could move to the city and get a job. Even now, some people must switch from 　方言 to 標準語. 標準語 is now considered the "Standard Japanese," and all textbooks and teachers use this dialect.

mage Courtesy of Free SVG

Japanese Alphabet

Japanese consists of three main alphabets: kanji (漢字:かんじ), hiragana (ひらがな), and katakana (カタカナ).

漢字（かんじ）

First developed in China and was gradually used by Japanese people
Created from pictograms
- Ex: the kanji for tree is 木 which is supposed to resemble a tree
  - when two 木 are written together, it becomes 林, which means forest
Most Kanji from China can be read in the on yomi (音読み), which is the Chinese way of reading, or the kun yomi (くん読み), the Japanese reading
Each year starting in first grade, students must learn a certain number of kanji and have kanji tests regularly

Hiragana (ひらがな)

Phonetic Japanese alphabet
Each character represents one syllable
46 characters
The first of the three alphabets taught at school
- Most kids can read and write hiragana before they enter 小学校（しょうがっこう）elementary school

Image Courtesy of Japanese with Anime

Katakana (カタカナ)

Phonetic alphabet used to write foreign words
Each character represents one syllable
46 characters, just like hiragana
Ex: orange is オレンジ, which is read as "o-ren-ji"

Image Courtesy of Wikimedia

Key Words

Nihongo (日本語): Japanese
Kokugo (国語）：Japanese as national language
(標準語): Japanese dialect spoken around Tokyo
Keigo (敬語）：Honorific
Hōgen (方言): Dialect
Kanji (漢字): Japanese alphabet consisting of characters derived from pictograms
Katakana (カタカナ): Phonetic alphabet for foreign words
On yomi (音読み): Chinese reading
Kun yomi (くん読み): Japanese reading
Tennō (天皇):the Emperor
Ki (木): Tree
Hayashi (林): Forest