The development of language (1)

I am a Japanese language and literature major. Actually I have two majors the other one is French language and literature. I have always been keen on languages and the socio-linguistic development of languages in their countries and the world.

I was recently given 3 books from a friend who lives in Japan on this topic and I thought it maybe of of interest to those who may not be able to read Japanese. Of particular interest to me is the evolution of Japanese from my mother’s time to modern day Japan and the use of language by the Japanese youth of today. Although not new as I have studied classical Japanese at university but the word すごい, sugoi is commonly known and used by most people in the context of surprise or some positive experience meaning: terrific or wonderful. In actual fact, in the book The Tales of Genji (源氏物語） written during the Heian Period (794–1185) over a thousand years ago, the word had the meaning of frightening, terrifying or sad. It wasn’t until the Edo period (1603-1867) when sugoi came to mean wonderful or great. But it is interesting to note however that even in my day-to-day Japanese version of Microsoft bookshelf basic dictionary that the word sugoi does come up as having 2 meanings. 1: terrible, horrible and 2: wonderful, fantastic. So meanings do have there place today but it is more commonly known in the more positive way.

Tags: Japanese development, new language