Article published In: Language Problems and Language Planning
Vol. 43:1 (2019) ► pp.55–73
Reviewing reform
Studies of script reform in contemporary Japan
Published online: 22 March 2019
https://doi.org/10.1075/lplp.00032.dec
https://doi.org/10.1075/lplp.00032.dec
Abstract
The transformation of the contemporary Japanese writing system stemmed from the simultaneous political and cultural problematizing of so-called kokugo (national language) and kokuji (national script). Debates surrounding the structure and function of the written form of Japanese played an ongoing role in Japanese language reform proposals and policy planning initiated between the mid-1860s and early 1990s. Despite the long history of the debates and the large body of literature treating them, a comprehensive review of the scholarship dealing with the various dimensions of Japanese script reform is currently unavailable. This article provides a detailed overview and analysis of studies of the Japanese script reform debates that utilise contemporary works describing the origins and development of language problems and language rights issues. The article subsequently considers the possibilities for future inquiries involving transnational and post-national aspects of script reform, whilst reflecting on the conspicuously gendered and ethnic dimensions of contemporary Japanese language policy-formulation itself.
要旨
現代日本語の書記体系の変形は、いわゆる「国語」（国家語）および「国字」（国家表記）が同時に政治的かつ文化的に問題化されていることに由来している。日本語の表記構造および機能に関する論争が1860年中頃から1990年初期にかけて改革の提案と政策的発案に継続的な役割をはたしてきた。その論争が比較的長い歴史をもち、大量の文献が現れたにもかかわらず、現時点では日本語の表記改革の多様な側面にふれる包括的な論評がえられない。本論は言語問題および言語権の課題の起源と進展について研究した現代著作を用いた、日本語の表記改革論争の文献について詳細な概観と分析を提供する。また、表記改革において国家を超える様相もしくはポスト国家の様相の研究的可能性を模索しながら、現代日本の言語政策にみられる著しいジェンダーおよび民族的議論も検討する。
Resumo
La transformo de la nuntempa japana skribsistemo devenis de la samtempa politika kaj kultura problemigo de la t. n. kokugo (nacia lingvo) and kokuji (nacia skribo). Debatoj pri la strukturo kaj funkciado de la skriba formo de la japana ludadis certan rolon por la proponoj de japanaj lingvaj reformoj kaj lingvoplanado inter la mezo de la 1860aj kaj la komenco de la 1990aj jaroj. Malgraŭ la longa historio de la debatoj kaj la granda kvanto da literaturo traktanta ilin, ĝis nun mankas ampleksa priskribo de la scienca diskurso pri la reformado de la japana skribo. Ĉi tiu artikolo enhavas detalajn superrigardon kaj analizon de studoj pri debatoj pri la reformado de la japana skribo, utiligantajn verkojn nuntempajn pri la originoj kaj evoluo de lingvaj kaj lingvorajtaj problemoj. La artikolo poste traktas la eblojn de estontaj esploroj rilate transnaciajn kaj postnaciajn aspektojn de skriboreformoj, konsiderante ankaŭ la rimarkeble seks- kaj etnorilatajn dimensiojn de la nuntempa formulado de la japana lingva politiko mem.
Article outline
- Script reform in contemporary Japan
- Reviewing reform
- Viewing script reform through contemporary scholarship
- Other key issues encompassing script reform
- Conclusion
- Notes
References
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